How to Prevent Clogs in Water Pipes?

Clogs in water pipes always happen at the worst possible time (is there ever a good time?). Fortunately, there are preventative measures you can take to avoid most clogs and gross backups. Here are 5 tips that will help you keep your water pipes running freely.

1. Skip the Drain Cleaners

Drain cleaners are only a temporary fix for what could be a long-term problem. While they can help free up water flow, they don’t usually remove obstructions entirely. In addition, drain-cleaning products can end up eroding the interior lining of the water pipes, increasing the likelihood of leaks down the road with continued use.

2. Don’t Pour Grease or Oil Down the Drain

The worst things you can pour down the drain are grease or oil. Warm grease or oil runs down the drain and cools, eventually congealing and forming a clog. Next to other debris gets stuck in it and before long causes a major clog. Instead of pouring grease or oil down the drain, pour it into a container and dispose of it in the trash once it cools.

3. Watch What You Flush

Toilets are designed to deal with human waste and toilet paper – nothing else. Flushing dense, bulky or stringy materials like paper towels, feminine hygiene products, and facial wipes can create a clog. Even dental floss and cotton balls can cause drain clogged problems.

4. Catch Hair Before It Has a Chance to Clog Water Pipes

Hair and soap combining in the shower or tub drain commonly create clogs that could require a drain snake to clear away. You can avoid this clogging problem by catching the hair before it goes down the drain by using mesh screens (available in several sizes). An alternative would be to have a stopper assembly with a built-in screen installed.

5. Call a Plumber

The best way to clear or prevent clogs in water pipes is to call a plumber and have the pipes professionally snaked. That way you’ll know the job will be done right. Having an expert do the job will increase the lifespan of your plumbing system and help avoid potentially catastrophic plumbing problems down the road.

Knowing how to prevent clogs in water pipes will help keep the plumbing system in good shape and working flawlessly.