Calling your plumber each time you get a clogged tub drain can prove to be very expensive, not to mention frustrating and time consuming. If you’ve got a tub drain that works right now, it’s time to think about prevention so you won’t have a need for the plumber in the future!
Every tub drain in every house is susceptible to clogs. Excellent drain pipe materials, plumbing codes, and regular plumbing maintenance can keep clogs to a minimum. Unfortunately, most of us do not have the benefit of dictating what plumbing materials should be used in our homes. Regrettably, most of us don’t think about plumbing maintenance until we’ve already got a clog or draining problems.
Biofilm is the goop that is found in all drains. Biofilm is a mixture of bacteria, food particles, soap residue, cosmetics, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, and body oils. The film tends to be very sticky on the surface and then hardens as layers begin to accumulate. After twenty five or thirty years, the standard one and a half inch diameter drain can be completely clogged with biofilm! Biofilm alone is enough reason to make clog prevention a priority.
If you’re building your home, obviously you have a great opportunity to prevent future clogging. Using copper drain lines would be a great idea. It’s thought by some experts that the copper lines actually poison the biofilm, slowing its development. Plastic drain lines would be the next best choice, although biofilm can attach to the smooth surfaces of the pipe. If you have the choice, installing a two inch diameter trap and two inch drain line will help, as the larger pipe size will not clog as easily. Most of us don’t have the benefit of starting from scratch, but if you do, take advantage!
You can prevent clogging in your existing drains by performing some very simple tasks on a regular basis. First, check the tub stoppers on a quarterly basis, or more often, for hair and biofilm buildup. Check the stoppers for wear, it is easy to remove the stoppers and replace them if necessary. Once a week, you should fill each of your tubs half way full, and then pull up on the stopper. The volume and weight of the water will fill the drain pipe with water, flushing the drain line completely.
To help with clogging in the entire house, every three months all the sinks and tubs should be filled with water. With the help of family and friends, release all of the water at the same time. The large amount of water will help to flush out large drain stacks and underground building drains that contribute to clogging.
If you have a home that is connected to a sewage plant, not a septic tank, you can help keep your drain lines clear by pouring chlorine bleach into the drain once a month. Pouring twelve ounces of bleach into each tub at night will do the trick. If the chlorine sits in the lines over night, it will dissolve any biofilm buildup. The next day, running clear water through the drains will wash away any remaining residue.
Retail liquid drain cleaners, such as Drano, do work very well. Unless you’ve got recurrent clogs, these needn’t be used for preventative reasons. Off the shelf products actually contain household bleach, so as long as you pour bleach into the drains regularly, these products are a waste of your time and money.
As you can see, plumbing care and maintenance actually take very little time or skill. A few minutes each month can and will prevent much aggravation and expense. Stick to the maintenance and you’ll enjoy being clog free!
