Clogged up drains are one of the hassles in life that most of us simply accept. They are going to happen and you just might as well get used them.

But… this philosophy isn’t strictly true. There’s no way that you can avoid all drain clogs, but you can lower the chance of them occurring so that only on a rare occasion do you need to scramble to get a professional plumber on the line to fix it. We’ll look at three of the most common reasons that drains clog and what you can do to prevent them in the future.

#1

The problem: Hair.

The lowdown: This is the main reason that drains in the bathroom, such as in the sink and the shower, develop clogs. Hair catches easily down inside the p-trap of the drainpipe (the curved section directly beneath the drain) where it will traps more hair and lead to a tangle that closes off the drain.

How to avoid it: Install covers for the sink and shower drains that will catch the majority of hair that tries to slide down the drain.

#2

The problem: Liquid fats, oils, and grease, a.k.a. FOG.

The lowdown: This is the great enemy of kitchen sinks, since these liquids seem harmless when they hot after use in cooking. But when they cool down, they change into solids that will quickly build-up along the drainpipe wall, leading to numerous clogs.

How to avoid it: Pour out FOG into a separate receptacle rather than pour it down the drain. Put the receptacle in the freezer, then deposit the solid FOG into the trash later.

#3

The problem: Hard water deposits.

The lowdown: If hard water is entering your home, it will leave calcite deposits on the inside of your drains, and the build-up will eventually make clogs into frequent troubles.

How to avoid it: Hire a plumber to install a water softener. This will not only help with clogging, it will keep your entire plumbing system in better shape.

For help with keeping your plumbing in excellent condition, whether with drain cleaning or other services, call on Lifeline Plumbing, Inc. in Dundee, IL.