Costly clogged main sewer line in Foothills
In the early hours of a pleasant evening in July, several homes experienced all of their toilets had suddenly stopped flushing. An after-hours plumber came out and discovered that the main sewer line was clogged with grease. Regular maintenance can not prevent clogs caused by misuse. Grease was never meant to be poured down drains. Help us cut down on costly after-hours services by practicing a bit of prevention.
HOW TO PREVENT DRAIN CLOGS FROM COMING BACK
1 – Never put FOG (Fats, Oil or Grease) down a drain or garbage disposal. Any substance high in fat (think bacon grease, coconut oil, butter, peanut butter, and other high fat food) should be cooled and then disposed of in the trash or wiped into the trash before washing. Try pouring into a jar, or make a tinfoil “bowl” in your sink drain and pour grease into foil until cool, then dispose of in regular trash.
2 – Don’t use hot tap water to melt fats so they can be rinsed down the drain. They will cool and clog your pipes!
3 – Dispose of food waste and vegetable peels in the trash! Do not put onion peels, potato peels, banana peels, egg shells, rice, pasta, celery, and so on down the garbage disposal or sink drain. Especially starchy food waste can clog drains faster.
4 – Flush kitchen drains once a month with salt and hot water. This combination prevents greasy build-up and keeps drains running at full capacity.
5 – Embrace baking soda and white vinegar. These can be used to clean your kitchen, disinfecting your bathroom, and powering through some clogs. Simply pour one half cup of baking soda followed by one cup of vinegar down the drain. After allowing the solution to do its magic (usually within 10 minutes), pour a bucket of very hot water into the drain and repeat the process as necessary to enjoy optimal results.
6 – Do not place “flushable” wipes or hygiene products in toilet. Any plumber will tell you, even if you have brand new pipes, that it is best to avoid flushing items other than toilet paper. Wipes, paper towels, hygiene products do not dissolve and will clump together downstream leading to major clogs.
