In the kitchen and bathroom, food waste, hair, soap scum and mineral deposits build up over time. Regular drain cleaning with safe products helps prevent this build up.

Chemical drain cleaners leave residue that eventually makes its way into water systems, affecting fish and other wildlife. Natural, enzyme-based drain cleaners are a much better choice. To learn more, visit https://www.draincleaningphiladelphia.com/.

When food scraps, grease and other materials build up in your drains, they obstruct water flow, leading to clogs. Luckily, there are simple preventive measures you can take to keep your drains in top shape and reduce the likelihood of costly clogs.

Be Mindful of What Goes Down Your Drains

Educating yourself and your household members about proper waste disposal is one of the best things you can do to keep your drains and pipes in good condition. Avoid flushing paper products like towels, baby wipes and feminine hygiene products down toilets, as well as non-biodegradable items such as grease and oil, cotton swabs and coffee grounds. Instead, throw these items in the trash where they belong.

Installing mesh screens and shower drain covers is another great way to keep hair, food particles and other debris from going down the drains. These simple devices are inexpensive and easy to maintain, and they can significantly reduce the risk of clogs. If your home does not have these devices, simply running hot water through your drains on a regular basis can help prevent build-up.

Avoid Using Chemical Drain Cleaners

Using store-bought chemical drain cleaners is never a good idea, as these harsh substances can cause serious damage to your pipes. Instead, use eco-friendly drain cleaners or natural remedies such as baking soda and vinegar. If these do not work, a professional plumbing service can help.

Foul Odors

In addition to preventing blockages, regular drain cleaning will help eliminate foul odors that can cause sanitation issues in your home. When clogs are not properly addressed, these odors can seep into your living spaces and create unpleasant and unhealthy conditions.

When a plumber clears your clog, they often use a tool called a snake. This device consists of tiny sharp metal blades attached to a durable cable that is lowered into the pipe and cuts through and around the clog. While this method is effective, it does not always remove all the particles and remnants of the clog. These leftovers may continue to accumulate, resulting in future clogs.

Prevents Water Damage

Drain cleaning prevents clogs, which lead to water backup and other serious plumbing problems. A clogged drain can make your entire plumbing system work harder than it should, resulting in higher water bills and potential damage to your pipes. Regular drain cleaning removes accumulated hair, soap scum, food particles and other debris that can cause clogs. This allows waste to flow through your pipes without any blockages, preventing water from backing up in your sinks, tubs and showers.

It also prevents sewer backup, which can be extremely messy and damaging to your home. Water and sewage can back up into your house through toilets, showers, bathtubs and kitchen drains, causing extensive water damage to walls, floors and furnishings. Drain cleaning keeps your sewage lines clear, which can prevent a costly emergency plumbing service.

Another reason to keep your drains clean is to avoid pest infestation. Dirty drains are a breeding ground for mosquitoes, ants and other insects that can carry dangerous diseases. Regular drain cleaning removes these pests, which can infest your home and cause serious health issues for you and your family.

Chemical drain cleaners can be harsh on your pipe walls and can even cause corrosion, so it’s important to use them sparingly. In addition, these chemicals often don’t just go down the drain — they can make their way into our waterways and oceans, where they pose a threat to fish and other aquatic life.

If you have a stubborn clog that you can’t get rid of using a plunger or liquid drain cleaner, call a plumber for professional drain cleaning services. These professionals can use tools like hydro-jetting to remove stubborn clogs and leave your drains fully cleaned.

If you’re interested in getting your drains regularly cleaned, contact Frank Gay Services today. Our expert plumbers can help you maintain clean, healthy drains that will last for years to come. To learn more about our services, give us a call or fill out our online form. We look forward to hearing from you!

Prevents Sewage Smells

The odor of sewage is not only unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious problem with your plumbing system. Foul odors from clogged drains can seep into your home, causing headaches, dizziness, nausea and other health issues for everyone in your family. If you notice a sewer smell, contact a professional right away to prevent a serious plumbing disaster.

The foul odor you smell is the result of the bacteria that grows inside your pipelines. When waste, juices, food and other liquids soak in your pipes, the resulting septic gases release a rancid odor similar to rotten eggs. You can prevent bacterial growth in your pipes by cleaning your drains regularly and using sink strainers to catch food scraps, hair and other debris.

Keeping your p-traps full of water is another easy way to prevent sewer smells. Every kitchen and bathroom sink has a p-trap that fills with water when you use the drain. If the water in your p-trap has dried up, you can usually get rid of the odor by running hot water down the drain.

If you can’t clear the odor with hot water, you may have a clogged vent pipe. Clogged vent pipes can allow sewer gas to back up into your home, and can be caused by many things, from animals and leaves to birds’ nests and fallen branches. You can keep your p-traps and vent pipes clean by flushing them regularly with hot water, and by using a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to break down organic debris.

Although some people try to tackle clogged drains themselves, this isn’t always the best option. DIY drain cleaners are often corrosive and can damage your pipes, while plungers can push clogs deeper into the pipe. The best thing to do to prevent clogs and their nasty odors is to schedule regular drain cleaning. A plumber will use a high-powered hose to thoroughly scour your pipes, clearing out any grease, grime or residue that has collected in your plumbing and preventing proper drainage. This will save you from expensive clogs and keep your home healthy and smelling fresh.

Prevents Mold

If you have noticed a musty smell coming from your drains, or a spike in allergic reactions like itchy eyes, runny nose and breathing difficulties among family members, mold could be to blame. Mold is a fungus that thrives in damp and enclosed spaces, making it common for it to grow in pipes and drains in homes.

Often, mold in drains is caused by food scraps that get washed down the pipes. These scraps provide the organic material that mold needs to survive. In addition, the p-traps in your drains trap water, which gives mold a constant supply of moisture and nutrients. This combination makes it extremely difficult to keep mold out of drains and pipes, even with professional cleaning services.

When left untreated, mold can spread quickly, and it can pose serious health risks for some people, especially infants and the elderly. It can also cause a variety of symptoms, including sore throat, itchy eyes and skin rashes. Those with weakened immune systems or chronic lung conditions may experience more severe symptoms.

If you suspect you have a problem with mold in your home, contact a mold remediation service as soon as possible. Taking steps to prevent mold in your drains and pipes is crucial, as it can save you from costly and time-consuming cleanup and repair.

While you can remove mold from the surface of your drains and pipes with a simple bleach solution, it is best to prevent mold growth in the first place. This is done by reducing humidity levels in the house, regularly cleaning drains and preventing food waste from entering the pipes.

To keep your drains clean, pour a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down each one once a month. You can also use a drain stopper to limit the amount of hair, soap scum and toothpaste grit that goes down each drain. Using a garbage disposal instead of a drain can also help because it limits the amount of food that is put into your pipes. In addition, regularly running hot water down your drains can help.