10 Tips to Prevent Clogged Sinks & Toilets

• Plumbing

Clogs are inconvenient and bad for your plumbing system. The good news is that most are preventable — and prevention is free. Here are our recommendations for things you can do to help keep your plumbing system clog-free and running and efficiently as possible so you don’t have to call a plumber.

Kitchen Sinks

• Do not pour grease down the kitchen sink. Allow it to solidify, then put it into a bag and dispose of it in the garbage.
• Do not put excessive amounts of material in the garbage disposal. Feed the disposal with small amounts of debris while running lots of water. Peels and fibrous materials tend to cause stoppages, as most garbage disposals cannot grind these materials quickly enough.
• Once a week, fill your kitchen sink basin with hot water, and let it drain at the same time. Many water-saving faucets do not allow for enough flow to flush material clear of the drain, and this extra step will help push debris to larger diameter piping.

Bathroom Sinks

• Keep stoppers in to prevent foreign objects from going down the drain.
• Most clogged bathroom sinks are caused by hair and soap scum. Try to keep excess hair out of the drain.
• Many lavatory stoppages can be cleared by cleaning the “P” trap under the sink. If you are not comfortable attempting to clean the trap, call a professional. We can help.

Toilets

• Do not flush anything but toilet paper, including “flushable” wipes and feminine hygiene products. These items do not disintegrate like toilet paper and tend to build up in drains — eventually causing a clogged toilet .
• High efficiency toilets are great for saving water, but some of them 1) lack the flushing action necessary to clear the bowl of debris and 2) do not have the water flow power to clear the debris from some older drain systems.
• If multiple toilets are having issues at the same time, the stoppage is most likely in the main sewage line, and you should probably contact a professional to clear the main sewer line. We can help.
• When purchasing a new toilet, do your research or ask a professional for a recommendation. The least expensive toilet may not be the best choice. A glazed trapway will usually indicate a stronger flushing toilet, which can help avoid stoppages. We are happy to help you with selection and installation.

If it’s too late for prevention and you need professional help with your clogged bathroom sink, kitchen sink or toilet, schedule an appointment or give us a call at 512-501-2275. We’ll take care of the issue and get your drains back to normal in no time.