There is nothing more annoying and inconvenient than experiencing a clogged sink. The chances are that the wastewater doesn’t go down the drain, and it just keeps on backing up. The biggest culprit? A clogged drain in your sink! This typically happens when household members don’t observe proper waste disposal. They end up putting or pouring various types of wastes down the drain, which eventually gets accumulated in the pipes. As a result, they cause a clog and lead to severe plumbing issues.

In this article, we’ll share the top causes of a clogged drain so that you know what to avoid throwing in your sink and what you can do to prevent it from occurring in the first place.

What causes your sink to clog

Before we delve further, let’s take a look at what causes your sink to clog so that you know what to address and do. Take note of the following:

1. Dirt: For your drains outdoors, it’s easy for specks of dirt and excess mud to go down the drain. This usually happens after gardening or working outside. 
2. Hair: For your shower drains, it’s common for hair strands to fall off during a shower. If you don’t have mesh screens installed, these strands will easily flow down the drain.
3. Soap: As you may or may not be aware, bar soaps actually have fats that get formed with hair strands, minerals, and other debris in the pipes of your shower drains. 
4. Grease: Pouring down grease is a big no-no! However, many households aren’t wary of this, thinking that it’s a liquid. Many fail to realize that it cools down, gets hard, and turns into solid in your pipes over time.
5. Food waste: It’s common for food wastes to get thrown in the kitchen sink. When washing the dishes, family members end up allowing food particles to go down the pipes, which builds up over time.
6. Tree roots: Many homeowners tend to neglect the fact that the roots of surrounding trees grow and may penetrate the underground pipes. When they break in the lines, the damages can obstruct the water flow and cause hefty repairs.

How to prevent your sink from clogging

As with any household endeavours, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This principle also applies to something as simple as avoiding clogged sinks at home. Below are some practical tips for preventing your sink from clogging:

1. Be sure to install correctly sized drain strainers in your kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and garden sinks.
2. Never dispose of grease in your drains; collect it and throw it outside instead.
3. Observe proper disposal of wastes during cooking and food preparation and even after a meal.
4. Use household solutions (baking powder/vinegar/warm water mixture) and pour them down your drain at least once a month to clear any growing clogs.
5. Turn on the cold water and run it for the duration of the process when using your disposal. 
6. Clean your drain stoppers every time you maintain your bathroom.
7. Only flush these three Ps down your toilet—pee, poo, and paper! No other items should go down the drain.

Conclusion

At this point, we’ve covered the causes of a clogged sink—from pouring grease to throwing food wastes down the drain to growing tree roots. Be sure to follow the practical tips outlined above to prevent a clogged sink from occurring. In the end, every household has the sole responsibility to take good care of their sinks and the entire plumbing system!

If you are facing a plumbing emergency in Calgary due to a clogged sink, get in touch with us today to see how we can help! We provide 24/7 expert plumbing and HVAC services for commercial and residential properties with over 25 years of experience in the industry!

Frozen pipes can create lots of pressure inside the pipe, which may lead to a burst fixture. When a pipe bursts, flooding can easily occur, and this can turn into a huge problem when no one’s around the house or if everybody’s asleep. Just imagine waking up in the morning and being greeted with pools of water in your home; that’s not how you want to start your day.

When temperatures go down, it is time to prepare your pipes to ensure that their functions remain. In this article, we will share eight tips to protect your pipes from freezing:
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1) Adjust The Thermostat

Keep in mind that your indoor temperature must be between 55 degrees or higher at all times, especially when you will be gone for a few days. Even if this will cost you a bit more, it’s far cheaper than dealing with the damages that frozen pipes can bring.

2) Open The Doors

Keep the doors inside the house open to let warm air circulate in the area. You should also keep cabinet doors open so that the heat can reach the pipes under the sink.

3) Let Faucets Drip On Cold Nights

If your faucets are located on exterior walls that are at risk of freezing, let them drip. The slow trickle of water may relieve pressure so that the pipes won’t burst. Although it may not entirely prevent the pipes from freezing, it can still significantly reduce the risks.

4) Seal And Insulate Exterior Walls

If your plumbing runs through your basement or garage, you need to seal doors and windows in these areas with weather stripping and caulk to prevent air leaks. You can also insulate walls to keep the cold out. If low temperatures reach the inner fixtures, they can easily be at risk of freezing.

5) Deal With Exposed Pipes

For any exposed pipes that run through the garage or basement, you need to keep them from freezing by wrapping electrical heating tape around them. You can also get the ones that have built-in thermostats that will automatically turn the heat on and off when necessary.

6) Drain Water System If You’ll Be Gone For A While

If you’re going on vacation, be sure first to drain your plumbing and turn off the main water shutoff valve. With no water in the pipes, it will be unlikely for them to freeze. Also, you should open all faucets until the water stops running.

7) Winterize Automatic Sprinkler System

An effective way to winterize your sprinkler system is to blow out the pipes to remove standing water. This step is primarily performed when the frost level reaches below the depth of irrigation systems.

8) Insulate Hose Bibs & Exterior Pipes

Get faucet covers to protect your hose bibs. You can also use a towel and secure it with a rubber band and add a garbage bag to insulate and waterproof them. For exposed plumbing attached to the hose bibs, you can protect it with pipe insulation.

Conclusion

Protecting your pipes when the cold weather is fast approaching is important because frozen pipes can lead to costly damages that you will not want to deal with. Keep in mind that homes are also more vulnerable to frozen pipes in typically warmer climates because the pipes may not have proper insulation against frigid temperatures.
With that, it’s not only the cold season that can freeze your pipes, but also abnormally cold weather. This essentially means that if you’re in an area that experiences erratic weather conditions, then it’s important to ensure your pipes are protected.

Remember that you don’t have to do these tasks on your own—you can hire a professional to add protection for your pipes to prevent them from freezing. All you need to do is find a reliable contractor to help you out.
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If you have a plumbing emergency in Calgary, AB, then you have come to the right place. Our experts at 24 Hour Plumbing & Heating have 20 years of plumbing experience, and we will perform repair, renovation and installation projects. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help!