Check out American Plumbing’s tips for floor drain care.

Floor drains are the unsung heros of plumbing. They are most often found in bathtubs or showers but some houses may also have them in their bathroom, kitchen, or basement floors. While many people don’t even think about their floor drains until something goes amiss with them, they work hard everyday and should be given the proper attention.

American Plumbing gets calls everyday from people who are experiencing clogs in these common fixtures. Most, if not all, of these issues could have been avoided with a bit of preplanning and simple floor drain care. Take a look at some of the most common issues that you may run into and American Plumbing’s tips for floor drain care.

When a floor drain is clogged, it is usually quite easy to tell. Water will not drain out from the tub or floor and will begin to collect around the drain. Not only is water not flushing out, but anything in the water also remains undiscarded. That means that any shampoo, conditioner, dirt and germs that have been washed off are now sitting stagnant. This can cause an unsightly and unhealthy buildup. Even small clogs can have nasty consequences. So what can you do to prevent this?

1. After each shower quickly wipe the top of the drain off with a few pieces of toilet paper and discard. They will remove any hair and personal care buildup that has been trapped on top. By removing these things now, you can stop them from falling and being caught in the drain later.
2. Once you are done with a bath or a particularly sudsy shower, let clear water run through the drain for 30 seconds to a minute. Clogs often happen when hair and skin cells stick to soap remains on the walls of your pipes. The clear water run will eliminate this soap scum in the first place.

Even if you take these floor drain care precautions, clogs can still sometimes occur. Before you panic, try these simple solutions.

1. Try a plunger! While many people think that a plunger is only used for clogged toilets, they can often clear a floor drain just as effectively. It is always a good idea to keep a separate plunger handy for floor drain clogs. The first thing you will want to do is put a bit of oil or petroleum jelly on the rim of the plunger. This is to help create a good seal with the floor. Then, hold a small rag over the overflow plate if you are working with a tub. Press the plunger down 10 to 15 times to free the clog.
2. If a plunger does not work, you can try a small plastic clog remover. These long, barbed pieces of plastic can remove hair and soap clogs near the drain surface. Just remove the drain cover and insert them into the pipe. If the clog is not too far down, you should be able to clear it with this simple and inexpensive tool.

* DO NOT use products like Drano and Liquid-Plumr! These products are harsh on the skin, extremely dangerous to children, wreak havoc on the environment, and can permanently damage your plumbing.*

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, a clog will be just too tough to combat on your own. If this is the case in your home, do not panic! American Plumbing of South Florida has the higest grade equipment and the higest trained proffesionals available to be able to remedy your stoppage problem. Call us today at 954-584-7733, and live comfortably!

Floor Drain Care