Some problems with drains, like truly terrible blocks that cause back flows should be left to a professional plumber. However, there are also daily or weekly maintenance task that a homeowner can do his or herself. Here are a few tips:

It’s important to avoid pouring grease down the drain! Pour grease in the garbage can or recycle it by putting it through a coffee machine filter into a container. Grease might be liquid when it’s poured down a drain, but over time it will coagulate into a mess that traps hair and other nasty debris. This may really lead to a problem that it will take a plumber to sort out.

Coffee grounds should also not be put down the drain. They should be thrown out or can even be used as mulch.

People who have garbage disposal units also have a way to keep their drains clear. Allow about three inches of water to accumulate in the sink, then pull the plug and turn on the garbage disposal. This will go a long way into flushing the drain. Throwing in a handful of lemon, lime or orange rind into the garbage disposal will also keep it sweet smelling. A tray full of vinegar and water ice cubes are also good put down the garbage disposal.

Don’t take out the drain grate in the sink. It catches a lot of stuff that would otherwise go down the drain and cause blocks. It’s also a simple thing to take it out and toss whatever debris it’s caught in the trash.

Another tip is to place about a cup of baking soda in the drain, then flush it with a cup or so of vinegar. Let it bubble a bit, then rinse it with a pot of boiling water followed by a minute or so of hot water from the tap. This can be done weekly. Sometimes, even boiling water alone is enough to dislodge a block in the pipes.

Are you dealing with blocked drains in your North Shore home? Contact Tai Irwin Plumbing and schedule a service call today!