How to Prevent Clogged Drains (and When to Call a Plumber)

Kitchen Drain Prevention

Grease is the number one enemy of kitchen drains. Never pour cooking oil or bacon grease down the drain — let it cool and dispose of it in the trash. Even dish soap and hot water don't fully prevent grease from sticking to the inside of your pipes over time.

Use a drain screen to catch food particles, and run cold water through the garbage disposal for 20–30 seconds after you're done using it. Avoid putting starchy or fibrous foods (potato peels, celery, pasta) down the disposal.

Bathroom Drain Prevention

Hair is the main culprit in bathroom drains. A simple mesh drain screen in your shower or tub costs a few dollars and catches most of it before it goes down. Clean it out weekly.

Avoid flushing anything other than toilet paper — wipes (even "flushable" ones), cotton balls, and hygiene products all cause blockages and can damage sewer lines over time.

When to Stop and Call a Plumber

A plunger handles most simple clogs. But if the plunger isn't working after a few tries, or if multiple drains in your home are slow at the same time, stop — and call us.

Multiple slow drains usually mean the problem is in your main sewer line, not individual drains. Using a plunger or chemical cleaner on a main line blockage won't fix it and can sometimes make it worse. Main line issues need professional diagnosis.

The same goes for recurring clogs. If you're clearing the same drain every few months, there's an underlying issue — buildup, root intrusion, or a pipe problem — that needs to be addressed properly. Our professional drain cleaning service gets to the root of the problem rather than just pushing it further down the line. We also offer a flat-rate drain cleaning special if you're dealing with a single drain stoppage.