You prevent most clogs with four habits: keep grease out of the kitchen drain, use strainers in sinks and tubs, flush only toilet paper, and deal with slow drains early. Hard water scale and aging pipes also narrow drains over time, so repeat clogs deserve a closer look from a plumber.
Why drains clog in the first place
A drain is a pipe that relies on gravity and a smooth wall. Anything that slows the flow or sticks to the wall gives the next thing something to catch on.
Four things cause most clogs in homes:
- Grease and fat. They run down hot and cool into a sticky coating.
- Soap and hair. Soap binds with minerals into scum, and hair knots around it.
- Food scraps and paper products. Wipes, paper towels and "flushable" products do not break down like toilet paper.
- Mineral scale. West Michigan water is hard, and the minerals leave a rough crust on the inside of pipes.
None of these blocks a drain at once. A drain slows over weeks. That is useful: a slow drain is a warning, and acting on it is much easier than clearing a full blockage.
Kitchen sink habits that help
The kitchen sink collects more problems than any other drain, because it takes grease, food and soap together.
- Never pour grease down the drain. Wipe the cooled pan with a paper towel and bin it.
- Scrape plates into the trash or compost before washing.
- Use a sink strainer to catch food scraps.
- Go easy on the garbage disposal. A disposal handles soft scraps, not celery, potato peels or coffee grounds.
- Run cold water while the disposal runs, and for a few seconds afterward.
- Flush the drain with hot water after washing greasy dishes.
If the kitchen sink drains slowly, a small clog is usually building in the trap or the first section of pipe. A plunger often clears it at this stage.
Bathroom habits that help
Bathroom clogs are mostly hair and soap.
- Fit a hair catcher in the shower and tub drains. Clean it every few days.
- Brush hair before showering to reduce what goes down.
- Choose bar soap sparingly or rinse well. Soap scum builds up faster on hard water.
- Flush only toilet paper and human waste. Wipes labeled flushable, cotton balls, dental floss and feminine products do not belong in a toilet.
- Do not use the toilet as a trash can.
Run hot water down bathroom sinks and tubs once in a while to soften soap buildup.
What never goes down a drain
Keep this list near the kitchen:
- cooking oil, fat and grease,
- coffee grounds and eggshells,
- rice, pasta and starchy leftovers in large amounts,
- paper towels, wipes and diapers,
- cat litter,
- medicines and harsh chemicals, and
- paint, solvents and anything flammable.
Some of these also harm the environment or your pipes. Take medicines and chemicals to a household hazardous waste drop-off. Ask your township or city where the nearest one is.
A word about chemical drain cleaners
Store-bought drain cleaners promise a quick fix, but we advise against them. The chemicals can damage older pipes, can harm skin and eyes, and leave dangerous standing water in the drain if they fail to clear the clog. A plumber then has to work around caustic water.
For a simple clog, a plunger or a hand auger is safer. For anything more, a plumber can clear the line mechanically with professional drain snakes and cleaning tools, without leaving anything harsh in your pipes.
Hard water, old pipes and roots
Some clogs are not about what you put down the drain.
Hard water scale
West Michigan water carries calcium and magnesium. Over years, those minerals coat the inside of pipes and narrow them. Scale does not wash away, and it gives hair and grease something to cling to. A water softener reduces new scale. A water test shows how hard your water is.
Older pipes
Many Grand Rapids homes, especially older ones in neighborhoods such as Heritage Hill and Eastown, have drains that have been in service for decades. Rough, cracked or shifted pipe catches debris and lets roots in.
Tree roots
Roots look for water and can enter tiny cracks in sewer lines. Once inside, they grow and catch debris. Repeat clogs in the main line are often a root problem.
If the same drain clogs again and again, the cause may sit in the pipe, not in your habits. A camera inspection shows the inside of the line and tells you whether cleaning will help or whether repair is the better route.
Warning signs of a bigger problem
Call a plumber when you notice any of these:
- more than one drain is slow at the same time,
- gurgling sounds from drains or toilets,
- water backs up in a tub or shower when you run the washer or flush a toilet,
- the basement floor drain backs up,
- a bad smell from a drain that does not go away, or
- the same drain clogs repeatedly.
Several slow drains at once usually point to the main line. A backed-up basement floor drain after heavy rain can mean the line is overloaded or blocked. Spring storms can expose weak spots, so it is worth getting a camera look if it happens more than once.
A simple yearly routine
You do not need to do much. A short routine goes a long way:
- Clean strainers and hair catchers every few days.
- Flush kitchen drains with hot water after greasy dishes.
- Check the basement floor drain once or twice a year by pouring in a bucket of water and watching it clear.
- Deal with a slow drain within a few weeks, not months.
- Test your water if you see scale and think about a softener.
If you rent or share a building, tell the owner or manager about slow drains early, since main-line clogs affect every unit.
Need a Plumber in Grand Rapids? Eyk Plumbing Is Ready to Help
If a drain is slow, gurgling or backing up, call before it becomes a full blockage. Eyk Plumbing clears sinks, toilets, tubs, floor drains and main lines with professional drain snakes and cleaning tools. Read more about drain cleaning in Grand Rapids or, if clogs keep coming back, our page on sewer line repair and replacement explains the camera inspection.
Call Eyk Plumbing at (616) 655-4172 or contact us online and tell us which drains are affected.
