Most drain clogs build up gradually rather than happening all at once. A few consistent habits can go a long way toward keeping your kitchen and bathroom drains clear.
In the Kitchen
- Avoid pouring grease or oil down the drain — it solidifies as it cools and narrows the pipe over time
- Use a sink strainer — catching food scraps before they go down the drain prevents a lot of buildup
- Run hot water after washing dishes — this helps move residual grease further down the line instead of letting it settle
- Don't overload a garbage disposal — feeding it small amounts at a time works better than a heavy load all at once
In the Bathroom
- Use a drain cover to catch hair — hair is one of the most common causes of bathroom drain clogs
- Avoid flushing wipes, even "flushable" ones — they don't break down like toilet paper and are a common cause of clogs further down the line
- Clean the drain stopper regularly — soap scum and hair build up here more than people expect
Signs a Clog Needs Professional Attention
Occasional slow drainage is often manageable on your own. It's time to call a plumber when:
- The clog keeps coming back after you've cleared it
- Multiple drains in the house are slow at the same time
- You hear gurgling from other fixtures when you run water somewhere else
- There's a persistent bad smell coming from a drain
Multiple slow drains at once, in particular, often points to something further down the main line rather than a simple local clog — worth having looked at rather than repeatedly treating the symptom.
When to Call Us
If store-bought drain cleaner isn't cutting it, or the same drain keeps clogging every few weeks, that's usually a sign of a more stubborn blockage that's better handled with the right tools. See our kitchen plumbing and bathroom plumbing pages for more on the services we provide.