Preventing Drain Clogs

The entry in brief

Keep fats, fibres and solids out of drains. Catch hair before it goes down. Flush only toilet paper. Run plenty of water after heavy use. These four habits prevent the great majority of household clogs we are called to clear.

What is going on

A drain is a sloped pipe that relies on gravity and volume. Anything that clings to the walls narrows it, and a narrower pipe catches more. Grease is the main offender in kitchens because it flows warm and sets cool, a little further down the line each time. In bathrooms, hair binds with soap residue to form a mat just below the drain. In toilets, so-called flushable wipes stay in one piece long after tissue has dissolved.

Mississauga's lake water is moderately hard, and a thin mineral crust forms inside pipes over time, giving gunk a rough surface to grip.

In order

1. Kitchen: dab grease off pans with kitchen roll, which then goes to the organics cart. Scrape plates before rinsing. Do not pour cooking oil, bacon fat or gravy down the sink, even with hot water.
2. Disposal: if you have one, run cold water while it grinds and for a little while after. Keep fibrous peels, coffee grounds and eggshells out.
3. Shower and tub: fit a mesh hair catcher and empty it after each use.
4. Bathroom sink: pull and clean the pop-up stopper every month or two.
5. Toilet: flush only paper. Wipes, floss, cotton swabs and paper towel go in the bin.
6. Laundry: fit a lint trap on the washer discharge hose, especially if it drains into a laundry tub.
7. Weekly: run hot tap water for a minute in each sink to help carry away film.

Slips to avoid

• Reaching for chemical drain cleaner at the first sign of slowing. These products are harsh on pipes and people; our note on chemical drain cleaners explains the risks.
• Assuming a "flushable" label means safe for the sewer.
• Ignoring gurgling sounds or slow drainage for months.
• Using a plunger on a sink after pouring in a chemical product.

When the ledger says phone

Call if a plunger and a cleaned stopper do not restore flow, if several fixtures slow at once, if a tub or floor drain fills from below, or if a toilet clogs repeatedly. Repeated toilet trouble is sometimes the fixture itself; see our toilet repair page.

A clog low in the system is not a do-it-yourself job. Cabling a main drain without the right equipment can jam a tool in the pipe, which turns a clearing into a repair.