Sink and tub drains are generally over looked in daily life. We rarely notice them when we take shower, wash dishes, or run water into the sinks. The time we do notice them is when they work more slowly or even stop working altogether and back up. Having a backed up sink is bad enough, but sometimes, a bad clog will back up an entire household, making a mess of the whole area around it. Not only is this bad for floors, walls, and underlying structural frames, but it is downright unsanitary. Keeping your drains free flowing and clean is an essential home maintenance that should never be overlooked. Drains get clogged in various ways. Food, hair, wet paper items, and even toys can block a drain so completely that backups are inevitable. As drains back up over a slow period of time, harmful bacteria, fungi and parasites may develop in the stagnant water. Mould also may develop in homes that have slow or clogged drains. This can make an entire household sick. Drain cleaning can prevent many a side effect that we never think of. To prevent drain clogging, kitchen sinks do well with having hot water run into them every few days, and a drain screen should always be used while dishes are being done to retain the food particles and other bits of debris. A drain screen can also help in showers or baths to retain stray hair Slow drains or drain clogs can sometimes be easily cleared by the homeowner. There are many materials, tools, and chemicals that can be used to free a drain for better flow, but special care should be taken while using any chemicals. Most chemical drain cleaners are not only risky while handling, but can be harmful to health as well. Use of bio cleaners is a better option as they are non toxic. If you intend to use a chemical solution to loosen a clog, make sure that you have thoroughly read all safety and use instructions, wear gloves, and use it only if the chemical is safe for your pipes. Never splash any drain cleaner! It should be poured slowly with no splashes at all. To remove hair from drains, drain snakes may be used. They are available in hardware stores. It can be placed in the drain and rotated to clear the clog removing hair and other particles that have accumulated. Drain cleaners can be used here as well, but use extreme caution when using these cleaners in tubs or showers, because residual cleaner can remain in the drain after cleaning. For more serious and unknown clogs, a professional will have to be called in. Professional plumbers can help with any drain problem and in many cases will save much more costly repairs and a possible flooding. Small leaks around drains require the instant attention of a plumber as do any major backups in the home. Drains should never be left clogged for any amount of time, because of the health hazards and damage issues that may arise. If you know you can't fix it, call a plumber to have your drains clog free in no time.
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