Prevent Clogged Drains

Preventing clogged drains can be easy with Roto-Rooter’s simple preventive tips designed to help you avoid a plumbing problem. From the kitchen sink and garbage disposal to tubs and showers to toilets, bathroom sinks and even floor drains.

Your Kitchen Sink

Whether it is scraps of fibrous foods, starchy pasta and rice, or cooking grease, be cautious about what you put down your sink drain. It’s best to scrape plates, pots and pans over the trash can before rinsing them off in the sink because food and grease can create some very tough sink clogs. Additionally, your garbage disposal doesn’t can jam if seeds or too much fibrous food like celery or rhubarb are pushed down the drain.

Your Bathroom

Excess hair and soap scum are the main causes of shower drain clogs. Toothpaste and hair will gum up bathroom sink drains, and wet wipes and too much toilet paper are responsible for most toilet clogs. To avoid shower clogs, install a drain cover that will catch hair before it goes down the drain. For sinks, just avoid getting hair in them whenever possible, and get into the habit of using just enough toothpaste to dover the bristles on your toothbrush.

Avoid toilet clogs by flushing only human waste and toilet paper. Since many wipes are made from spun-laced plastic instead of natural fibers, avoid flush any wet wipes – even if they’re labeled “flushable.” Plunging your toilet should eliminate most backups.

Maintenance Tips

Maintenance is key to preventing clogged drains. Using a safe, enzyme-based drain maintenance product on a monthly basis is a good way to keep drains cleaner longer. These are most effective if you begin using them after your drains have been professionally cleaned by Roto-Rooter.

Some home remedies can be effective and safe too, and they’ll freshen your drains by eliminating odors. One of our favorites for kitchen sinks is to pour in a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of white vinegar. Allow the chemical reaction to sizzle inside for 15 minutes then rinse with hot water. The baking soda and vinegar combo also dissolved toothpaste and soap scum in bathroom sink drains, but it’s ineffective against hair.

Bend a small hook onto the end of a straightened wire coat hanger then push it down your shower and sink drains, twirl it around then pull it back. Repeat the process two or three times to remove accumulated hair from these drains.

Call in the Plumbing Professionals

Whether you have a clogged drain that needs immediate attention, a broken garbage disposal, or a toilet that just doesn’t have the flushing power it used to have, your local Roto-Rooter plumbing professional is a residential plumbing expert and is available 24/7/365.