Don’t Let a Clogged Drain Dampen Your Holiday Spirit

It’s the holiday season, and you’re decorating the house, shopping for gifts, mailing holiday cards and baking cookies. But have you thought about your plumbing? Don’t let a clogged drain dampen your holiday spirit!

Whether you’re having family over for the holidays or you’re hosting a festive party, your kitchen and bathrooms will be busier than usual. To save the cost and inconvenience of a plumbing emergency, Mr. Rooter® recommends you pay special attention to your plumbing.

“With the extra food, family and friends, you can easily forget about the stress it puts on your plumbing,” said Mary Kennedy Thompson, president of Mr. Rooter Corporation.  “We have some advice that will help keep a backed-up drain from ruining your holiday plans.”

To properly operate a garbage disposal, turn on the water, then turn on the disposal and feed the waste gradually. Keep the water on while using the disposal. Leave the water on for a short period after the disposal is turned off.

Follow these steps to keep your plumbing system off of Santa’s naughty list.
In the kitchen:

• Avoid pouring grease down the drain.
• Throw large scraps of food in the trash or compost pile.
• Don’t put turkey bones and skin, potato peels and celery down the garbage disposal.
• Wipe greasy pans and plates with a paper towel before washing them.
• Rinse off dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
• Don’t overload the garbage disposal.
• Turn the disposal power off and press the re-set button (if available) under the sink when the disposal stops abruptly while in use.

In the bathroom:

• Wait ten minutes between showers.
• Avoid flushing items that don’t break down easily: cotton balls, paper towels, facial tissue and sanitary products.
• Know how to use the water shut-off valve under the tank in case of an emergency.
• Remove small objects from the top of the toilet tank that could fall in, causing it to clog.

If one of these disasters intrudes on your celebrations, contact your local Mr. Rooter shop to put the happy back into the holidays.

The Drain Strain: Tips to Unclogging Shower Drains

Nothing stops a command performance of singing in the shower faster than a clogged drain. But the following tips from Mr. Rooter could be music to your ears when it comes to tackling the problem.

Most shower clogs can be corrected easily with a minimum of hassle and mess. All you need are a few simple tools and a little common sense.

Hair is usually the culprit when a shower fails to drain properly. In fact, checking the strainer cover that fits over the drain in your shower enclosure may be all it takes to solve the problem. If the perforations are stopped up, clean them out and test the flow of water. If the perforations in the strainer cover are not blocked, don’t panic. All you have to do is follow a few simple steps to remove the clog.

First, determine how the strainer cover is attached. Some covers simply snap into place and can be removed from the drain by lifting them with a screwdriver. Other covers are held in place by a couple of screws, which can be easily removed.

Once the strainer cover is removed, shine a flashlight into the drain and visually check for a clog. You should see water a few inches below in the drain, but if you spot an obstruction, use a piece of stiff wire – a metal coat hanger crimped to make a hook on the end works fine – to clear the pipe. Gently snag the clog with the wire, being careful not to push the obstruction deeper into the drain.

If you do not see a hair clog blocking the pipe, try using a plunger to clear the drain. Commonly known as the “plumber’s friend,” a plunger works best when there is a firm seal around the drain opening. It might help to coat the rim of the rubber force cup with petroleum jelly.

Next, pour enough water into the shower enclosure to cover the lip of the rubber cup on the plunger, and make sure the cup is securely fitted over the drain opening. Then, move the handle of the plunger up and down rapidly.

If the plunger fails to force the clog free, the next step is to try a hand snake. This device features a flexible coil of spring steel with a crank at one end for rotating it. Carefully feed the metal cable into the drain pipe until you hit the obstruction. When you feel the cable stop, crank the handle clockwise. The tip of the metal cable will snag the clog as it turns. Keep up the cranking motion as you slowly pull the cable out of the drain line and the clog should pull free.

If all these steps fail to clear the drain, call a professional plumber.

Drain cleaners can be poured into drains to remove clogs, but these cleaners contain caustic chemicals and should be used only as directed by the manufacturer. Drains should always be flushed thoroughly after a chemical application. Never use a plunger immediately after pouring a chemical into the drain.

And remember, if you choose to use a chemical drain cleaner and then summon a plumber, tell him immediately so he can take the proper precautions.

Here are some helpful tips for home plumbing. Should you wish to perform your own plumbing maintenance using the information we provide on this website, please be aware that Mr. Rooter Corporation cannot be held responsible for any actions not taken by a trained Mr. Rooter technician.

• Water Efficiency: A low flow toilet alone uses 20 percent less water per flush. Combine that with an efficient shower head that also uses 20 percent less water, and the utility bill savings are obvious.
• Don’t put pumpkin pulp and seeds down the garbage disposal: Instead of breaking down like most foods, the orange pulp hardens and clogs the drain.
• Don’t flush your money: Take a whirl at inspecting your toilet.
• Drain Gurgling: This is a blockage of air in the drain, typically caused by a clog. Removing the clog should fix the problem.
• Don’t Let Food Reek Havoc: Young children often huddle under the covers in their bedrooms, certain that a monster prowls in the closet or under the bed. Most parents will open the closet door or peek under the bed to remind them that the coast is clear. But if your children accused your kitchen sink of harboring a shady presence, would you be able to deny it? Something foul may be lurking in your sink. Here are some tips for removing garbage disposal odor.
• How to Detect a Silent Leak: Put several drops of dark food coloring into your toilet tank. If the dye appears in the bowl, you need to replace the valve seal ball or flapper at the bottom of the tank.
• Water Conservation: If every household in America and Canada had a faucet that dripped once each second, 928 million gallons of water a day would leak away. Here are some tips for conserving water.
• Choosing a Water Heater: Here is a handy guide to finding a water heater.
• Emergency Shutoff Valves: Prevent plumbing headaches and even property loss. Learn about emergency shutoff valves.
• Shower Drain Clogs: Most shower clogs can be corrected easily with a minimum of hassle and mess. Here are some things you can do with a clogged drain before you call the plumber
• Whistling Noise : It could be a broken faucet washer or extremely high water pressure.
• The Root of the Problem: It’s surprising, but true – roots from a tree or bush several hundred yards and several houses away can damage your home’s plumbing system if they break into your pipes. It’s called root intrusion, and it can create major blockage in your line.
• Holiday Tips: Don’t let a clogged drain dampen your holiday spirit. Here are some tips for preventing a clogged drain.
• Super Bowl parties can be a super problem for plumbing systems if you don’t tackle some plumbing precautions.
• Use Food Coloring to Save Money: Click here to find out how.
• Citrus Peels Can Deodorize Garbage Disposal: Click here to find out how.
• Earth Day Tips: Learn how to look for leaks and conserve water .
• Save Water, Save Money: Let Mr. Rooter® Plumbing show you how to conserve our most precious resource, water.
• Water Conservation Checklist: Click here for the checklist.
• Energy Efficiency Tips: Thanks to tax credits, making your home more energy efficient is no longer a taxing problem on your pocketbook. Click here to find out how.

Please note: While we have done our best to offer useful information, these tips are only suggestions, and we recommend you call us for information specific to your situation. Click here to view our Legal Statement.

A clogged drain can be a real hassle, but Mr. Rooter has the solution. First, the technician will open the line using a cable auger, then he will use our Hydro Scrub ™ process to clean it to like-new status. Afterward, the technician will recommend treatment with our Biochoice ES ® solution to keep your drains flowing freely.