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Sometimes, we let things go that need to be done because we just don’t think about them. Our cars get to 6,000 miles before we take them in for an oil change, or that menial task at work keeps getting lost in the mix of all the other things we have to do. It’s an understandable oversight, but not always a safe one. In the case of your drains, you need to be aware of the risks of not cleaning them out once in a while.

Have you ever stopped to think about all the things that fall into your drains? Hair, soap, and food particles all find their way into your pipes on a regular basis. Over time, these things can clump together and build up until your drains are completely blocked, potentially leading to more serious damage in your plumbing. Fortunately, just like any other menial task, an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure. A little bit of cleaning can go a long way!

How Often Do I Clean My Drains?

There’s plenty of advice out there on how often you should clean your drains, most of it conflicting. Search long enough and you can find articles suggesting quarterly, monthly, or even weekly cleanings. However, we think that the monthly option is the best, mainly because it can become part of a regular routine without presenting a major hassle.

We all know doing something weekly can become such a pain that we avoid doing it, whether it’s a weekly report or a trip to the gym. A weekly task can be something you enjoy and look forward to, or it might just be one more pain you have to deal with (We’d venture a guess that cleaning the drains would fall into that second category!). And, if it becomes a pain, you’re far more likely to “forget” to do it or deliberately put it off—which defeats the purpose entirely.

Quarterly cleanings aren’t exactly ideal, either. Instead of frequent cleanings that become a pain to do, you end up with the opposite problem: it’s something you don’t do frequently enough so you forget to do it. Other issues come up and interfere with your schedule, so you let cleaning the drains slide. The next thing you know, a year has gone by and you’re taking a shower in ankle deep water because the drain is backed up.

Both of these situations are problems you need to be aware of when setting a schedule for cleaning your drains. And don’t forget that cleaning your drains might be of the utmost importance, especially if your drains are especially prone to clogging up. We think it’s worth stating again: doing a little now can help you prevent a lot of work later.

Monthly Is The Way To Go

A monthly cleaning schedule is ideal because it’s not frequent enough to be a burden but regular enough that you’re less likely to forget. It allows you to use safe drain cleaning methods and plan ahead for the project, saving you time, money, and effort in the long run. By using methods that incorporate baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water, you can ensure that your drains are working properly for days, months, and years to come without major work or an emergency call.

Call Us If An Emergency Does Happen

However, we know that sometimes things can happen that are less than ideal. Even regularly cleaned drains can clog instantly, and there’s always the risk of a clog in the main drainage pipe. Emergencies are sometimes unavoidable—that’s why we’re here! Give us a call today and we’ll get your pipes all back into working order!

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Topics: Home Plumbing, Drain Cleaning and Repair