| How should you care for the drainage system in your | | | | having a thick consistency are poured into a sink, tub |
| home? | | | | or commode and allowed to enter into the drainage |
| We have all heard the saying that an ounce of | | | | system. Then there are the clogs that occur |
| prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. | | | | because too much pet or human hair built up in the |
| That is a truism that applies to your home drainage | | | | line. Another cause of clogs is soap. Soap can and |
| system as well. The inconvenience alone of having | | | | does stick to the walls of the pipes and can |
| a clogged drain makes it worthwhile to keep your | | | | eventually cause the drain to stop. Lastly if you |
| drainage system operating at its peak by regular | | | | have cast iron pipes for your drainage system over |
| ongoing maintenance. The cost to fix a problem | | | | time they will corrode and cause a blockage in the |
| drain and the damage it may cause can escalate | | | | line. With so many things that can cause a clogged |
| quickly if the problem is not addressed. Consider the | | | | line it is a wonder that the system works at all. |
| drain that backs up then overflows and damages | | | | What do you do when you have a clogged line? If |
| your beautiful new carpet and surrounding furniture. | | | | it was a sudden clog with no apparent slow down in |
| At the least you are looking at calling in a plumber to | | | | the drainage system prior to the clog then you can |
| fix the problem and a house cleaning service to clean | | | | be sure that something too large is in the line. If it is |
| up the mess. At times the damage can be even | | | | only backed up at one location you can disconnect |
| more extensive if the drain overflows and leaks into | | | | the pipes under the sink or remove the commode |
| the walls or ceiling. I remember on one occasion a | | | | from the floor. A tub or shower will have a cleanout |
| customer that did not address a slow drain only later | | | | located near the water inlets usually located in a wall |
| to have to replace ceiling tiles that ending up being | | | | with an access panel. Often you can see the object |
| soaked because of a drain that was allowed to run | | | | and remove it with a wire hook made from a coat |
| slow and eventually backed up completely and | | | | hanger. A small plumber’s snake can be worked |
| overflowed. Sometimes a slow drain will leak water | | | | into the line to remove the object. If these |
| under a sink. If left go long enough the entire sink | | | | measures do not work then it is best to call a |
| and possibly the floor beneath the sink will need | | | | professional. |
| replace. I have seen it happen! | | | | A gradual slow down in a drain can usually be cleared |
| A drain can seem to be working fine one minute and | | | | with a plunger. If your clog is in the commode be |
| clogged the next. The truth is most of the time the | | | | sure to use a plunger made for a commode. |
| drain has been slowly getting worse and you | | | | Plungers work best in standing water. What |
| didn’t notice it. Your home drainage system is a | | | | removes the clog is the force of the water as you |
| complex network of a rather large number of pipes | | | | vigorously work the plunger up and down. Be sure |
| of various diameters that are designed to remove | | | | to tilt the plunger under the water to remove as |
| waste water quickly and keep you safe at the same | | | | much air from it as possible before plunging. If |
| time. The safe part has to do with sewer gas and | | | | plunging doesn’t work try chemicals to open the |
| will not be addressed in this article. The working | | | | line up. There are several acid based products on the |
| principle of the system is simplicity itself relying | | | | market. These stronger chemicals work best when |
| mostly on gravity to perform its function. For | | | | the drain is completely blocked. Be sure to read the |
| efficient drainage flow there must be air in the pipe | | | | instructions before using as these are very |
| lines which is introduced into the pipes at various | | | | dangerous if used improperly. Even baking soda |
| places. Every drainage pipe in your home has some | | | | with white vinegar poured into a slow running drain |
| downward slope in it to allow gravity to pull the | | | | will work. |
| water down to the main sewer line. | | | | To keep from have these clogs in the first place it is |
| So what goes wrong with the drainage system in | | | | best to treat each drain monthly with a milder |
| your home? Why does it slow down and eventually | | | | chemical. I like Roto-Rooter Pipe Shield the best. It |
| clog completely? There are various reasons and it | | | | is expensive but works well. There is no strong |
| pays to know what they are because knowing what | | | | smell, it is enzyme based, and it is safe for the |
| caused the problem can sometimes dictate how to | | | | environment. One other bit of advice is to buy a |
| treat it. The most obvious and most annoying to | | | | plastic drain strainer to catch all of the hair before it |
| me is when something too large for the drain pipe | | | | goes down the drain. Also at the expense of using |
| creates a clog. Some things that come to mind are | | | | more water, hold the handle down on the commode |
| sanitary napkins, small toys, paper towels, stuffed | | | | until the water has actually flushed all the way. |
| animals, and anything else too big for the drainage | | | | Newer commodes use less water, sometimes to |
| system. Other clogs are the result of roots growing | | | | little, which will cause clogs. Holding the handle down |
| into a broken pipe. Still other clogs can occur when | | | | until it completely flushes will allow more water to |
| things like bacon grease, cooking oil, glue, or anything | | | | help the process along. |