Homeowner Drain Care Tips
The most common problems we see as Los Angeles plumbers, are blocked and slow flowing drains.
When a blockage occurs it can cause your sink drains, shower drains and toilets to back-up. If not handled in time, these clogged drains can also cause serious back-ups throughout your pipes and sewer lines.
Although slow flowing drains and blockages are the most common, they are very much preventable. Because they’re easily preventable, we have listed a few homeowner drain care tips below to help you.
Los Angeles Drain Cleaning And Repairs
Most Common Drain Problems
- Improper use of garbage disposals
- Under sink traps are full
- Rinsing grease and oils down the sink
- Flushing the wrong things down your toilets
- Always use hair catchers and strainers
For Affordable Plumbing Services In (And Around) West Los Angeles, Give Craig and Craig’s Plumbing a call at (310) 204-3133.
Here are a few helpful homeowner tips to prevent these types of common drain problems:
- Garbage Disposal Care- When using the kitchen sink after a meal, its important to remember not too rinse excess food scraps down the drain. Even if you have a garbage disposal, we suggest disposing of any food in the trash before washing your plates, bowls, etc. Garbage disposals are not trash receptors and will not grind food up enough to prevent clogging in your drains.
- Check Your Sink Traps- Check your sink traps from time to time. Sink traps can get full if they’re not emptied periodically. When traps get full, foul odors don’t vent properly and begin to stink up your home. If you have ever had this problem before, you know how bad it can smell. Traps are located under each sink in your home. It only takes a few minutes to locate, empty and reconnect these sink traps, so be sure it’s on your to-do list from time to time.
- Toilet Care- Toilet paper is the only thing we recommend flushing down your toilets. Power towels, feminine products and even wet wipes can cause serious back-ups in your home plumbing. Some homeowners flush left over food down their toilets. Food, no matter how small, should never be flushed down your toilet because it can create blockages not only in your toilets but it can also cause your sewer lines to back-up. Avoid expensive sewer cleaning and only flush toilet paper down your toilets.
- Grease And Oils- Cooking grease and oils should never be rinsed down your drains. Always wife off grease and oil based sprays before washing dishes and pans. Grease will eventually cause slow flowing drains and pipes. If you wash grease, oil or even lots of butter down your sink, you could end up paying a hefty drain cleaning bill or worse- you could end up needing a repipe, and that is not a cheap plumbing fix.
- Use Hair Catches And Strainers- Shower drains and bathroom sinks are notorious for getting hair caught in the drains. Hair in your drains is not only a pain to deal with but can also require a licensed plumber with a drain snake or hydrojet to clear it out. To prevent unnecessary calls to your local plumber, always use hair catches and strainers in your sinks, especially in the shower!
We could go on and on about proper drain care for homeowners, but you get the idea. Craig’s Plumbing of Los Angeles is knowledgeable and highly experienced in all types of drain care and drain repair. We have been solving drain problems for our Los Angeles Plumbing customers since 1989. If your drains are not flowing normal or like they should, it’s time to call a local plumber like Craig’s Plumbing, to solve your drain problems.
