Drains can become clogged for a variety of reasons, and often it is up to the homeowner or business owner to prevent them. This starts with inspecting the drain for blockages that might be causing problems then taking steps to remove them before they do more damage. In this post, we cover ways to prevent clogs in your commercial drains.
Why Do Commercial Draings Become Clogged?
Drain blockages in the home are common, and they may be inconvenient. People are more cautious about what they put down them because they have to live with them. Furthermore, a typical house drain only has to deal with a few individuals each day, but a commercial drain may have to deal with hundreds on a regular basis. Hot grease is thrown down restaurant cooking sinks, children’s messes are flushed down daycare drains, hair is rinsed away with recklessness at salons, cigarette butts are flushed at bars, and so on at commercial facilities.
Signs Your Commercial Drain Is Clogged
Commercial drains can become clogged, this is no surpise to anyone working or living in a commercial building. But how do you know it is clogged versus a more serious plumbing issue? Here are some signs that the drain might be clogged:
1. Water starts to backup in your sink, tub or shower, this is a sign that there is a blockage somewhere in the commercial drain line. This can happen gradually or suddenly, so it is sometimes not evident if this is the case.
2. Water backing up into other floor drains or other drains in the building when you flush a toilet or run water in a sink, this is a sign that your commercial drain is clogged.
3. Slow draining fixtures: Drains that take a long time to drain properly are another sign of a clogged drain.
These are the most common signs a commercial drain is clogged. And there are some reasons this happens.
How to Prevent Commercial Drain Clogs
Employees And Visitors Should Be Educated
It’d be great to assume that since attempting to put their doll or action figure in the toilet as a youngster, people have learned a thing or two, but that’s not always the case (trust us; you’d be astonished at what we’ve discovered in drains). As a result, it’s critical to remind people where they may place what via signs.
- Reminders that only toilet paper should be flushed should be put in restrooms, and hand towel and hygiene product canisters should be readily accessible.
- Remind personnel in commercial kitchens not to throw out oil, stringy items, egg shells, or spaghetti, which may easily pile up in drains. Make sure there are huge trash cans at the sinks so you can easily scrape your plates.
- Hair may wrap itself around a drain stopper like a lover who won’t let go, so remind personnel to sweep up hair before wiping down floors in salons.
Drains Should Be Flushed On A Regular Basis
Too many business establishments put off drain repair until it’s too late. When done as required, frequent flushes with a commercial-grade liquid drain cleaner may help avoid the dreaded blockage (once a week is ideal for any facility experiencing regularly drain usage). Keep an eye on your drain stoppers and clean them if necessary; undesirable muck might get stuck there and cause a problem.
However, there are situations when the problem isn’t with your building, but with an external line. Of course, only a plumber can tell the difference, and even if you believe you’ve got the issue under control, it’s still a good idea to have a professional plumber come out on a regular basis.
Use Do-It-Yourself Techniques
If you already have a clog and it’s a “problem, not preventative” situation, you may attempt the following steps:
- Use a drain cleaner that is liquid. Because chemicals may harm drains, it’s best to use an ecologically friendly drain cleaner instead of traditional drain cleaners. Clog-eating microorganisms are used in these enzymatic cleansers to eliminate drain blockages. You’d be shocked what a little baking soda can do!
- Consider using a plunger. Toilets, sinks, and even floor drains may all benefit from the usage of a regular bathroom plunger. To produce powerful pressure that goes down deep in the pipes, you’ll want to make sure it has a good seal. Try the drain again after working the plunger up and down a few times. Have you had no success thus far? It could take a few attempts to get it right.
- Invest in a drain auger. A drain auger, sometimes known as a “snake,” is a long, flexible metal tube that threads its way through a pipe’s twists and turns. It features a wire head that breaks up solidified muck and cuts through obstructions. Snakes for residences are often short, therefore commercial property owners or maintenance personnel should seek out the commercial version, which may reach lengths of up to 50 feet.
- Try adjusting the air pressure. These gadgets, which are usually found at home improvement shops, function similarly to a plunger but with more air pressure to open drains and drive obstructions out. Because the pressure might destroy pipes, it’s crucial to know what you’re doing before you start!
A drain unclogger tool is a device that can be used to remove clogs from the drains. The device is designed to prevent clogs in commercial and residential drains.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to prevent clogging of drains?
A: The best way to prevent clogging of drains is by running your dishes and sink as hot as you can without any problems.
How do you unclog a commercial drain?
A: One common way to unclog a commercial drain is to pour boiling water down the middle of it. This will cause any solid particles in the pipe that are causing blockage to melt away, allowing for easy flow of your waste product through.
What do plumbers recommend to keep drains clean?
A: Plumbers recommend using a plunger to clear clogs in your sink, shower or tub.
Clogged drains are not the only problem that can occur in commercial plumbing. For more information, check out How To Remove The Air From Your Pipes.
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