Every homeowner knows the dread that comes with a clogged drain – it’s inconvenient, messy, and can lead to costly repairs if not addressed promptly. DrainMaster explores easy and effective strategies for preventing blockages in your pipes, specifically focusing on keeping food debris from causing drain disasters.
Mind What You Wash Down Your Kitchen Sink
Certain types of food items can cause more problems than others. Fats, oils, and greases are notorious for solidifying and creating thick coatings on the interior walls of pipes, which can trap other food particles and lead to severe clogs. Starchy foods like pasta and rice can swell in the presence of water, further contributing to blockages. Even seemingly harmless small bits like coffee grounds or eggshells, when they accumulate, can cause issues, resulting in the need for professional drain cleaning services.
Install a Garbage Disposal
If you often deal with large amounts of food scraps, letting your drain cleaning company install a garbage disposal may be worth considering. A garbage disposal can grind food waste into smaller pieces that are easier for the pipes to handle. However, keep in mind that not all food items can be disposed of in this manner. Avoid putting fibrous foods like celery or onion skins, as well as hard items like bones and fruit pits into the unit to prevent damage.
Use Sink Strainers
A simple yet highly effective way to prevent food debris from entering your pipes is by using sink strainers. These inexpensive mesh screens can be placed over your drain openings, catching any food particles that may otherwise slip through. Regularly emptying and cleaning the strainer will ensure it continues to serve its purpose.
Regular Cleanings and Maintenance
Even with all these preventative measures, it’s still important to schedule routine cleaning and maintenance to ensure any buildup or potential clogs are addressed before they become bigger issues. Certified technicians use specialized equipment and techniques like drain snaking and hydro jetting to clear out pipes and keep them running smoothly.
If food waste is a major concern for your Upper Arlington home, we actually have another suggestion. Instead of throwing them into the garbage disposal or washing them down the drain and risking a blockage, consider participating in the city’s curbside food waste collection program. The goal of this initiative is to create compost from food scraps, reducing the volume of waste that ends up in landfills and ultimately helping protect our environment from harmful greenhouse gases.
Interested residents will have to sign up and receive a collection bin. Simply fill the bin with your food scraps and leave it out for collection on your normal trash pick-up day. Acceptable items include fruits, vegetables, breads, meat, fish, pasta, coffee grounds, tea bags, eggshells, grains, and more. Check out the city’s website for more info on how you can apply.
We at DrainMaster hope these tips and suggestions will help you maintain clear, free-flowing pipes in your home. But if you do need professional drain cleaning in Upper Arlington, OH, remember that our certified technicians are just a call away. Contact us today or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment.