5 Ways to Reduce the Risk of Blocked Drains

Drain blockages are one of the most common reasons for calling out a domestic plumbing service. If you have noticed your kitchen sink draining slowly, your drains could be starting to develop a blockage, which is a problem you should never ignore. To avoid the situation getting any worse, adopt these five drain-friendly habits in your home.

1. Put Cooking Grease in the Bin, Not Down the Sink

When you have oil left in the pan after cooking your favourite meal, your instinct might be to pour the grease down the sink and leave the pan to soak. However, when oil gets into your pipes, it can solidify and cause a blockage. Rather than pouring oil down the sink, tip it into a plastic bottle and put it in the bin once it is cool.

2. Reduce Fat in Your Cooking

Even when you are careful with cooking oil, it can be difficult to prevent any traces of it getting into your plumbing system. Reducing the amount of oil you use when cooking could help to protect your pipes. Try steaming, boiling, baking, and grilling food instead of frying to reduce your usage of cooking fat. When you need to fry food, use a cooking spray to provide just enough lubrication to prevent the food sticking to the pan, without leaving you with an excess of grease to deal with.

3. Add Coffee Grounds to Compost

When you let coffee grounds flow through your pipes, their sludgy consistency can cause them to combine with other debris in the plumbing system and create a blockage. Dispose of them instead by adding them to your compost heap; they provide valuable nutrients for growing plants.

4. Cover Your Plug Holes

You can stop solid objects, like food scraps, hairs, or even jewelry, from getting into your pipes by using a plug hole cover. This simple device contains many holes to allow water to flow through. Use plug hole covers in your kitchen and bathroom to prevent locked drains.

5. Rinse Your Pipes

If you let hair, grease, coffee grounds, or any other potential causes of clogs get into your plumbing system, don't panic. Running plenty of warm water through the pipes can help to send oil and other debris through your system, reducing the risk that it will block your drains. Don't use cold water, which can cause oil to congeal and cause a clog.

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