How many times have you stood over a slow-draining sink and thought, “I’ll deal with it later”? And then “later” turns into standing ankle-deep in shower water, or worse — calling a plumber at 10 p.m. because the toilet won’t flush and the kitchen sink is gurgling.
Clogged drains don’t usually come out of nowhere. They build up slowly, from everyday habits that seem harmless: pouring grease down the sink, letting hair slip through the drain, rinsing food bits that really should’ve gone in the trash.
In this guide, we’ll show you exactly what causes most drain blockages, what professional plumbers wish more homeowners knew, and how to prevent those slow drains from turning into expensive plumbing repairs.
1. Know What Not to Put Down the Drain
Let’s be real. Your drain isn’t a black hole where things magically disappear. If you’re treating it like your second trash can, clogs are going to show up like unwanted house guests. Sure, it’s tempting to rinse everything down and forget about it, but the stuff you’re “just letting slide” ends up throwing a party inside your pipes.
Here are those you should avoid shoving down your pipes, or else clogs will be a mainstay at your home.
- Wipes – Even the ones marked “flushable” don’t break down like toilet paper. They build up fast and block pipes.
- Used oil and grease – They go in as liquid, but cool off and stick to your pipes like glue.
- Solid food scraps – Things like bones, peels, and fibrous veggies can jam up your disposal and your pipes.
- Harsh chemicals – These don’t just harm the environment, they can eat away at your pipes and leave cracks for roots to grow into.
- Soap chips – Small bits of bar soap may seem harmless, but they clump up and trap hair or grease.
- Flour – Mix it with water, and it turns into a paste that coats your pipes and causes clogs.
2. Use Drain Screens and Catchers
This is one of the easiest fixes around. Drain screens are cheap, easy to find, and a game-changer for keeping junk out of your pipes. You can toss one on any drain, kitchen, bathroom, or even the laundry area, and it’ll catch the stuff that causes problems.
Hair, food crumbs, lint, or soap bits. These screens grab them before they wash down and build up. Instead of pulling clumps of gunk out of a backed-up sink, you just empty the screen. Way easier and way less gross. Just don’t forget to rinse them every few days to skip surface clogs.
3. Run Hot Water from Time to Time
Here’s the deal with most drain clogs: they’re an accumulation of unwanted debris in your pipes that was likely caught up by grease sticking to your pipe walls. That sticky layer grabs onto whatever else flows by and eventually restricts your pipe’s diameter.
The fix? Just run hot water down your drain once a week. Not boiling, especially if you have plastic pipes, as it can melt your plumbing. It helps wash away that grease and keeps things moving. You don’t need a fancy cleaner or a plumber’s toolkit.
It’s especially helpful in kitchen sinks that deal with cooking residue. Do it after you’ve done the dishes, when you know there’s still some grease or soap floating around.
4. Clean Drains Regularly the Right Way
If you wait until the drain smells bad or gets slow, you’re already behind. A little monthly drain cleaning can keep buildup from getting out of hand.
But do your pipes a favor, and skip the store-bought chemical cleaners. They’re hard on your pipes and don’t always fix the problem. A safer method? Go with baking soda and vinegar. Pour in half a cup of baking soda, follow it with a full cup of white vinegar, then wait 10 to 15 minutes. Flush it with hot water and you’re done.
This combo helps break down grease and food bits, and it freshens things up, too. It’s a simple way to stay ahead of bigger issues. Plus, you probably already have the ingredients at home.
Doing this monthly helps break down organic buildup and freshens up your drains at the same time. It’s an easy routine that makes a big difference over time.
5. Brush Hair Before Showering
Hair might be the number one bathroom drain enemy. It’s light, it clumps, and it sticks to soap and shampoo residue. That combination builds up quickly, especially if more than one person in your home has long or thick hair.
A quick solution? Brush your hair before you hop in the shower. It loosens strands that would otherwise end up in the drain. The less hair going down, the less you have to pull out of the screen later, or worse, unclog with tools.
This small habit takes maybe 30 seconds, but it makes a big difference. Especially if you’ve had to deal with a backed-up shower before. You’ll notice your drain stays clear longer, and your screen doesn’t need cleaning as often.
6. Be Careful with Garbage Disposals
Your garbage disposal is tough, but not invincible. A little care goes a long way in keeping it and your pipes clear.
Avoid sending down fibrous foods like celery or corn husks. They wrap around the blades and cause jams. Same with peels from potatoes or onions, they turn mushy and sticky fast. And starch-heavy foods like pasta and rice? They swell up and get pasty, blocking things down the line.
Grease is another one to skip. It solidifies in the disposal and the drain. Once it’s in there, it’s a pain to remove.
Stick to soft food scraps and run cold water while the disposal is on. Give it a rinse after, too. That helps clear any leftovers and keeps it smelling fresh.
7. Schedule Annual Drain Inspections
Even if everything seems fine, an annual plumbing checkup can catch buildup before it turns into a full-on blockage.
A professional plumber has tools you don’t, such as cameras to look inside your pipes and high-pressure jets to clear out stubborn sludge. Think of it like a checkup for your plumbing system. One visit a year could save you from emergency plumbing repairs later.
Tackle Your Clogs Fast with Hardy Plumbing’s Top-Rated Drain Services
Even with good habits, some clogs just don’t budge. And when that happens, it’s not about pouring in more cleaner — it’s about calling someone who actually knows what they’re doing.
At Hardy Plumbing, we help homeowners stop drain problems before they turn into pipe problems. Whether it’s a slow sink that won’t clear or a backup that’s making a mess of your morning, we get to the source fast and fix it the right way.
Need backup on your backup? Give us a call or book your service online to keep your drains flowing and your plumbing clog-free!
Services
Emergency Plumbing?
Contact the plumber or plumbing company to schedule a service call. Be prepared to provide help about the problem.
