To prevent accelerated buildup in drainpipes, consider the activity that occurs before the drain. Food manufacturers and processing plants have can have a difficult time with a drain system if they are manufacturing foods that contain or use oils and grease. These plants may have either steel or food-grade PVC pipes. The high-pressure steam and heat used for steel pipes almost always causes damage to PVC pipes, requiring them to be replaced or repaired with glue and solvent. Figure the cost of electricians and mechanics and it is easy to see the benefit of preventative maintenance.



In your home, as well as businesses, there are simple tools that can be implemented to reduce the risk of backups or clogs. There are also products and cleaning agents that contain digesting bacteria and enzymes that reduce odor and microorganisms. These agents should be used on a monthly maintenance schedule as a preventative treatment before a problem occurs. Depending on the product used, it may prevent the buildup entirely or reduce already existing buildup. Periodically, it is advisable to hire a professional service to treat the entire line beginning at the drain trap. Often, problems can occur in the sewer line due to structure, deterioration or even tree roots. There are products available for these circumstances and the key is to catch the problem early. A professional should be consulted.

In the kitchen and laundry care should be taken to reduce the amount of waste that goes through to the pipes. A garbage disposal may be the most important tool to assist in this effort. This mechanism is installed in the drain of the sink and alters the size and consistency of the waste that goes through. The water should always be running when the disposal is used to help it function properly. Fats and oils should never be poured or washed down the drain as they solidify later and build up inside the pipe causing a clog.

Always dispose of these otherwise and wipe out the excess before washing the utensil. In bathrooms Strainers and drains are the biggest help in bathroom drains to catch hair or even pieces of soap. Lint traps in the laundry room will be the biggest tool to avoid clogs here. They will catch any fibers and hair allowing only the liquid to empty out. All laundry appliances have lint traps or filters built in and they need to be cleaned regular. Keep in mind that if they are not cleaned these fibers along with the heat generated by the machine creates a fire hazard. Additional traps can be created if needed by fitting screens or even nylon between the hose and the drainpipe. Biodegradable products are best to use here. Toilets are designed to flush away human waster and toilet paper only. To prevent clogs, make it a practice to never flush anything else including sanitary products. Many newer products are now claiming to be biodegradable and may well be.

However, biodegradeability has more to do with the affect of the product on the environment once it has gone through the drainpipe. In older homes the drainpipe system itself may already have untreated buildup that will not allow the product to pass through resulting in a clog.