Sometimes your drains could use a little tender loving care. If they are neglected too long, they could lead to bigger problems. Clogged drains especially can be expensive to repair, especially the longer you wait to hire a plumber. But there are measures you can take each month to prevent clogged drains and plumbing problems.

Before your drains become excessively clogged, follow these 5 drain maintenance tips:

1. Managing Fat, Oil and Grease

Fats, oils and greases are often the main culprits for clogged kitchen sinks. Dispose of them in an empty can or another tossable container rather than pour them down your drains. However, it’s likely that some fat, oil and grease will still end up in your drain. To help with this, run the disposal using cold water. This way fats, oils and greases will congeal and break with the disposal instead of build up along walls of the drain when they melt with hot water.

2. Handling Hair

Many a drain has been clogged from loose hair strands finding their way down the drain. If this is a common occurrence in your home, use a hair trap to catch hairs so you can throw them away when you are finished showering. You probably will still have to clear stray hairs that made it down the drain. In this case, use a plastic, disposable bag to reach into your drain and pull out as much hair as you can reach.

3. Food to Catch

Like a hair trap, other drain catchers will keep unwanted items from entering your drain, like certain foods that don’t sit well with the garbage disposal. Some foods to be careful of are coffee grounds, fruit pits, potato peels and fibrous foods like celery, asparagus and corn husks. Never put bones down your garbage disposal either. Rice and pasta can cause problems too as they keep expanding when they come in contact with water. Some people will say that eggshells are okay to go down the disposal to sharpen the blades, but try to avoid those as well.

4. Cleaning Solutions

What will also help to clear residue is pouring a cleaning solution down your drain. Doing this once a month will help to keep your drains well-maintained. But avoid chemical cleaners as these may eat away at your pipes if they are extremely clogged and the solution is left to sit. Instead you can create your own organic solution. Put ½–2 cups of baking soda into each of your drains followed by 1–2 cups of vinegar. Enzyme-based cleaners also do the job well and won’t harm your plumbing system.

5. Annual Professional Cleaning

Even by following all of the above tips, you will also want to annually have a professional come to clean your pipes. They provide a more comprehensive cleaning, and can find any corrosion issues before they become a bigger problem. For you in Delmarva who need help with a clogged drain or pipe cleaning, let F.H. Furr Plumbing & Heating give you a hand! Our experienced team provides preventative drain maintenance services as well as plumbing repairs and installations. Plus, we get paid by the job rather than by the hour, saving you money! Contact us to learn more about how you can better maintain your drains and save on plumbing services. Located right in Georgetown, DE, we serve all of Delmarva with high-quality plumbing services at an affordable price.