Tips for doing your
own home maintenance and repair
Drain
Maintenance
Rinsing anything down the
drains in your home can be risky, especially in older homes but it can be a
problem in newer homes as well. Here some things you can do to keep your drains
clear.
- In sinks or tubs where hair is
washed, use strainer or a plug to catch hair before it gets into the
drain.
- It is not a good idea to pour grease
down your kitchen drain. Save your soup cans or any metal can and pour the
grease into the can and then let the grease get hard. Then wrap it up and
through it in the trash.
- Flush your drains with very hot
water on a regular basis. You can use powdered detergent mixed 3 to 1 with
boiling water to flush the drain. Pour the boiling water slowly into the
drain to avoid burns.
-
Periodic use of a
drain cleaner will prevent accumulations in the pipe. Be sure to read and
follow directions on the container. Do not have your head over the drain
when you pour the cleaner into the drain. The violent reaction of the
cleaner in water can blow up in your face.
- Each of the sinks in your home has a
trap in the drain line it looks like a U. Many different foreign items can
create clogged. It is a good idea to remove the trap once a year and empty
the contents into the trash. That will cut down on the number of clogs.
- You will need a pipe wrench,
possibly 2 and a bucket that will fit under the sink would be a good
idea.
- Using the wrench loosen the slip
nuts on the connections of the trap.
example
- Carefully remove the trap
section and turn upside down to drain the liquid into the bucket. You
may need to use a wire pipe cleaner to dislodge anything stuck in the
trap.
- Reassemble the trap the way it
came apart.
Drain cleaners
are very hazardous so be very careful in using them.
