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Summer is a chance to enjoy Michigan’s beautiful weather. You shouldn’t have to spend any time worrying about drain clogs that could cost you money and damage your home. The good news is that clogs are usually preventable. Knowing what causes them and how to prevent them from happening can make a significant difference for your plumbing system.
What Causes Drain Clogs?
Unfortunately, many things can cause drain clogs, and they typically stem from your kitchen and bathrooms. For example, in the kitchen, putting coffee grounds, grease, oil, egg shells, and large food pieces down the drain instead of in the garbage can could result in a clog. In the bathroom, cat litter, feminine hygiene products, multiple-ply toilet paper, and paper towels are commonly flushed items that don’t belong in the toilet. Hair, soap, and conditioner are a few additional causes of clogs in sinks, tubs, and showers.
Another clog culprit starts outside your home. Tree roots can grow into your pipes and cause clogs and other problems, such as significant pipe cracks.
What Are Signs of a Drain Clog?
Signs of a clog may not be obvious initially but can slowly become more so as the clog worsens. You may notice foul odors, especially from the kitchen drain, as the smell is typically associated with trapped, rotting food. This could also lead to pest infestations as insects and other critters seek out these scraps. Water pressure can become inconsistent, and water could be slow to drain. Listen for uncommon sounds like gurgling. Another major sign is if you have a water and/or sewage backup, especially from your toilet.
Can I Clear a Clog Myself?
Many drain-cleaning chemical products are on the market, but we don’t recommend using them. They might work temporarily, but the clogs will likely return sooner rather than later. The chemicals can also damage your pipes and the environment. Our professional plumbers can use much safer, more effective measures for drain clog removal in bathrooms or kitchens, such as hydro jetting or snakes, to remove build-up.
How Can I Prevent Summer Drain Clogs?
No homeowner wants to spend beautiful, warm days dealing with a drain clog, especially if you are getting ready to go on vacation, returned from one, only have one bathroom in your home, or you’re hosting a summer gathering soon. There are several tips to keep in mind that can help prevent the issue.
Get a Spring Plumbing Inspection
A spring plumbing inspection is one of the best ways to prevent clogs from forming or existing ones from worsening. We can thoroughly inspect your plumbing system and look for any problem areas, especially after winter’s harsh weather may have damaged the pipes. It’s ideal to schedule your appointment in spring so that your system is ready for summer and restored after winter.
Schedule your spring plumbing inspection soon. Many homeowners want their plumbing systems in top shape for the warmer weather, so appointments tend to book up fast. Booking early increases the chances of getting your preferred date and time, especially if you want to get the appointment done and have time to make repairs before summer.
Get Issues Fixed
If we notice any problem areas in your plumbing system, we recommend fast repairs. Clogs can quickly grow larger, especially if they’re already a decent size. Other problems, such as pipe cracks, could also put your system at risk for clogs and other serious situations like sewage backups.
Getting these issues fixed as soon as you learn of them prevents them from worsening into severe and typically more expensive problems that can interrupt your fun summer plans. Prompt repairs can be particularly beneficial if you’ll be hosting guests for summer events or you plan on traveling throughout the season, as you won’t have to worry about a severe plumbing issue happening at the worst possible time.
Schedule an Arborist Inspection
Spring into summer is prime time for tree root growth. This puts your pipes at risk if you have roots nearby. However, the trees don’t have to be on your property to cause damage. Roots can sneak into your pipes from trees that are elsewhere, such as on your curb or in your neighbor’s yard. An arborist can assess your tree situation and let you know if any trees on or near your property could have roots that are already potentially damaging your pipes or are on the way. While they’re there, they can also evaluate the overall health of your trees to make sure they’re in good shape, which is particularly ideal if you live in an area that’s prone to strong summer storms.
Schedule a Drain Cleaning Appointment
Drain cleaning offers numerous benefits for your plumbing system. However, it’s not just great for clearing out an existing clog. Drain cleaning can also clear out clogs in the making, blasting them away before they have a chance to collect even more hair and other debris and grow larger.
This service also offers numerous other benefits, including clearing stuck-on grime from the pipe’s interior walls, eliminating horrific odors, preventing pest infestations, and encouraging faster water draining. It also helps increase the plumbing system’s lifespan and decreases the risk of plumbing emergencies.
Don’t Put Grease and Food Down the Drain
Two of the best aspects of summer are enjoying cookouts and eating fantastic food. Both could lead to drain clogs if you’re not careful. Avoid putting grease and hard or starchy food scraps down the drain. Keep a small garbage can outside in the gathering area so that you and your guests can throw out food remnants easily. You never want to throw hot grease right into a garbage can, so keep a small metal container outside that you can put the grease in. It will solidify as it cools, and then it’s safe to toss out.
Hang a Sign Up in the Bathroom
Hanging a sign up in your bathroom about not flushing any items could help prevent drain clogs if you plan to host many summer gatherings. Keep the sign simple, such as mentioning to throw items in the trash instead of flushing them. Display it where guests will easily see it, ideally right above the toilet or on the tank. Put a covered trash can close by, if possible, rather than placing it in an inconspicuous or hard-to-reach area, like under the sink.
Put Out One-Ply Toilet Paper
Hosts may be tempted to put out the fluffiest toilet paper for their guests during summer gatherings, but thicker toilet paper often leads to clogs. This can especially be the case if you have an old plumbing system or there’s already a clog in the works. It takes multiple-ply toilet paper longer to dissolve, whereas one-ply tends to dissolve quickly, leading to fewer issues with your plumbing system. Even if guests toss the toilet paper in the toilet instead of in the garbage can, there will still be less risk of a serious issue, like the toilet overflowing.
Don’t let drain clogs put a damper on your summer fun. Contact Service Professor in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Grand Ledge, Michigan, for drain cleaning services and all your plumbing needs. Call us seven days a week or message us online!
