How to Prevent Clogged Drains: A Florence, AZ Homeowner Guide

The kitchen sink sees the most abuse. Fat poured into the drain cools and hardens on the pipe wall, and starches swell into a paste.

• Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel and put it in the trash.
• Collect cooking oil in a can and throw it away when cool.
• Use a strainer in the sink and empty it in the trash.
• Keep rice, pasta, coffee grounds and eggshells out of the disposal.
• Run hot water for a short while after washing dishes.

If the disposal is part of the problem, see garbage disposal repair.

Hair catches on rough pipe surfaces and binds with soap. A drain stopper or strainer catches most of it before it enters the line.

Clean the stopper every few weeks. Avoid pouring harsh chemical openers into a slow drain, because they can damage pipes and are a hazard if a plumber later has to work in the standing water. A plastic drain tool or a small hand auger removes hair safely.

Wipes sold as flushable do not break down like paper, and they tangle in the line. Paper towels, cotton swabs, dental floss and feminine products also cause clogs. A small trash can in each bathroom helps.

Washing machines send lint and detergent residue through a drain that is smaller than you might expect. A lint filter on the hose catches fibers. Floor drains in garages and laundry rooms need water in the trap to block odors, so pour water into rarely used drains every month.

Once a year, run through this short list.

1. 1Test every drain.Fill each sink and watch how quickly it empties.
2. 2Clean traps and strainers.Remove and rinse the sink traps you can reach.
3. 3Check the cleanout.Make sure the outside cleanout cap is reachable and not buried.
4. 4Look at the trees.Roots from trees near the sewer line are a leading cause of main-line clogs.
5. 5Schedule a clean when needed.If drains slow often, a hydro jetting visit clears buildup from the pipe wall.

The main line carries all your wastewater to the sewer or septic system. When it clogs, several fixtures back up at once. Tree roots, grease, a belly or a broken joint are the usual causes.

A camera visit shows the line and lets you plan before an emergency. See sewer line cleaning and sewer camera inspection for how that works.

Prevention works best as a routine. This schedule takes a few minutes each time.

Tree roots seek moisture, and a sewer line leaks tiny amounts of water at its joints. That is enough to attract roots. Fast-growing species planted near the line are the worst offenders.

Before you plant, find out where the line runs. A camera visit shows the path and depth. Choose slow-growing plants away from the line, and avoid heavy structures above it. Call 811 before you dig a planting hole, since utility lines may be nearby.

A few common beliefs lead to trouble.

• Hot water alone melts grease. It moves grease down the line, where it cools and sticks again.
• Flushable wipes are safe. They do not break down like paper.
• The disposal can handle anything. It cannot, and fibrous scraps wrap around the blades.
• A slow drain can wait. Slow drains are early warnings that get worse.

Correcting these habits does more for your plumbing than any product on the store shelf.

If drains clog even with good habits, the pipe itself may be the problem. A belly, a rough joint or a root intrusion catches waste no matter how careful you are. A camera inspection finds the cause, and a cleaning with a jet resets the line. Then maintenance has something to protect.