Drain Clog Prevention

You are going through your morning ritual as usual –showering, shaving, etc.– then all of the sudden the water ceases to drain. When this happens it can be a nightmare, especially when it throws a wrench in the wheel of your busy schedule. There is no good time for a drain to clog, so the best thing to do after calling for Drain Cleaning services, is to employ preventive measures.

Here are a couple of reasons why drains get backed up.

Root invasion:

Nature is a force to be reckoned with, and trees are no exception to the rule. Trees struggle underground to take hold of the soil and spread their roots for hydration and nourishment, slowly but powerfully making their way through and around rocks, other roots, and the pipes that drain water from your home. Root problems are especially common in older homes, where pipes were buried long ago. In these cases nearby trees have had ample time to spread their roots through the pipe zone. Their growth is so insidious that roots can penetrate plastic piping or even surround it and clamp it shut! The best thing to do to combat this phenomenon is to have high-quality, large-diameter drainage pipe installed to go from your home to the city sewer system.

Small uphill sections of pipe:
Sometimes done intentionally and at other times done as a matter of convenience, uphill drainage piping sections are areas at the greatest risk of becoming clogged. P-traps serve an important function of preventing malicious odors from being released into the air of your home from black water drainage pipes. However, they are also the most likely place for any sediment heavier than water to build up. Sand and dirt from washing your hands, as well as small hairs from shaving can become lodged at the bend. The best way to prevent this is to rinse extremely dirty hands with a garden hose before washing them in the sink, and to collect any long hairs and put them in the trash rather than down the drain.

Sometimes the piping outside your house may have a small “back drop,” or knuckle where the pipe briefly goes uphill in order to get around a boulder or slab of concrete. While this should be avoided at all costs during construction of the home, it is not unheard of, especially in older homes. In this case, once a plumber has diagnosed the source of the clog as such, the best prevention is a complete replacement of that section of pipe so that it is all oriented gradually downhill.

Are you looking for Drain Cleaning services in the La Grange area? Look no further than Allan E Power, call us today at [phone].