Your drains may seem like a convenient way to make unwanted things disappear, but what goes down them doesn’t simply vanish. It travels through a plumbing system where grease, food, hair and other materials can accumulate, restrict flow and eventually create a serious clog.
One of the biggest offenders is cooking grease, fats and oils. They may be liquid when hot, but as they cool, they can coat the inside of your pipes and trap other debris. Instead, allow grease to cool and dispose of it in the trash.
Coffee grounds are another problem. They don’t dissolve in water and can collect inside drainpipes, particularly when combined with grease.
Avoid putting rice, pasta and other expandable foods down the kitchen drain. These foods absorb water and swell, making an existing restriction even worse.
Even if you have a garbage disposal, don’t treat it like a trash can. Eggshells, fibrous vegetables, fruit pits, bones and large amounts of food scraps should go into the garbage or compost instead.
In the bathroom, hair is one of the most common sources of clogs. A simple drain screen can prevent a surprising amount of trouble.
Also to remember is that toilets are designed primarily for human waste and toilet paper. Never flush wipes, even those labeled “flushable,” paper towels, feminine hygiene products, cotton swabs, dental floss, diapers or other household products.
Finally, be careful with chemical drain cleaners. Repeatedly pouring chemicals into a slow drain may not address the real problem. A drain that continually slows or clogs can sometimes be telling you there is a larger issue inside the pipe.
That is especially important in older Jacksonville homes with aging cast-iron waste lines. Corrosion, buildup and deterioration can create recurring drainage problems that simply clearing a clog won’t permanently solve.
If you have a drain clog of any kind, call Superior Plumbing and Pipe Lining. They unclog drains better than anyone we know…and Superior offers a free camera inspection so you can determine whether that slow or clogged drain is simply a minor blockage or a sign of something more serious. If aging cast-iron waste pipes are the problem, Superior can reline the pipes from the inside, often avoiding extensive demolition and replacement.
SUPERIOR PLUMBING AND PIPE LINING
904-238-8001
office@superiorplumbingjax.com
Available 24/7
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