With the current global COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have found ourselves at home a lot more than usual, trying to find that perfect balance between work and family duties. But what you probably haven’t thought about is the pressure the extra time at home has put on your drains. In this article, our sewer and drain experts in Crete, IL want to remind you about what belongs down your drains – and what doesn’t!

1. Coffee Grounds

If you’re a coffee drinker, there’s no doubt the first thing you do is make yourself a cup of joe in the morning. And maybe you’re drinking more of it while at home because you also have to balance homeschool and parenting duties. Whatever your situation, remember that coffee grounds do not belong down the drain as they can slowly build up and cause clogs.

2. Eggshells

You may also be making breakfast for yourself or your family a lot more these days with the extra time at home. While these family meals are nice, remember to throw those eggshells in the trash can and not down the garbage disposal. Again, they can also cause slow buildups that lead to clogged kitchen pipes.

3. Feminine Hygiene Products

Feminine hygiene products are a necessity for females in your home but they are never safe for flushing. We can’t begin to explain the number of calls we receive where these products end up being the cause of backups. All feminine hygiene products belong in the trash. 

4. Wipes, Paper Towels & Napkins

Wipes, paper towels or napkins may seem like close alternatives to toilet paper when you’re out of it or if you have fallen victim of the Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020. But think twice before flushing them down the toilet. Like baby or “flushable” wipes, paper towels and napkins are thicker material and do not dissolve as easily as toilet paper does once flushed. If you do have to use a wipe, paper towel or napkin, make sure you discard it in the trash and not down your toilet. 

5. Paint & Household Chemicals

With extra time at home, many are taking time for home improvement projects, like painting, repairing, updating and upgrading. One thing to remember if you’re working with household chemicals or substances like paint or varnish is to never put these substances down any drain in your home for fear they could contaminate your water supply. 

Drain Clearing Experts

If you do experience a clogged drain for any reason, our experts here at Reid & Pederson Drainage are always available and ready to clear your drainage issue for you. Give us a call anytime, 24/7!

South Suburbs
NW Indiana

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Ah, Spring. Warmer weather, budding plants and a sense of renewal. Many people choose Spring as a time to purge closets, tidy up and thoroughly clean and organize their homes. In the frenzy of spring cleaning, it can be easy to overlook the out of sight or hidden areas of your home, but it’s important to remember that those areas need some TLC, too.

Springtime Drain & Sewer Cleaning

One area you may not think about is your sewer system, but it’s essential to make sure your drains and sewer are clean. Both your sewer and your drains consist of pipes, which bring fresh water into your home and carry the waste water out of it. Over time, your pipes will age, leading to cracks and leaks. And if your landscape has a lot of trees and shrubbery, the risk of roots finding a way into your sewer line is pretty high.

Annual Sewer Maintenance

Keeping up on annual sewer maintenance is one of the easiest ways you can ensure things are always flowing freely in your home. Participation in an annual preventive sewer maintenance program gives you peace of mind knowing this will always be the case.

Sewer & Drain Cleaning Tips

Below are some easy steps you can take to prevent backups and clogged drains in your home this Spring, when all of that rain begins to fall!

  • Keep your gutters, downspouts and roof vent pipes clear of leaves and other debris that have accumulated over the (long!) winter months.
  • If you’re inclined to do so, inspect all of your water pipes in your home to find leaks or damage to them. You can always call a professional to do this for you, too.
  • Install backwater valves on all floor drains to prevent unexpected sewer backups.
  • Have a professional rod out any clogged drain lines in your home to clear them before the heavy rain comes and makes your clogs bigger.
  • Occasionally pour a bucket or two of water down infrequently used drains to fill the trap and prevent odors and sewer gas from entering your home.
  • Use mesh strainers over all main drains like your kitchen sink, laundry tub and bathtub to prevent hair, lint, food and other debris from going down them and clogging them.
  • Test your sump pump by unplugging the unit, waiting 30 seconds, then plugging the unit back in. If it kicks on and begins pumping water, you’re good to go!
  • Clean your washing machine lint trap to prevent backups while doing laundry.
  • Inspect your garbage disposal and give it a good cleaning to keep it in tip top shape. Need an easy recipe to clean and deodorize?
    • Pour one half cup of baking soda into your disposal, then pour one cup of vinegar over it.
    • Let the mixture sit in your disposal for ten minutes then rinse away with hot water for a minute or two.

If you have a sewer or drain cleaning job that requires a professional, or you just have a question about some of our tips above, reach out to the drain cleaning and sewer cleaning pros at Reid & Pederson Drainage today!

South Suburbs
NW Indiana

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There will likely come a time when you experience slow drains in your home. While your best bet is to call a professional to remedy your problem, you may first try to remedy the problem yourself.

Many times, this means grabbing a bottle of Drano, pouring it into the drain and hoping it cheaply and quickly dissolves your clog. While chemical drain cleaners temporarily relieve your clogged drain, their use can create problems that can make your clogged drain worse.

Why You Shouldn’t Use Drain Cleaner Chemicals:

1) They’re chemicals!

The first issue with chemical cleaners is just that – they’re chemicals. Caustic, toxic, and disruptive, they’re formulated to eat away the most stubborn drain clogs. But while those chemicals may be clearing the clog, it’s also possible they’re eating away at your actual pipes! So while you may be remedying one problem, you risk creating an even bigger one that will definitely require a professional to correct.

Chemicals also create a hazardous situation for anyone working on the clog because there is a risk of chemicals splashing back and getting in eyes, mouths or on skin.

2) They don’t fully clear a clogged drain

Another issue with chemical drain cleaners is that they only settle at the bottom of your pipes, not fully reaching the full diameter of them. The result is a partially cleared pipe in the areas only where the chemicals touched the clog. And as water continues to flow through your pipes, so does the buildup and sludge that caused your clog in the first place.

3) They don’t work on all clogged drains

Lastly, these drain clog removers don’t work with all types of clogs. While they may temporarily clear your grease or hair clog, your pipes will continue to clog as long as grease and hair keep entering the drain. Chemicals are a temporary fix to a bigger problem. Furthermore, clogs caused by mineral buildup or solid objects don’t respond to chemical cleaners at all.

Trust Drain Cleaning Experts

Our professional and knowledgeable technicians at Reid & Pederson Drainage have the experience and necessary equipment to reach the clog, clean the entire diameter of the pipe and blast clogs away. If you’re experiencing clogged drains in your home in Crete, IL or the surrounding area, it’s best to reach for the phone instead of the chemicals! Learn more about our drain and sewer cleaning services or simply call us today!

South Suburbs
NW Indiana

Learn More About Drain Cleaning in Crete

Check out more of our blog posts below for some helpful info, expert tips & more!

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