Maintaining Your Drains: Five Things Drain Experts Wish You Wouldn't Do

Drains aren’t something anyone wants to worry about, which might be why they can be one of the most overlooked features of any home. We understand just how important wastewater systems are and that maintaining it means less emergencies – and perhaps seeing us less.

While some fail to prioritize its importance, others sometimes take missteps when it comes to ensuring their drains are flowing their best. We see it each and every day but we’re here to help, which is why we’ve chosen five of the most common offenses we see on a routine basis.

Stop Dumping Chemical Drain Cleaners Down Your Sink!

These hazardous products don’t work often and can actually sit and eat away at your pipes.

When it comes to store-bought drain cleaning products, there’s plenty of options out there but many people tend to dump these chemical-based cleaners down their sink drain at the first sign of a clog. In most cases, they don’t actually work – or if they do, it’s just a temporary fix. And if they don’t eat through the buildup, these cleaners just sit in your pipes and start eating away at them. That could make it more difficult for a professional to clean your drains, not to mention these cleaners can even cause burns during a service. You can always try a natural DIY technique or use Zoom Bio, our all-natural probiotic for your wastewater lines.

Never Flush Anything Other Than Toilet Paper!

It doesn’t matter what the label says, flushable wipes and hygiene products are a huge no-no.

We see it over and over – a massive blockage caused by so-called “flushable” wipes. It doesn’t matter what the label says on wipes, hygiene products or anything else, the only thing that should be accompanying your waste is toilet paper. Toilet paper is the only thing that disintegrates quickly enough to not get stuck in pipes. If you’re flushing other stuff, there will eventually be problems.

Stop Watching Videos Online And Attempting It Yourself!

DIY snake videos can work, but there’s an enormous potential of causing serious damage to your line.

In this day and age, we all want to save a buck wherever we can. But, if you’re looking for a little DIY project that could save you some money, it’s best not to experiment on your drains. We all see instructional snaking videos online and then just attempt to fix the problems but, in this case, it can lead to serious damage, costing you even more in the long run. Just leave the drain snaking to the professionals, who have the right tools – and know exactly how to use them – for any problem.

Not Paying Attention To What Goes In Your Garbage Disposal

Stop over-cramming and putting in foods that are terrible for your drains, such as eggshells.

Your garbage disposal isn’t a trash can – treat it with love. Avoid constantly overloading it with food, pouring grease into it, which will just solidify once it cools, and never put fibrous foods in there like celery or artichoke – and especially not egg shells, for that matter. Always be mindful of what goes down and feed it slowly into the garbage disposal, while running cold water.

Ignoring The Warning Signs Of Potential Problems

If you hear gurgling, notice bizarre smells, or experience slow drainage, don’t put it off.

When there’s a problem with your drains, they’ll usually let you know about it. There are plenty of warning signs that signal if your lines are in distress and most likely need a professional. It could be weird sounds, awful smells and more. So, if you see or hear something, don’t ignore it!

You don’t have to be an expert to maintain healthy, well-flowing drains but you do have to be an expert if you’re dealing with an emergency and tackling buildup or a clog. Always leave it to the experts – give us a call or schedule an appointment online at your nearest location today!