| Slow drains can be extremely frustrating to the | | | | but won't do much to clear long-term waste |
| home owner and even more frustrating to people | | | | accumulation. |
| who live in apartments. Fortunately, you don't | | | | Enzymatic Cleaners are an environmentally |
| have to always wait for the management | | | | friendly drain cleaner that use enzymes to break |
| company to send a repairman. There are plenty | | | | down clogs. However, they are slow to work, |
| of things you can do on your own to fix a slow | | | | often taking three or four days to realize |
| drain. This article will discuss a variety of tools and | | | | significant results. Enzymatic Cleaners are perfect |
| tricks for maintaining a fast moving drain and | | | | for drain maintenance. |
| clearing a clogged one. | | | | Acidic Cleaners are extremely effective but can |
| For starters, when it comes to maintaining a | | | | be quite destructive in the wrong hands. They will |
| healthy drain, an ounce of prevention is worth a | | | | dissolve most anything clogging a drain. They will |
| truckload of drain-fixing tools. Want to know a | | | | also dissolve metal, porcelain, and degrade |
| simple way to keep a free-flowing drain healthy? | | | | aluminum and Stainless Steel. Only use an Acidic |
| Hot water. Put the stopper in your sink drain or | | | | Cleaner as a last resort. |
| shower drain, and run the hot water directly from | | | | If you decide to use a mechanical device to clear |
| the tap and fill up the basin. Then pull the plug, and | | | | your drain, here are the standard tools of the |
| allow the hot water to continue to run for | | | | trade: |
| another thirty seconds after the basin empties. | | | | Plunger - your basic plunger can clear obstructive |
| The hot water breaks up old accumulations in the | | | | clogs from both the tub and the kitchen sink. A |
| waste line. By doing this once every few weeks, | | | | tight seal is needed if they are to work. Be |
| it will prevent a new line from ever having clogs, | | | | careful when using a plunger, especially if you pour |
| and will also help clear out an older drain line over | | | | a chemical drain cleaner into the drain first. Splash |
| time. Another trick is a cap-full of bleach once a | | | | back can be very harmful to your face and eyes. |
| week into every drain in the house. These simple | | | | Use safety goggles or a splash back mask. |
| tips for keeping drains clear will save you a lot of | | | | Drain Auger - this is a device that has coiled wiring |
| money in the long run. | | | | attached to a handle and crank. If you buy one of |
| If your drains do end up clogged, the problem | | | | these, make sure to purchase one that keeps the |
| usually lies in one of two areas: localized | | | | coil within a protective housing. The housing will |
| obstruction and vertical or horizontal clog. | | | | keep you, your project, and your home clean by |
| A localized obstruction is usually in a fixture trap, | | | | keeping the drain slime within the housing. |
| in a mechanical waste fixture or appliance, or | | | | Closet Auger - (also called a water closet) this |
| where the drain piping makes an abrupt change in | | | | device is a three foot tube with a right-angle bend |
| direction. The obstruction is usually easy to clear | | | | at the bottom. Inside the tube is a cable and |
| with a wire or by using a plunger. Most often the | | | | crank rod. This device is perfect for clearing |
| object is a small toy, cotton ball, toothpick, or | | | | stubborn toilet clogs. |
| something similar. Removal of the item typically | | | | Power Auger - these are essentially the same as |
| clears the slow drain immediately. | | | | a Drain Auger but with a motor to facilitate the |
| Horizontal and vertical clogs are a result of years | | | | breaking up of long-term pipe accumulation. These |
| of waste accumulation within the drain pipe. The | | | | are costly machines and are usually only |
| slow, steady buildup of material eventually | | | | purchased by professional plumbers. |
| restricts the flow of water. Over time, the drain | | | | Those are the basic tips and tools for keeping |
| works slower and slower, eventually coming to a | | | | household drain pipes clear. If you follow the hot |
| complete stop. To clear these types of clogs, you | | | | water technique, you might not ever need to use |
| will need an auger or some form of liquid drain | | | | any of the above listed drainers and mechanical |
| cleaner such as an Enzymatic drain cleaner. | | | | devices. And if you ever come across a stubborn |
| If you decide to use a liquid drain cleaner, you | | | | drain, you can always hire a plumber. Although |
| have three primary types to choose from: | | | | they can be expensive, they usually have the |
| Alkaline cleaners are your basic supermarket | | | | right equipment and (more importantly) the |
| products. These are poured directly into the drain. | | | | necessary experience to know how to solve any |
| They will work on simple hair and grease clogs, | | | | drain problem. |