Plumbers are much in demand because of the uncertainties of plumbing emergencies that can happen anytime. Whether it is some leakage in the plumbing system or drain clogging, the very thought of water flooding the living spaces can make homeowners very uncomfortable. In both cases, damage to property and the related inconveniences are so much that people want to get out of the mess as quickly as possible with help from expert plumbers. Clogged drains are much more menacing because the germs and bacteria in wastewater that floods the home can pose serious health hazards even after cleaning the spaces. No one would like to encounter such situations, and the only way of keeping away from it is to ensure that drains do not get blocked.
Although the signs of drain block show up early, most people fail to notice it until it reaches a stage when the block becomes substantial. It creates an emergency when seeking the services of plumbing companies like gmplumbingcorporation.com is the only way to find a quick remedy. Since prevention is better than cure, using drain screens could improve the situation. Another way to avoid drain clogging is to undertake regular inspection and drain maintenance.
Frozen pipes
Clogged drains are not the only kind of plumbing emergency that you might have to face. People living in cold climatic conditions face the problem frozen pipes that can burst and result in damage to water pipelines that you have to deal with. Since it is possible to anticipate the problem, it is also easy to avoid. Outdoor water hoses remain exposed to the cold climate and disconnecting it would help to minimize the chances of freezing. Wrapping exposed pipes with heater tapes can also prevent water from freezing in the pipes. Normalizing frozen pipeline by thawing ice is the job of licensed plumbers.
Pipe leakages
Leakages in the pipelines can sometimes result in plumbing emergency especially if the leaks have chances of making the ceiling cave in or some other severe damage. Looking for early signs of leaks could help to fix the problem before it acquires damaging proportions. If you notice a sharp increase in water bills or water stains on the ceiling it is time to call professional plumbers to set things right. Using a water softener increases the longevity of pipes because it minimizes the buildup of minerals in the pipeline that can cause a blockage. Aging is one of the reasons for leakage, but you can control it by reducing the stress in pipes.
Sewer system backup
Sewer systems are also within the scope of maintenance and cleaning by professional plumbers. Any problem related to the sewer system is an emergency because when the system backs up, it creates a lot of mess that can be hazardous for health. Although sewer lines might clog for many reasons, the most prominent causes are that some objects find its way into the drains that blocks the flushing system. Sometimes, tree roots that reach the sewer system choke the pipelines.
Drain clogging is most common while the other problems are far and few between. Most household and commercial facilities face the challenge of choked drains often most of which occur due to negligence and bad habits. The design of the drainage system is capable of flushing out water only but many unwanted objects that can block pipelines go into the drains because of our apathy towards maintaining clean pipes. Besides being unhealthy and unhygienic, overflowing drains can also lead to a fire if the wastewater finds its way to the electrical installations. It can result in a short circuit and cause fire thereby increase the danger many more times.
Looking for the cause
Drain blockages are not as simple as it might seem because sometimes it can become challenging to detect the location of the block. It will be wrong to assume that blockages happen only because some big items have gone down the drain and got stuck in the pipeline. Most of the time, sludge in wastewater mixes with the tiny particles of the pipe material that accumulate inside the pipeline and develop into a big mass of solid material that throttles the flow of water. It is essential to understand the factors that contribute to drain blockages so that it is possible to find out the cause of the problem. That would help to prevent frequent recurrence of clogging.
To ascertain the causes of blockage you have to evaluate the location of drains and the manner of its usage that can give some idea about what could go wrong.
Drain location – indoor or outdoor
Drains are located at all places across the premises in outdoor areas on the roof, in the yard, driveway, and garage and at all places inside the home like kitchen, toilet, bathroom, etc. Some items find its way into the drains naturally and what goes inside depends on the drain location. While some tree roots, leaves and branches could go inside the outdoor drains for indoor drains, it could be some toilet paper or food waste passing into the drains. Once you know what items are going into the pipes, you can think about appropriate preventive measures to reduce the problems of choking. Sometimes we are so much careless that some heavy materials go down the drain and block the pipeline. The most dreaded elements are paper products and sanitary materials flushed through the drains that cause choking. Tissues, wipes, and hair are no less damaging in blocking drains.
Bathroom, toilet, and kitchen drains
The drainage system cannot cope with solid items of any kind especially if the size is large enough to block the passage of water. Similarly, if oil and grease and other materials like vegetable waste and food waste go inside the drains, it remains stationary at some location inside the pipe and attracts other substances that build up a substantial chunk and obstructs the flow of water resulting in clogged drains. It is natural that many kinds of debris will go into the drains located indoor, some are unavoidable, and many others are the result of our indiscriminate use of drains for disposing of garbage like items. Since the indoor conditions are easily controllable, we can try to amend our ways and be more careful to ensure that unwanted materials do not go into the drains. Developing some good habits could help to maintain an efficient drainage system.
Be watchful about kitchen waste
Solid waste is mainly responsible for clogging drains, and the kitchen generates a lot of solid waste. So, you must be very alert and keep a close watch in the kitchen to ensure that the solid waste comprising of vegetable leftovers, food items, and cooked food are collected separately as garbage in bins and do not pass into the drains. Using some cover at the drain points that prevent the solid materials from the sink moving into the drain is one way of avoiding clogging.
Clean the plates before washing by scarping all food particles that stick to it and collect it in bins so that when you wash the dishes, no solid particle can mix with the water and go into the drains. It would significantly reduce the chances of clogging of kitchen drains or making it smelly. Grease and oil from food particles are other sources of developing blockages in drains. Remove traces of oils and fat from the dishes by using suitable detergents and or soaps and never make the mistake of pouring oil or grease into the drain. Since grease and oil cling to the inside surface of pipes, so even if accidentally it goes into the drain, flush it away with water immediately.
Do not use any solid items in bathrooms
When entering the bathroom make sure that you do not carry any solid items like fashion accessories, no matter how small it might be. The worst that can happen is hairclips and hair grips going down the drain and choking it. Since the item sits tight at one place inside the pipe, it starts attracting debris like hair that goes into the drain naturally. In no time it converts into a solid mass that stops water from flowing past, and the pipe chokes badly. Use bins for disposing of tampons, sanitary napkins, paper towels, etc. so that there are no chances of jamming pipelines due to any of these items finding its way into the drain. Toilet paper is also bad for drains and throwing it in bins is one of the best practices in enjoying clog-free drains.
Preventing drains from clogging should be the top agenda in housekeeping. It would save you the inconvenience and expenses of cleaning drains too often. Keep strict vigil across drains to identify what items gather close to it that could even inadvertently go into the drain and remove it from the vicinity. Your desire to keep drains clog-free by developing good habits would not make you forget the dreadful scenes that you might have faced in the past from clogged drains.