Ways to prevent clogged drains and what to do if you’re too late

PHOENIX — While there are a variety of ways to prevent clogged drains, it’s equally as important to know what to do when you’re already too late.

Regular check-ups from a professional are likely the best way to prevent issues from developing in the future. The next best way falls on the owner and their guests.

For starters, if one lesson should be brought home its: Don’t throw anything into the sinks.

Whether the sink has a disposal or not, they aren’t built to grind, be overworked or to power through years of grease buildups.

A trained expert like the ones at Day & Night Air Conditioning in Phoenix may have to inspect the home to schedule a blockage removal if house appliances aren’t taken care of correctly.

Some signs of a clogged drain or main sewer line issues is:

• All sinks and showers are slow to drain
• Multiple toilets are having trouble flushing
• Different drains are affecting one another

The unseen sometimes requires just as much attention and care as what can be seen.

Take, for example, the 24-inch water line break that broke under the US 60 Highway near McClintock Drive in Tempe in May.

A 50-year-old pipe that was built to last 75 years ruptured, causing around 8 millions of water to be lost.

Closures above and on both sides of the freeway lasted for weeks interrupting commute times for thousands, and though a repair amount hasn’t been announced yet, city officials said the cost will be “significant.”

If getting a technician to your home sounds like a good idea, here’s what you can do while waiting for your appointment.

Instead of using harsh chemicals that often have a corrosive nature, experts advised using a mixture of equal parts baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain, then rinse with cold water.

Drain snakes can be available to rent but with the disclaimer that using it incorrectly can cause damage to the sewer line.