How to Avoid Clogged Drains, Toilets, and Disposals

Living in an older Anaheim home comes with quirks. The stairs creak, the porch light flickers unless you jiggle the switch, and your plumbing?

Well, that’s a different story.

Clogged sinks. Slow-draining showers. Mysterious smells.

Is this just your vintage plumbing acting up, or could your everyday habits be making things worse?

Keep Your Kitchen Drains Clear

Between meal prep, packed lunches, and midnight snacks, your kitchen sees a lot of action. But it doesn’t take much to send your garbage disposal or sink drain into a spiral.

Here’s how to avoid kitchen clogs:

  • Never pour grease or oil down the drain. Even in liquid form, grease cools and coats your pipes. And no matter how much hot water you pour down the drain, it’s going to stay there.
  • Use a drain strainer. Catch food scraps before they become plumbing problems.
  • Skip the bones, pits, and peels. Garbage disposals are fantastic when you only throw approved foods down the drain. Scraps like fruit pits, bones, and starchy vegetables are best left for the trash can.
  • Clean the disposal blades. Run water after using your disposal and clean it with salt and ice cubes to knock debris loose.

Avoid Clogs in Your Bathroom

You might also be clogging your bathroom drains more than you realize. Hair, soap scum, and conditioner residue are the usual suspects.

  • Install a drain strainer or hair catcher. You might be surprised just how much hair you shed during a single shower!

As for your toilet? The biggest clog culprits are the things that don’t break down, no matter what the label says.

Here’s what NOT to flush:

  • Wipes (yes, even “flushable” ones)
  • Paper towels or tissues
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Cotton balls, swabs, or floss
  • Too much toilet paper (a mother knows: teach the kiddos that half the roll isn’t necessary!)

When in doubt, throw it out.

Maintain Your Drains the Smart Way

Even with perfect habits, clogs can sneak up over time, especially in older homes with older plumbing systems.

Here’s how to stay ahead of those sneaky clogs:

  • Use a friendly bacteria-based drain cleaner like BioOne. It’s gentle on your pipes and septic system while breaking down organic material building up in your pipes.
  • Schedule an annual drain cleaning. Our hydro jetting service uses high-pressure water (and only water!) to blast away buildup, grease, and residue hiding deep in your plumbing.

Enjoy Clean and Clear Drains with Barker and Sons

At Barker and Sons, we’ve seen just how fast a slow drain can turn into a full-blown disaster. We also know that with the right habits (and a little professional help), you can keep things running smoothly.

If your drains are slowing down or if something smells off, give us a call. We’ll get to the root of the problem and clear it out fast, so your home stays calm, clean, and flowing like it should.