Plumbing problems in our homes can often go undetected until something goes awry, making life inconvenient or even hazardous. Clogged drains and leaky pipes can become serious health hazards if left unaddressed.
Many basic plumbing issues can be easily fixed with the appropriate tools and cleaning products. Be wary of chemical cleaners which damage pipes; instead use these tips for maintaining clean drainage lines at home.
Hydro Jetting
Hydro jetting can help commercial and municipal drain lines that have become clogged with heavy build-up to be cleared away, with multiple water jets spraying at high velocity to clear away obstructions in the pipes and move waste more freely. Furthermore, its nozzle allows plumbers to identify both its location and severity for proper treatment options.
Plumbers that utilize hydro jetting can gain access to plumbing and sewer lines without digging a trench, saving time and inconvenience for both homeowners and businesses alike. Before pumping begins, a camera is placed into each pipe to detect major obstructions or areas with heavy build-up as well as make sure that each pipe can withstand pressure associated with hydro jetting.
Hydro jetting is more efficient than other drain cleaning methods such as snaking as it can clear more obstructions with one blast of high-pressured water, cleaning away build-up from pipe walls to reduce future clogs and prevent future blockages. Hydro jetting can also help businesses that accumulate grease build-up to minimize future blockages – and the eco-friendly and safer alternative than chemical drain cleaners that utilize harmful chemicals like bleach for its cleaning properties is that this method only uses plain water instead.
Wire Drain Snake
Clogged drains can be an inconvenient and sometimes dangerous reality of owning a home. Clogs typically result from something getting lodged far down in the pipe, like toys or hair clumps. While minor clogs may be remedied using tools such as plungers or cleaning the trap, more stubborn obstructions require powerful drain snakes or augers for removal.
Flexible cables with tough plastic coatings wind their way through pipes to locate and clear obstructions, most frequently in sinks, bathtubs and toilets; but can also be found in garden drains and gutter downspouts. Snakes feature long cables with an end equipped with a long helix-shaped hook designed for crank-powered operation so as to navigate clogged pipelines to locate obstructions quickly and dislodge them quickly.
Before using the snake, remove the trap arm and look inside your drainpipe for signs of obstruction. Next, tightening its thumbscrew will help secure its place before feeding the snake into the drainpipe – take care to wear rubber gloves and safety goggles as this job can be dangerous! When feeding the snake into your pipe it is important not to apply too much force; working slowly will keep the cable from bending back at you or snapping back outward. Any signs of resistance indicate you may have hit on an obstruction.
Dishwasher Detergent
Dishwasher detergent contains chemicals designed to dissolve grease and food debris, leaving dishes clean and free from residue. However, these same ingredients can also help clear clogged drains; you can save yourself the expense of drain cleaner by periodically pouring liquid dishwasher detergent down slow-moving drains or garbage disposals.
Start by whipping together a batch of detergent with just a small amount of warm water until it becomes thick and frothy, then quickly pouring the solution down your drain. Its bubbles should work their magic by getting into every crevice of a clog to break it apart; using hot water over cold has proven more successful at clearing away blockages than cold.
if detergent alone does not clear a clog, clear any standing water and attempt mechanical drain cleaning methods such as using a snake or twisted wire hangar to unclog. if that still does not do the trick, boil another pot of water-plus-detergent and repeat until your drain has been unclogged.
Another method of relieving slow drains is pouring coffee grounds down them periodically. The natural acids present in coffee will help break down grease and food residue while the rough texture of coffee grounds dislodges blockages more efficiently than conventional chemical drain cleaners, which may damage pipes further and lead to corrosion. This solution provides an eco-friendly alternative.
Coffee Grounds
Most coffee lovers are quick to toss their used grounds down the drain without much thought, yet this could be damaging your pipes. Coffee grounds are rock hard and will clog your sink if disposed of this way; they clump together with food particles, grease and soap scum to form an indestructible blockage which cannot be easily cleared away.
Use your used coffee grounds in innovative ways that will benefit both you and the environment. For instance, sprinkle them around your garden to nourish and fertilize plants; alternatively they make a fantastic abrasive cleaner when used to scrub pots and pans.
Coffee grounds can also help neutralize unpleasant odors in your garbage disposal or refrigerator, such as the smell of decayed fruit or spoilt milk in the latter case. A spoon or two of used grounds will do just the trick to cover up these smells.
In case of a clogged sink or drain, an alkaline cleaner can help break up coffee grounds and flush away clogs from your pipes. However, please remember these products are very strong and should only be used as a last resort as they could damage piping systems; should an issue persist, contact a professional plumber Las Vegas immediately for help.
Yeast
Yeast is a single-celled fungus composed of hundreds of species. The yeast autolysates produced by these microorganisms can break down fats, starches and plant material like toilet paper into digestible forms for further use by human digestive systems. Furthermore, yeast also aids digestion by digesting proteins more efficiently.
Utilizing yeast can aid the proper functioning of your septic system by breaking down fats and oils that cannot decompose properly and decreasing soap scum accumulations. Anecdotal evidence suggests that adding yeast to a septic tank may result in less sludge buildups over time.
Make your own septic tank treatment by mixing two cups of brown sugar and three tablespoons of active dry yeast together in a mixing bowl and pouring into an unchlorinated toilet, before flushing. Do this overnight so the yeast has time to work throughout the night.
Maintaining clean plumbing can save costly repair bills, and there are natural and inexpensive solutions available for doing this. Coffee grounds can help clean out drains while pouring two packets of dry yeast down them and flushing with extremely hot water can loosen hard filth or hair clogs without calling in a plumber – saving time and money in doing it yourself!
Dental Floss
Dental floss may be best known for its uses between the teeth, but this handy household item serves many other functions as well. It can be used to clean crevices in appliances, tools and other objects where toothbrush bristles cannot reach. Furthermore, floss can act as a last resort replacement shoelace or zipper pull replacement when one breaks. Plus, floss can often be found inexpensively and is easily found. Its thread can easily be cut to fit any size gap; while waxed floss varieties may also come in handy for tighter spaces or around restorations.
Squeaky floorboards can be an irritation, but with some wood glue and dental floss it’s easy to solve them. Simply soak a length of floss in glue before running it between boards that squeak. This tip also works great on wooden furniture.
If you need an instant trellis for your vegetable garden, use unwaxed dental floss as an easy DIY solution. The floss’s strength can easily support tomato vines tied between stakes for quick setup; alternatively it can also serve as an emergency clothesline when camping or swimming, without scratching walls like wires do; its thread can even be used to stitch up shirt seams if a button comes loose unexpectedly!