Drain Cleaning Tips for Homeowners

San Rafael

(415) 942-6565

Santa Rosa

(707) 452-3464

Owning a home is a big investment; a financial investment and an investment in your quality of life. Many people enter into homeownership not fully understanding what they are getting themselves into. A lot goes into maintaining a home. A balance must be maintained to keep the home’s most integral systems in proper working order. A home’s plumbing system is one of the most important systems in a home. Advances in modern plumbing have helped eradicate disease and improve the comfort of living by providing clean water and removing of wastewater. When there is a disturbance in the function of a plumbing system it can lead to all kinds of problems. One of the most common plumbing issues facing homeowners is drain cleaning problems. So, without further ado, we bring you drain cleaning tips for homeowners.

#1 Prevention

One of the best drain cleaning tips for homeowners is prevention. Homeowners can save a lot of time, money, and stress by preventing drain cleaning problems by simply watching what they put down the drain. Drains are meant to remove waste water, nothing more. Trash, glass, plastic, large pieces of food, grease, hair, diapers, wipes, feminine hygiene products, and chemicals should never go down the drain or get flushed. By avoiding putting any of the before mentioned items down the drain you reduce the risk of an obstruction forming in your pipes. Over time if the wrong things go down the drain, they can get stuck in the pipes and collect all kinds of debris. This can lead to a serious clog and damage to the pipes.

#2 Stinky Drains

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One of the biggest drain cleaning complaints is stinky drains. The most common reasons a drain would have a foul odor is because of a dried-out trap or the buildup of bacteria and debris in the garbage disposal. You can alleviate the dried-out trap by pouring some water down the drain. This occurs often in bathrooms that are not used often. When a trap dries out, the protective water barrier that prevents the sewer gas from creeping back up the pipe is eliminated and needs to be replaced. To deodorize the garbage disposal try putting ice cubes in the disposal. This will help knock off any buildup or debris that may have collected on the blades. Then you can try running it with some hot water, lemon peel, and baking soda.

#3 Avoid Liquid Drain Cleaner

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Avoiding liquid drain cleaners is another important drain cleaning tip for homeowners. When a clog strikes, many are quick to reach for the liquid drain cleaner, this is a mistake. Liquid drain cleaner aside from not being all that effective can actually cause damage to your plumbing pipes. It contains harsh chemicals that can eat through plastic and also be toxic to handle. If you are in a pinch, try using your plunger, or opt for a homemade remedy of hot water, baking soda, and vinegar. This is a safer and more effective method. If you are suffering from reoccurring clogs, then it would be a good idea to contact your plumber for further diagnosis.

#4 Make Sure You Have the Right Plunger

One drain cleaning tip for homeowners is definitely having a plunger on hand. You never know when you might need one. However, it is important to pay attention to the type of plunger you have. There are several different types of plungers, each serving a different drain type. The most common are cup plungers, meant for flat drains like sink drains, and flange plungers meant for toilets. Having one of each is a good idea to ensure that proper suction is established and for hygiene purposes.

#5 Snaking

Just like with plungers, there are also different types of snakes. By using the wrong kind of snake or getting overzealous with the snake you could cause damage to the pipes and the plumbing fixtures. Snaking is something that is often best left to the professionals.

Got a plumbing problem? We are here to help! Contact John Owens Services today for more drain cleaning tips for homeowners.

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Serving Marin & Sonoma Counties

Good plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems are vital in every North California home. John Owens Services, Inc. is proud to be the expert plumbing company you can count on

The John Owens Way

Our philosophy is simple, we always want to maintain equipment to give it the longest life possible. Next, we want to focus on repairing when something goes wrong. Then only as the last choice, we replace equipment when needed. That’s the John Owens Way.

San Rafael
(415) 942-6565
Santa Rosa
(707) 452-3464

01

Maintenance

Regular maintenance keeps your home’s systems running well all year long. We’ll help you gain efficiency and save money.

02

Repair

When something breaks down, our team will get to you fast. We’ll find the problem and fix it to get you back to normal.

03

Replacement

When it’s time to replace something in your home, we’ll help you get a top quality product that matches your specific needs.
San Rafael
(415) 942-6565
Santa Rosa
(707) 452-3464