We have all heard the saying that an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. That is a truism that applies to your home drainage system as well. The inconvenience alone of having a clogged drain makes it worthwhile to keep your drainage system operating at its peak by regular ongoing maintenance. The cost to fix a problem drain and the damage it may cause can escalate quickly if the problem is not addressed. Consider the drain that backs up then overflows and damages your beautiful new carpet and surrounding furniture. I am in the Pittsburgh house cleaning market and have seen more than one backup in client’s homes. It is disheartening to have to call a client when they are at work to tell them the bad news. At the least you are looking at calling in a plumber to fix the problem and a house cleaning service to clean up the mess. At times the damage can be even more extensive if the drain overflows and leaks into the walls or ceiling. I remember on one occasion a customer that did not address a slow drain only later to have to replace ceiling tiles that ending up being soaked because of a drain that was allowed to run slow and eventually backed up completely and overflowed. Sometimes a slow drain will leak water under a sink. If left go long enough the entire sink and possibly the floor beneath the sink will need replace. I have seen it happen!

As you can imagine being in the Pittsburgh house cleaning services market, I have been in 1000’s of homes and can say without a doubt that drainage problems are no respecter of a home’s age. A drain can seem to be working fine one minute and clogged the next. The truth is most of the time the drain has been slowly getting worse and you didn’t notice it. Your home drainage system is a complex network of a rather large number of pipes of various diameters that are designed to remove waste water quickly and keep you safe at the same time. The safe part has to do with sewer gas and will not be addressed in this article. The working principle of the system is simplicity itself relying mostly on gravity to perform its function. For efficient drainage flow there must be air in the pipe lines which is introduced into the pipes at various places. Every drainage pipe in your home has some downward slope in it to allow gravity to pull the water down to the main sewer line.

What are the Causes of a Backup

So what goes wrong with the drainage system in your home? Why does it slow down and eventually clog completely? There are various reasons and it pays to know what they are because knowing what caused the problem can sometimes dictate how to treat it. The most obvious and most annoying to me is when something too large for the drain pipe creates a clog. Some things that come to mind are sanitary napkins, small toys, paper towels, stuffed animals, and anything else too big for the drainage system. Other clogs are the result of roots growing into a broken pipe. Still other clogs can occur when things like bacon grease, cooking oil, glue, or anything having a thick consistency are poured into a sink, tub or commode and allowed to enter into the drainage system. Then there are the clogs that occur because too much pet or human hair built up in the line. I have had the opportunity to advise several of our Pittsburgh house cleaning clients to purchase a small strainer which is inserted into the bathtub and/or sink drain to eliminate hair from entering the home’s drainage system. Another cause of clogs is soap. Soap can and does stick to the walls of the pipes and can eventually cause the drain to stop. Lastly if you have cast iron pipes for your drainage system over time they will corrode and cause a blockage in the line. With so many things that can cause a clogged line it is a wonder that the system works at all.

Simple Techniques to Unclog the Line

What do you do when you have a clogged line? If it was a sudden clog with no apparent slow down in the drainage system prior to the clog then you can be sure that something too large is in the line. If it is only backed up at one location you can disconnect the pipes under the sink or remove the commode from the floor. A tub or shower will have a clean-out located near the water inlets usually located in a wall with an access panel. Often you can see the object and remove it with a wire hook made from a coat hanger. A small plumber’s snake can be worked into the line to remove the object. If these measures do not work then it is best to call a professional.

More Techniques if You are Still Having Problems

A gradual slow down in a drain can usually be cleared with a plunger. If your clog is in the commode be sure to use a plunger made for a commode. Plungers work best in standing water. What removes the clog is the force of the water as you vigorously work the plunger up and down. Be sure to tilt the plunger under the water to remove as much air from it as possible before plunging. If plunging doesn’t open the clogged pipe try chemicals to open up the the line. There are several acid based products on the market. These stronger chemicals work best when the drain is completely blocked. Be sure to read the instructions before using as these are very dangerous if used improperly. Even baking soda with white vinegar poured into a slow running drain will work.

How to Stop a Clog Before it Gets Started

To keep from have these clogs in the first place it is best to treat each drain monthly with a milder chemical. I like Roto-Rooter Pipe Shield the best. It is expensive but works well. There is no strong smell, it is enzyme based, and it is safe for the environment. One other bit of advice is to buy a plastic drain strainer to catch all of the hair before it goes down the drain. Also at the expense of using more water, hold the handle down on the commode until the water has actually flushed all the way. Newer commodes use less water, sometimes to little, which will cause clogs. Holding the handle down until it completely flushes will allow more water to help the process along.

For other interesting how to information visit us at Mr Maid Residential Cleaning to sign up for our free monthly newsletter on our home page.