04 May

Top 5 Spring Cleaning Tips For Your Drains

Spring is finally here (although it may not feel like it yet) and that means many people will be doing a spring clean in their homes.

This is a great time to declutter, deep clean, and get your home ready for entertaining during the summer months. While there are many obvious places people do their spring cleaning, like the floors, cupboards, and wardrobes, fewer people pay any attention to their drains.

So how can you take care of your drains during spring cleaning?

There are actually a number of things you can do to keep your drains in tip top shape heading into summer. We’ve put together a list of five ways you can spring clean your drains. Read on to find out more!

Prevention is better than a cure

The first tip we have is actually not a cleaning tip in and of itself. As with many things, prevention is better than finding a cure!

Stopping drains from clogging to slowing down before it even gets to that stage is the best piece of plumbing advice we can give. Avoid flushing any food scraps down your kitchen sink and use a drain guard where appropriate. Do not pour any oil or grease down your drains, as these can solidify in the pipes and cause blockages very quickly. Do not flush any paper towels or wet wipes down the toilet, as these are not designed to disintegrate in water and can cause a blockage in your sewerage system.

Regularly cleaning out your drain guards and cleaning your toilet are great ways to keep your drains working well all year around.

Use biodegradable cleaners

When it comes time to clean your drains, ensure you are using biodegradable, gentle cleaners.

Many commercially available drain cleaners contain extremely high concentrations of toxic substances such as sodium hydroxide or chlorine. While these are powerful cleaning agents, they are also highly corrosive to pipes, both metal and PVC. With sustained exposure, your pipes can weaken and eventually burst. This can result in extremely costly repairs and significant damage to your property, which is something everyone wants to avoid.

Not only are these toxic drain cleaners bad for your plumbing, they can also be extremely harmful to the environment. These substances can get into waterways and cause issues for native marine life, further damaging the delicate ecosystems that make up our lakes and waterways. Use gentler, biodegradable drain cleaners when cleaning your drains. Vinegar and baking soda are great alternatives to harmful chemicals, and are very affordable too!

Clean out debris

Cleaning out any built up physical debris in your drains is essentially in having them work properly.

Drains tend to catch all manner of bits and pieces that come flushing down them. Hair, food scraps, soap scum, and more can all catch at the mouth of your drain and start slowing things down. Clearing these out often can help your drain work good as new every time!

Open up your drain cover and use a bent wire, such as from a coat hanger, to scrape down the walls inside the drain and pull out anything you can. You will probably notice a lot of hair in your bath and shower drains, which can cause your drains to drain much more slowly than normal. Once you have pulled all the debris you can out, dispose of it appropriately and replace the drain cover.

Check for leaks

During your drain spring cleaning, you should take the time to try and identify any leaks.

Leaking drains and pipes can cause you hundreds of dollars in wasted water every year. Not only is this bad for your wallet, but it is wasting one of our most precious resources as well. A leak is also an indication of a potentially serious plumbing issue being not too far off, such as a burst pipe or serious clog. Identifying them early can help you prevent any plumbing emergency and save you money in the process.

Listen out for any dripping or running water noises throughout your home. Keep an eye out for any damp patches on your walls, as this could be a sign there is a leak behind the drywall. If you notice any of these things, you should call your plumber immediately to perform a full assessment.

Get a professional clean

Perhaps the best piece of advice for spring cleaning your drains is to get a professional clean from your local plumbing service.

Plumbers are able to perform a deeper clean than you would be able to do yourself using a range of professional tools and techniques. High pressure water jetting can completely clean your drains and pipes without using any harmful chemicals and return them to a brand new state. Snaking machines can extract deeper clogs to improve flow rates and keep your drains working effectively. Your plumber can also perform a thorough inspection of all your piping to highlight any areas you might want to deal with before they become an emergency.

PlumbWize is the premier plumbing service in Hamilton, providing the highest level of service to homeowners in the GTA. We specialize in all forms of drain maintenance including hydrojetting, rooter services, CTV camera inspection, snaking, and more. We can also provide you with professional recommendations for how to maintain your drains and schedule regular check ups if you require.
Contact us today to find out more!

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