Drain health in the home

It is important to keep all the drains in the home—sinks, bathtubs, and showers—clean and clog-free. If you notice a sink, bathtub, or shower draining slowly, it should be cleaned out as soon as possible. 

Chemical agents such as Drano, or plunging with a plunger, are very harsh on the pipes. It is better to use a small hook or a small sink trap snake to try to pull the obstruction out. For larger plumbing issues such as toilet backups and if drains are not functioning correctly, it is usually best to call a plumber.

Garburators (kitchen waste disposals) should also have special maintenance. They can be cleaned regularly with ice and baking soda. Also, absolutely NO FOOD should be put down the garburator to be ground up and flushed away (small dish scraps only). This will eventually be very costly as the main plumbing waste pipe under the building/property will require major cleaning. Food leftovers should be composted.

With regular maintenance, drains should function without issue for years. Easy homeowner DIY work can include drain cleanout or replacement. Enjoy a short video about this repair here.