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Sewer & Drain Cleaning

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"The drain in your sink is plugged. What are you going to do about it? If you’re like most people, you reach under the kitchen sink and pull out a jug of Drano to clear the clog. But is this really the best course of action? Probably not. For those of you who are interested in doing more than just postponing dealing with the problem, here are a few drain cleaning tips to keep your water flowing smoothly:

o Identify what’s causing the clog. There are different ways of dealing with different types of clogged drains. The most common reason that a drain becomes clogged is because there is hair in the drain. This is particularly true for shower drains but may occur in sink drains as well. A drain stick with barbs on the side can be run into the drain to collect the hair. This same solution won’t work if you’ve got something, such as candle wax, that’s adhered to the sides of your drains. Knowing what solution to use requires that you know what’s causing the clog.

o Stock up on a few simple tools. You can’t do a job correctly if you don’t have the right tools to do it. And you don’t want to wait until you have a clogged drain to go out and buy what you need. The aforementioned drain stick should be a common household item. Get one that’s smooth and one with barbs. A small wet/dry vacuum is also a good item to have in the kitchen closet. And of course, every bathroom should have a plunger.

o Start with natural solutions. Instead of pouring the harsh chemicals like Drano down your drains, try out a solution that’s based in natural ingredients. A strong vinegar-and-lemon solution might do the trick if you just have some build-up that’s caking the sides of your drain.

o Take it apart and use some elbow grease. If you’re handy in the home repair department, you can take apart the pipes of your drain and clean them out. A toothbrush and scrubbing pad should do the trick. Just make sure that you know what you’re doing before you start dismantling your plumbing. You don’t want to get the whole thing taken apart and make it shiny brand new if you don’t know how to put it back together again!

The best thing that you can do to clean your drains properly is to prevent them from getting clogged. Use a strainer to catch hair so that it doesn’t get caught in the drain. Run a natural solution down the drain on a bi-weekly basis. Prevent problems before they occur. At the other end of the spectrum, don’t assume that you can take care of everything yourself. If you’ve dug out the hair, run the solution and dislodged gunk with the wet/vac and you still have a clogged drain, you need to call a plumber. You don’t want to do damage to the pipes that make your home run smoothly!"

Sewer & Drain Cleaning

It is usually at this point as well that we ask ourselves: ?How did this happen??

How Drains Get Clogged

The type of clog depends in large part on its location. It is rare to find a grease clog in a bathtub, and equally rare to find a hair clog in a kitchen sink.

In kitchens, grease is usually the culprit. Grease floats around in warm water, but when it gets flushed down the drain and cools, it hardens. As the grease builds up in the drain, other substances can get stuck in it. One of the most common of these substances is coffee grounds, but any other food stuff can get trapped. Eventually, the blockage gets so big that water can't get through.

(Note that rinsing hot water down the drain to clear grease is a big mistake. All you'll do is relocate the grease and very likely cause a clog further down the line. If your sewer backs up because of it, and the clog is on your side of the sewer line, your municipality will not help you.)

In bathrooms, hair and soap scum are the likely cause of drain clogs. Soaps, shaving creams and other such things that are used in the shower contain loads of oil and fat. Like the grease in our kitchen drains, these oils can trap other substances (like hair) to create a major clog. With toilets, backups can occur when inappropriate materials are flushed (paper towels, diapers and feminine hygiene products to name a few).

Clearing a Clog

Depending on the severity of the clog, you may be able to clear it yourself using a good, old-fashioned plunger. There are also a number of drain cleaning products available at your local hardware or grocery store. Be aware that some of them contain nasty acids that eat away the clog, but also damage PVC pipes and pollute the wastewater stream.

Green drain cleaning methods may work on your clog. You could try an enzyme cleaner or a combination of baking soda and white vinegar.

Calling a Plumber to Clean Your Drain

If the methods described above fail, you will have to call a plumber. Of course, finding a plumber can be a challenge. A relative in Calgary recently had a problem with her drains. She looked up ?Calgary plumbing contractors? in the online Yellow Pages and found 12 pages of listings!

To find a reputable plumber, ask friends for references. If you can't get references, be sure to ask any potential plumbers some questions. Find out if they are licensed and if all of their technicians are licensed. Ask if they are insured. Ask about any potential extra charges (travel time, emergency service, overtime).

Of course, a little prevention means you can skip that call to the plumbing contractor. Regular drain cleaning may sound like a hassle, but a clogged drain is even more troublesome. All in all, the effort you make to keep water flowing smoothly through your drains will be worth it in the end.

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About Author

Both Wes Cox & Stella Van H are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Wes Cox has sinced written about articles on various topics from Finances, Tanning and Home Buyers Guide. The Red Rooter is your one stop shop when it comes to . When you need. Wes Cox's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.

Stella Van H has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marketing, Computers and The Internet and Trade Shows. For more information on or. Stella Van H's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.

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