Down the Drain – What you don’t know can hurt you when it comes to preventing plumbing issues.

By Billy Aldridge

What goes down might just come back up.  At least that seems to be the consensus when it comes to most simple plumbing issues such as backups and clogs.  While some of these problems are the result of forces beyond our control, others are simply a matter of poor preventative maintenance.  Below I will share with you some cause and effect scenarios.

The Kitchen Sink

You’d be surprised at what people put down their kitchen sink.  Chicken fat, hot grease, pancake batter and more get poured down the drain, sometimes with disastrous results.  Worse, most people do nothing to clear the drain until it backs up.  And then they usually resort to some kind of caustic chemicals to try to rectify the matter.  This can cause more damage than good in some circumstances, particularly if the pipes are more than twenty years old. 

First of all, any kind of fluid that will change its state to a solid once it cools off, such as grease, lard, fat and pancake batter should never be poured down the drain.  I deal with these substances by keeping a jar under the sink where I pour all hot grease and fat.  When it comes to pancake batter, after using a spatula to scrape as much of the batter as possible into the trash can, I will fill the bowl with hot water in order to dilute the material as much as possible.  Only then will I pour the water down the drain, followed by filling the sink two thirds full of hot water and then pulling the plug.  In fact this procedure is an excellent monthly preventative maintenance item, since it will flush the pipes out.

When it comes to garbage disposals, this is another clog builder, particularly if you don’t run it long enough or flush the drain with enough water after each use.  Not only does this appliance contribute to clogs, but it can also become an odor creator if not properly maintained.  Below is a video where I show you how to disinfect a stinky disposal.

Bathroom Buildup

As bad as the kitchen sink can be when it comes to backing up, the bathroom sink and tub can be even worse.  That’s largely due to such things as hair, grooming products, cosmetics and hair.  Did I mention hair?  It’s amazing the tensile strength, not to mention the knotting ability of hair.  Particularly long hair.  Once even one strand becomes affixed in a drain, it isn’t long before a tangle of the stuff begins to impede and eventually stop the flow of water altogether.  Certain kinds of hair dyes, cosmetics and over the counter remedies have an affinity for hair that creates bonds between the follicles that eventually turn into a ball of stickum that grabs onto any foreign object that comes down the pipe. 

Before resorting to Draino or some other caustic substance, the first thing you should do is remove the drain and clean it out.  In many cases, the clog starts and stops there.  If the clog is deeper still, for around $10 or so you can buy a Drain Claw which you can snake down the drain.  If the clog is located a foot or so down the pipe, the claw is designed to grip it and rip it.  If the clog is located deeper than that, then I suggest you contact a plumber.  The problem with caustic drain cleaners is they are dangerous to use and they don’t just dissolve the clog, they will erode the pipes as well.  The cost of having a plumber snake your drain is far less than the cost of a trip to the ER or repairing a pipe that has burst behind the wall.

When Nature Calls

There is another menace that rears its ugly head in outdoor drains and sewer lines: Tree roots.  Particularly in older neighborhoods, tree roots can penetrate sewer lines and outdoor drains, slowing or even halting the flow.  Roots are insidious beasties that enter sewer and supply lines through the tiniest of openings, eventually stopping up the works.  The worst thing a homeowner can do when they notice their drains slowing to a crawl is to wait until it blocks up entirely. If you suspect root intrusion, call a plumber immediately so the situation can be assessed.  Many times the existing roots can be cleared out of the line, which will buy you some time.  That's the good news.  The bad news is that once roots infiltrate the sewer line, there is no choice other than digging it up and replacing it.

As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  When it comes to maintaining pipes and alleviating clogs, the best offense is a good defense.  By that I mean, that with proper care, monthly maintenance and nipping plumbing problems in the bud early, you can save money on plumbing issues by knowing your plumbing system’s likes and dislikes.

Billy Aldridge is one of the Doctor’s of Plumbology at Aldridge and Sons Plumbing in Jacksonville, Florida. For more helpful hints and how-to videos, visit http://plumbers-jacksonville-fl.com