Tanya Klien
When it comes to proper home maintenance, few things are as important as understanding how your home's plumbing system works. Apart from just understanding the setup, it is good to know some of the tools and DIY techniques that can help your drains working as they should, and how to limit clogging debris and chemicals from building up inside the pipes.
Poor maintenance is one of the ways in which homeowners often compromise their plumbing systems. Chemical cleaners can cause more harm, and it may even damage your plumbing system and deteriorate the drains.
Anta Plumbing's team of Toronto plumbers share some of their unexpected secrets to expert drain care in this week's post.
1. Clogs Cause Damage to Your Pipes
Many homeowners don't take clogs seriously and leave them until it is too late, or until it has caused damage to the property. That's what clogs do; they become solidified inside the drains or pipes. Highly corrosive, the clogs can cause the pipes to thin. When too much pressure is applied to the damaged pipes, they can burst, causing severe property damage.
When you understand the risks that are posed to your plumbing system, you will understand the importance of clearing clogs immediately.
2. Garbage Tin vs. Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposals are not intended to be used for bulk scraps, but only for plate scraps. Misuse of garbage disposal is one of the major causes of sink drain clogs in Toronto. A sink pipe is 1.5" wide, which is much too small for solid items. For that reason, clogs occur where the household lines meet.
3. Know Your Papers
Tissue and paper towels are designed to absorb water, which means that the fibers cling together when wet. Never flush paper towels or tissue. Toilet paper has a different composition, causing it to break up into tiny particles in water, making it suitable to be flushed. The same applies to sanitary products and baby wipes, which also should not be flushed down the drain.
4. New Toilets Cause Fewer Clogs
The older your toilet, the more likely it is to cause clogs. Older toilets have huge drain holes, but the drain pipes are much smaller. Newer toilets are designed to reduce clogs.
5. Liquid Drain Cleaning Chemicals
Clever marketing makes it sound so simple - just pour the liquid into your drain and viola!, clean drain in seconds. However, they don't warn you of the dangers associated with such products. Liquid drain cleaners give off harmful gases while they work, posing a serious threat to the health of everyone in your home. Furthermore, these products contain acids that can cause severe burns, and if it gets into your eyes, it can even cause blindness. Mishaps are easier than you might imagine, as the acid can shoot up unexpectedly from another source while you're cleaning one drain. Apart from what they could potentially do to you, they actually harm your pipes.
6. Regular Maintenance Saves Money
By inspecting your drainpipes once a month, and doing routine maintenance, you can end up saving yourself thousands of dollars in repairs, a lot of inconvenience, and damages. Flush all your drains with half a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar once a month to remove any buildup, and if you notice anything untoward, get in touch with Anta Plumbing right away.
