Avoiding Clogged Drains

Q: I have a bathroom drain that is continually clogging. I clean it out using drain cleaners and it is fine for a few weeks. How can I cure the problem permanently?

A: The problem with most drain cleaners is that once they create a small hole in the grime in the drain pipes that is creating the problem, it flushes itself down that hole and does not do any more cleaning. It takes little more grease and grime to clog up that small hole.

My suggestion is to use hot water every couple of weeks after you have cleared the next clog with the drain cleaner.

Fill the basin, sink or tub with the hottest water possible – boiling water from a kettle is perfect. Pour the water down the drain. This will flush out the concealed grease and grime that is causing the problem. Each time you flush the drain with the hot water, more of the grease and grime will be dissolved.

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Clogged Drain

Q: My bathroom sink drain repeatedly gets slow. I tried the Drano in the can, the one that sprays it down with a blast of air, and it worked. I figured it was as much the air as the Drano. Now when it gets slow, I take a little compressed air tank, put the nozzle down the drain in such as way as to make a seal, block the overflow with a finger and squeeze the trigger. Works every time and stays good for 6 weeks or so; is it possible that whoever put that piece of drainpipe in didn't slope it enough? It's been snaked and cleaned multiple times.

A: I would suspect your problem is a build-up inside the pipe or at the trap. What happens is, when you add the compressed air, Drano or snake, it makes a small opening through the grunge that is in the pipe, as soon as there is any opening the water flows and the Drano goes through the hole, after a short period of time that 1/2" or so hole gets clogged again.

The most common area for build-up is the trap, so I would suggest you remove the trap and clean it out. If that is not the problem area, from the drain side of the trap, insert a larger diameter snake.

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