Simple Tips to Keep Your Pipes Clear in Peterborough

If your sink, tub, or toilet is draining slowly, it may be a clogged drain. Clogs are stressful and can cause foul-smelling water to back up. The good news is you can take steps to stop them before they happen.

In this blog, we’ll cover the common reasons drains get clogged and share nine simple tips to keep your pipes clear and make drain cleaning in Peterborough easier.

Causes of Clogged Pipes

Clogged pipes can cause flooding and sewage backup. Here are the three main reasons for clogged drains in Peterborough and surrounding areas:

Foreign Objects: Food scraps, hair, soap scum, wipes, grease, paper towels, and even tree roots can build up inside pipes. Over time, these block the water flow and cause clogs.

Pipe Corrosion: Poor water quality and chemical reactions can damage pipes. This creates rust and deposits that block water flow.

Aging Pipes: Pipes weaken with age. Old pipes often crack, leak, or break down, making them more likely to clog.

How To Prevent Blocked Drains At Home?

Use Drain Strainers

Drain strainers are a simple but effective way to keep pipes clear. Place them in your sinks, showers, and tubs to catch hair, soap pieces, and food scraps before they wash down the drain.

Without a strainer, even small debris can build up inside the pipes and cause blockages over time. Make it a habit to empty and clean the strainer daily to keep it working properly.

Avoid Pouring Grease Down the Drain

Grease and oil may look harmless when hot, but they quickly cool and solidify inside pipes. Over time, this sticky residue traps food particles and turns into a stubborn clog.

Instead of rinsing grease into the sink, pour it into a metal can or disposable container and throw it away once it hardens. You can also wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing to reduce buildup.

Flush with Hot Water Weekly

Hot water is one of the easiest tools to keep your drains clear. Running boiling or very hot water through your kitchen sink once a week helps melt away fats, soap scum, and other residue before they stick to the pipes.

For better results, add a squirt of dish soap before flushing with hot water to help break down oils and grease.

Be Careful with What You Flush

Many clogs start in the toilet. It’s important to remember that toilets are built to handle only human waste and toilet paper. Products like wipes (even if labeled “flushable”), paper towels, cotton pads, or sanitary items don’t break down in water and can quickly block pipes.

To make it easier, place a covered trash bin in your bathroom so family members or guests can dispose of these items properly.

Clean Drains with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Chemical drain cleaners can be harsh and damage pipes over time. A safer, natural option is baking soda and vinegar. Pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain, then add half a cup of vinegar.

The fizzing reaction helps loosen minor buildup, clear odors, and refresh the drain. After 10–15 minutes, rinse thoroughly with hot water. Doing this once a month keeps pipes fresh and reduces the risk of clogs.

Watch What Goes in the Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are convenient but not designed to handle everything. Hard items like bones, coffee grounds, eggshells, and fibrous foods like celery or corn husks can jam the blades and clog the drain.

Large chunks of food waste are also a problem. Instead, scrape leftovers into the trash or compost, and use the disposal only for small, soft scraps.

Always run cold water while using the disposal to help flush waste down smoothly.

Maintain Outdoor Drains and Gutters

Clogs aren’t limited to indoor plumbing. Outdoor drains and gutters can fill up with leaves, dirt, and other debris, especially after storms. When these blockages occur, rainwater can pool near your foundation and even back up into indoor drains.

Clean your gutters and outdoor drains at least twice a year and check them regularly during fall or heavy rains. Keeping outdoor drainage clear protects your plumbing system and your home.

Schedule Regular Plumbing Inspections

Not all plumbing issues are visible right away. Pipes can corrode, crack, or collect buildup without you noticing until a major problem happens. Having a plumber inspect your system every year or two helps catch small issues before they become expensive repairs. 

Professionals use cameras and tools to check inside pipes, ensuring they’re in good condition and free of blockages. Regular maintenance extends the life of your plumbing and gives you peace of mind.

Act Quickly on Slow Drains

A slow-draining sink, tub, or toilet may seem like a small problem, but it’s an early sign of a developing clog. Ignoring it only gives debris more time to accumulate and make the situation worse.

If you notice slow drainage, try simple fixes like flushing with hot water or using baking soda and vinegar. If the problem continues, call a plumber before it turns into a complete blockage or backup.

Get Professional Plumbing Services in Peterborough, Trent Lakes and Surrounding Areas

Even if you take good care of your drains, clogs and plumbing problems can still happen. When they do, you need a plumber you can trust. Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing offers fast and reliable plumbing services for homeowners in Peterborough and nearby areas.

We use the right tools and experience to fix the problem quickly so you can get back to a stress-free home.

Call us today or request a free estimate online to get expert service you can count on.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I stop my drain from clogging?

The easiest way to keep drains clear is to watch what goes into them. In the kitchen, avoid putting food, coffee grounds, or grease down the sink. Throw leftover food in the trash or compost instead of the garbage disposal. Pour grease into a sealed container before discarding it.  In the bathroom, stop hair and soap scum from going down the drain to prevent buildup.

How do you prevent drainage blockage?

Use drain screens to catch food and hair. Dispose of grease in the trash, not the sink. Be careful with what you put in the garbage disposal. Flush drains with hot water to clear buildup. Never flush items that aren’t meant for the toilet. Clean drain stoppers often. Use baking soda and vinegar to freshen and maintain your drains.

What is the biggest cause of blocked drains?

Clogs usually happen when the wrong things go down the drain.Fat, oil, and food scraps harden inside the pipes and block water flow. Wet wipes, even the ones marked “flushable,” can cause blockages. Sanitary items like towels and tampons also lead to clogs.

How do I unclog my drain naturally?

Mix 1/4 cup of salt with 1/4 cup of Borax and 1/2 cup of vinegar. Pour the mixture into the drain, then add a pot of boiling water. Let it sit for at least an hour or until the clog clears. Finish by rinsing with hot tap water to flush everything down.