The Importance of Regular Drain Maintenance: A Brief Guide

You live a busy life, and we understand that drain maintenance isn’t the first priority on your to-do list. However, if you’ve been lax about scheduling routine drain cleaning and maintenance services, it’s time to call a licensed plumber and get it done. At King’s Services, we’re just a phone call away when you need professional drain cleaning in Winnipeg.

We make it easier than ever to keep your drains and plumbing in top condition and clog-free with our team of friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced plumbers. Below, we’ll explain why routine drain maintenance is so important for your home and some quick steps you can take to keep your drains clean and clear.  

The Importance and Benefits of Scheduling Regular Drain Maintenance from a Professional

1. Extends the Lifespan of Your Drains and Plumbing

Scheduling regular maintenance services for your drain does the same thing as changing the oil in your car: it keeps it in good running condition and extends its lifespan. Preventative maintenance like regular drain cleaning ensures better performance and efficiency and prevents small problems from snowballing and causing premature damage and wear to your plumbing system.

2. Prevents Clogs and Backflow

Is there anything worse than dealing with a clogged drain and backflowing water? Over time, substances like soap scum and organic matter like hair can clog your drains and pipes, creating a blockage. Also, if you have a garbage disposal, grease buildup is a common problem that leads to clogs. Not only can these blockages lead to backflow, but they can reduce water pressure and cause major damage to your plumbing.

3. Eliminates Foul Odours and Improves Air Quality

Without regular cleaning, your drains can become full of debris and organic matter, which hinders proper drainage. The excess moisture creates mould and mildew, which combine with the debris buildup and causes foul odours. These bad smells emanate from every drain, creating a stench that lingers in every room of your home. While you may be able to cover it up with spray or a fan, scheduling regular drain cleaning and maintenance prevents the problem from occurring in the first place.

4. Reduces the Likelihood of Expensive Repairs

Regular maintenance and cleaning services are essential to keep your drains in good working condition. Over time, wear and tear on your drains and plumbing can result in damage like blockages, leaks, cracks, burst pipes, or worse.

Plumbing and drain repairs in Canada can be expensive – according to HomeStars.com, the average cost of unclogging a drain ranges between $162 to $390, and drain line repair costs between $325 and $1300. Instead of shouldering the unexpected financial burden of a broken or blocked drain, invest in routine maintenance from a professional and avoid premature repairs or replacements for your plumbing and drains.

5. Safeguards Your Health and Home

Allowing debris, hair, soap scum, and other substances to build up in your drains creates the ideal environment for mould and mildew growth. That buildup doesn’t just smell bad; it actually releases contaminants into your home, negatively affecting air quality. In addition, these blockages can cause sewer water to leak back up through the drain and into your home, which poses a serious risk to your health.

Plus, large blockages can even cause pipes to burst, which could damage your home’s structural integrity. However, with regular maintenance, you can eliminate those health hazards and improve indoor air quality by keeping your drains clean, clear, and in good condition.

DIY Drain Maintenance for Homeowners

Although you should schedule routine maintenance services from a professional plumber, there are a few steps you can take as a homeowner to keep your drains free-flowing and in top-notch condition:

1. Know What You Should Never Put Down the Drain

Of course, everyone knows you should never put grease, oil, or liquid fats down the drain, as they will solidify in the pipes and create a major clog. However, here are a few more things that should never go down the drain:

Medication: Old medication or pills should go in the trash, not down the drain. Putting them down the drain could contaminate the municipal water supply, harming the ecosystem and aquatic life.  

Eggshells: You may think it’s okay to put eggshells down the drain because they’re thin and break into small pieces easily. However, those pieces have sharp edges, which catch onto other substances or debris in your drain, like hair. They can create a blockage that will continue to grow larger, causing significant damage.

Coffee Grounds: Did you know that coffee grounds will stick to the walls of your drains and pipes? Eventually, they turn into a paste, which increases the risk of clogs inside the entire plumbing system.  

2. Keep Drains Clear of Hair and Other Debris

Hair is one of the most common types of organic matter that can cause clogs. One way to prevent hair from going down the drain is with a silicone hair catcher. It’s a small device that goes over the top of your drain and catches hair and other matter before it causes a clog.

3. Use High-Quality Drain Cleaner Regularly

High-quality drain cleaners will keep your plumbing and pipe systems clean, clear, and free-flowing. At King’s Services, we recommend using BioOne, an all-natural, U.S. EPA Safer Choice Program-recognized environmental solution for cleaning drains and degrading fats, oils, and grease.

BioOne is non-pathogenic, non-hazardous, safe for people, pipes, and pets, and composed of 100% live vegetative microbes. It maintains safe operation and normal flow of drain lines with a ready-to-use solution suitable for both residential and commercial applications. Avoid using liquid drain cleaners with harsh, corrosive chemicals that will eat away at your pipes, causing long-term damage.

Call King’s Services Today for All Your Drain Maintenance Needs

If you need a licensed and professional plumber you can trust to perform routine drain maintenance, look no further than King’s Services. We serve over 15,000 clients in Winnipeg and the surrounding areas, providing superior workmanship and service.

Call King’s Services now at 431-813-5843 to book an appointment with the top-rated plumber in Winnipeg, MB.