Tag: clog prevention

3 Benefits of Summer Drain Cleaning

Posted on by Larry & Sons

When’s the last time you gave your drains some TLC? If it has been a while since your last drain cleaning, you may want to think about scheduling a summer drain cleaning. Summer drain cleaning is just as important and beneficial as spring cleaning, but most people forget about it.

If you want to prevent clogs and ensure that waste and wastewater can flow freely away from your home, you need to have your drains cleaned from time to time. Check out these benefits of summer drain cleaning.

Clog Prevention

summer drain cleaning
Down the drain flickr photo by Gayle Nicholson shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license

Clogs are some of the most common plumbing woes. They can occur in any drain line, and they can really put a damper on your day. In severe cases, they can also cause a huge mess inside your home or on your property.

Over time, grease, hair, toilet paper and other debris builds up in residential plumbing pipes. When the pipes are not cleaned regularly, all this buildup often causes a blockage. In addition to being inconvenient, major blockages can damage your pipes and lead to major repair costs.

Prevent Health Hazards

Clogs are more than just annoying. They harbor bacteria, mold and mildew, and during the summer months, heat and humidity facilitates the rapid growth and spread of these health hazards. Keeping your drains clean means keeping these serious risks at bay.

Early Problem Detection

When you have your drains cleaned routinely, your plumber has an opportunity to find and correct minor problems before they become serious. We often find roots growing into main sewer lines during routine drain cleaning visits. The earlier problems like this are detected, the earlier and more affordable they are to correct.

Summer Drain Cleaning in Hagerstown and the Surrounding Areas

For summer drain cleaning in Hagerstown and the surrounding areas, depend on the expert plumbing technicians here at Larry & Sons. We have advanced equipment that allows us to clean and take a look inside your home’s drainage system without causing any damage. If we find a problem, we are equipped to resolve it, and you can trust that your pipes are in good hands with us. If you have not had your drains cleaned in a while, please contact us now before disaster strikes. Call 301-733-5428.

How to Prevent Clogged Drains & Sewer Lines

Posted on by Larry & Sons

While you’re busy getting the house ready for Thanksgiving and deciding what foods to prepare for the upcoming feast, you may not realize that this is an extremely busy time for someone else too – plumbers. The Thanksgiving season is actually one of the busiest times of the year for plumbing professionals simply because so many clogs occur as the result of drain, toilet and garbage disposal misuse. During holidays and celebrations that are centered around food, the number of plumbing emergencies always increases by a significant amount.

Fortunately for you, you don’t need to be a plumber to know how to prevent clogged drains and sewer lines in the first place. This year, do yourself a huge favor, and follow these simple tips for preventing clogs.

Properly Dispose of Food and Grease

Hagerstown Drain Cleaning
Keep your drains clean to avoid dealing with this on Thanksgiving Day!

Even if you have a garbage disposal, there are certain things that should NEVER go down your drains, including fats, grease, gravy, cooking oils and sauces. Instead, pour such foods into heat-resistant containers and dispose of in the trash.

To keep food and other materials out of your drains, install drain guards, and clean them out regularly.

Dispose Paper Products Properly

There are only two things that should ever get flushed down your toilet: human waste and toilet paper. Paper towel, diapers and wipes should never be flushed. These products do not deteriorate easily, and they can easily cause clogs in the main sewer line, especially when you are entertaining and your plumbing system is working harder than usual.

Replace Aging Pipes

Old clay and metal sewer lines are prone to collapse and tree root infiltration. Consider replacing them with modern PVC or plastic pipes to greatly reduce your risk of such problems. With most sewer lines in the US being 30+ years old, many are due to fail at any time. If you’re unsure of the condition of your sewer pipes, a video sewer line inspection will let you know if it’s time to replace them.

Install a Backwater Prevention Valve

A backwater prevention valve is a good way to avoid a nasty mess in your basement. When installed in the sewer line in your basement, these valves prevent sewer backups by allowing sewage to flow out but blocking it from flowing back in.

Keep Your Drains Clean

Every so often, thoroughly rinse your drains using hot water mixed with baking soda and vinegar. Hot water liquefies grease, allowing it to pass through your home’s plumbing system, while the combination of baking soda and vinegar causes a chemical reaction that can break down stuck on food and debris. Unlike dangerous chemical drain cleaners, hot water, vinegar and baking soda are completely safe and natural.

Drain Cleaning in Hagerstown

Despite your best efforts, sometimes clogs happen. The next time you find yourself in need of drain cleaning in Hagerstown, trust Larry & Sons. For fast, reliable services, call 888-588-5923 or schedule a service online now.