Clogged drains are a nightmare. They happen at the most inopportune times and can cost hundreds of dollars to deal with, not to mention the smell that comes from a backed up system. It is important to maintain sink and tub drains no matter what room of the house they are in.
Clog Culprits
It doesn't take much to clog a drain, especially the drain in the bathtub or the
kitchen sink. Hair and soap are the worst clog culprits of tub and shower drains while food particles and grease in combination with soap and mineral deposits from water are the primary culprits in the kitchen. Hair loss while shampooing is a natural everyday occurrence, but it doesn't take much to block a drain pipe. And it is easy to wash cooking oil and food scraps down the drain without being aware of exactly how much debris is going down. Even with a
garbage disposal, the accumulation of clog culprits on the inside of the pipes will continue until water can no longer get through. When that happens, the headaches begin and it is time to call in a plumber.
Costly Clogs
Once a drain is clogged, there is often little choice but to use harmful chemicals or call a professional; however, a homeowner can expect to pay close to $100 just to have a plumber walk through the front door. Then, depending on the extent of the clog and the damage that may have occurred from prolonged backup, the cost can skyrocket from there. Such high costs can be avoided with proper
drain maintenance, and by not allowing clog culprits to get down the drain in the first place.
Clog-free Contraptions
The simplest device for maintaining clog-free drains is a
mesh screen. It is easy to use and easy to clean, and because the screen fits snugly into the drain space in a bowl-like manner, debris is captured and can then be lifted out to be disposed of properly. Getting the right-sized screen by measuring the inside diameter, outside diameter, and depth of the drain is also important to keep particles from slipping under or through the screen. There are specially designed mesh screens for sinks, showers, bathtubs, washtubs, lavatories, and even floors.
More great items to have on hand are a hair catching brush or a snake. These products are narrow and flexible so they fit easily down drains. Designed with bristles to retrieve hair, the hair catching brush is terrific for cleaning tub shower or bathroom sink drains within a foot or two, where hair clogs are easy to remove. A handheld snake is a fantastic tool every homeowner should have. Snakes are ideal for going down toilet drains or cleanouts. And at these prices, it sure beats calling the plumber every time there is a troublesome clog.
