3 Drain Maintenance Tips from a Westchester County Plumber

Your drain might be working just fine right now, but eventually everyone experiences a clogged drain. No one seems to think much about drain maintenance until a problem arises, but if you do some basic drain maintenance on a regular basis you might be able to prevent some clogs from happening in the first place. Read on for 3 drain maintenance tips from a Westchester County Plumber.

Kitchens: Never put cooking grease or coffee grounds in your kitchen sink drain. Be careful, too, of vegetable clippings and other food waste slipping down the drain. If need be, use a mesh catcher over your drain to catch food particles. If you have a garbage disposal, avoid processing fibrous items such as banana peels and asparagus. Fibers from these types of foods can pass through your garbage disposal intact and clog your pipes.

Bathrooms: Use a drain cover to catch hair and lint before it goes down your shower drain. Over time, hair can build up and create a serious clog. To combat build up from soap scum, pour a half-cup of baking soda down your bathroom sink and shower drains, followed by a half-cup of vinegar. Let the mixture sit for several hours or overnight, and then flush with boiling water—doing this every couple of weeks will help keep your drains running freely. Avoid flushing foreign objects like disposable diapers and feminine hygiene products down your toilet.

Laundry and Utility Sinks: If your washing machine drains into a utility sink be sure to use a mesh screen over the drain to catch lint from clothing. Avoid pouring things like paint and motor oil down your utility drains.

Professional Inspections: Have your drains inspected annually by a licensed Westchester County Plumber. Your plumber will be able to spot potential drain problems before they happen. Your plumber can also snake out your drains to make sure there is no build up that can lead to clog.