Send Troubles Down the Drain: How to Protect Your Residential Drains
If you're having problems with your drains, it's time to take maintenance seriously. Ignoring drain problems won't make them go away. In fact, ignoring them will only make the problems worse. That's why proper drain maintenance is so important. It's the best way to avoid the stubborn problems that can plague your residential drains. If you're not sure how to properly maintain your residential drains, here are four steps you need to take.
Replace Outdated Pipes
If you've got outdated drain pipes in your home, it's time to replace them. You might not realize this, but outdated drain pipes can cause some serious problems for your home and your family. First, outdated drain pipes are more likely to rupture when exposed to freezing temperatures. Second, outdated drain pipes are more likely to expose you and your family to harmful lead and asbestos. The best way to protect your home and family is to have those outdated pipes replaced as soon as possible.
Repair Cracks and Splits
If you've been noticing lush spots in your grass or wet spots in your concrete, it's time to have your drains repaired. Those lush spots, or wet spots, are a good indication that your underground drains are leaking. That's usually caused by cracks and splits in the pipes. If you're worried about damage to your yard during the repairs, talk to your contractor about using trenchless repairs instead. The trenchless process allows damaged drain pipes to be repaired without disrupting the soil in your yard.
Restore Clogged Drains
If your drains are giving you nothing but problems, and you're plagued with clogs and foul odors, it's time for drain maintenance. The clogs and odors are sure signs that you've got serious problems inside your drain pipes. You might think that running the water after you use the garbage disposal or flushing twice after a large bowel movement will send everything through to the sewer system. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. In fact, quite a bit of food, toilet paper, and feces get left behind in the drains. For problem-free drains, you need to have them cleaned at least once a year.
Reduce Drain Problems
Finally, if you want to protect your drains, you need to learn how to reduce the problems. The best way to do that is through annual drain maintenance. Another way is to watch what you send through the drains. Avoid flushing anything besides toilet paper and human waste down the toilets. Also, give your garbage disposal a few extra pulses after each use. These simple steps can help to reduce the number of drain problems you experience each year.