Maintenance
Follow these maintenance suggestions for your home’s drains
Turn on all plumbing fixtures at regular intervals to replace evaporating water in the drain trap and keep the water barrier intact
Pour grease into a container, freeze it in the freezer, and then throw it away in the trash. Never pour grease into a drain or toilet. Grease sticks to the side of pipes. As it builds up, it restricts flow and can completely block pipes
Keeping a drain clear
Take preventative measures to help prevent clogs from forming. The following measure helps keep a drain clear of grease from soap and food wastes using ordinary washing soda
(not baking soda)
Run hot water through the drain, and then turn off the water
Put 3 tablespoons of washing soda into the drain
Follow the washing soda with just enough hot water to wash it down the drain opening
Let the washing soda set for 15 minutes, and then run more hot water
!CAUTION
Never pour grease into a drain
Caustic soda is sold commercially as a drain cleaner, but you should never use it to open a drain. It will combine with the grease from soap or food wastes to form an insoluble compound
!TIP
If an appliance that uses water, such as a dishwasher, appears to be leaking, check the drain before calling for repair. A partially blocked drain can cause overflowing
Unclogging a drain using a plunger
Use a plunger as your first attempt to clear a clogged drain. A plunger works by forcing water through the pipe to clear a clog