Key Takeaways
- Grease, coffee grounds and wipes cause most household clogs.
- Cheap drain screens stop hair before it becomes a clog.
- Skip chemical drain cleaners. They damage pipes and rarely fix real clogs.
- Clogs that keep coming back point to the main line.
Tip 1: Watch What Goes Down the Kitchen Drain
Grease, oil and fat are liquid when hot and solid when cool, and they coat the inside of the pipe. Coffee grounds, eggshells, rice and pasta add to it. Pour grease into a can, scrape plates into the trash, and run plenty of cold water when you use the garbage disposal.
- Never: grease, oil, fat, coffee grounds
- Avoid: rice, pasta, eggshells, fibrous peels in large amounts
- OK in moderation: small food scraps with plenty of cold water
Tip 2: Use Drain Screens
Hair is the main cause of bathroom clogs. A simple mesh screen or hair catcher in the tub and shower stops it before it reaches the pipe. Empty it regularly.
Tip 3: Flush Drains Gently, Not Chemically
Running hot tap water after using the kitchen sink helps move light grease along. An enzyme-based cleaner used monthly breaks down organic buildup without harming pipes. Skip caustic chemical cleaners. They can damage older pipe and PVC joints and usually don't clear a real clog.
A baking soda and vinegar fizz is fine as a freshener, but it won't clear a true clog. If water isn't moving, use a plunger or call a plumber.
Tip 4: Only Flush Toilet Paper
"Flushable" wipes, paper towels, cotton swabs, dental floss and feminine products don't break down like toilet paper. They snag in pipes and build into stubborn clogs, often in the main line. A trash can next to the toilet prevents a lot of toilet clogs.
Tip 5: Get the Main Line Cleaned When It's Due
In older homes with clay or cast iron sewer lines and big trees nearby, roots slowly grow into the pipe. Cleaning the main line every year or two keeps it flowing. If you notice several slow drains at once, gurgling toilets, or water backing up into a tub, that's the main line telling you it's time. See our drain and sewer service and why regular drain cleaning matters.
When a Clog Is More Than a Clog
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| One slow sink or tub | Local buildup or hair | Plunger or snake; screens from now on |
| Toilet clogs often | Wipes, low-flow toilet, or line problem | Stop wipes, then call if it continues |
| Several drains slow at once | Main line clog | Stop using water and call |
| Sewage in floor drain | Main line blocked | Emergency, call 24/7 |
We clear drains for homes across Rockville, Wheaton, Takoma Park and the rest of Montgomery County.
