Fixing tenants’ clogged drains was a really popular topic with our audience, so we are expanding it with a few more ideas. Many calls for clogged drains in tenant apartments have been pouring into Keepe lately.
Remember, drains can become blocked by an excessive amount of waste or grease that settles in the trap. The first time you have to deal with a clogged drain can be daunting, but it does not always have to be a mess and a hassle.
The best way to keep the drains clog-free is to do regular routine maintenance – either by the landlord or the tenant. It doesn’t take much time or money to perform this regular maintenance, and it can save you from the cost of a severely clogged drain.
Over the long term, clogging can be caused by biofilm or fungal growth in piping, the settling of particulate matter and the buildup of materials such as food and hair. But there are many measures you can take to prevent or fix drain-system problems.
Tips for Tenant Showers and Baths
- Ask tenants try to avoid letting hair go down the drain, this is the No. 1 cause of clogged shower drains
- Treat the drain regularly with baking soda and vinegar
- Use a drain plunger for shower drains
- If you don’t have a drain snake, try using a coat hanger as a last-minute solution (although you should probably invest in a drain snake).
- If using chemicals:
- Don’t look down the drain after pouring in a chemical. The solution often boils up and gives off toxic fumes.
- Don’t mix chemicals or follow one brand with another brand without checking for compatibility. Mixing cleaners can cause an explosion.
- Never use a plunger if a chemical cleaner is present in the drain; you risk splashing the chemical on yourself.
Tips for Fixing Tenants’ Sinks
- Things you should tell tenants to never put down the drain:
- Eggshells, because their edges catch on other items and grow into larger clogs.
- Coffee grounds, because they stick to pipe walls and build into a paste when crammed into small areas.
- Unused medications, because they could leach into water reservoirs.
- Grease; buildups can cause clogs easily
- Try pouring hot water down clogged drains to melt away waste.
- Use cup plungers to work on the small clogs, and snakes on the bigger ones.
- Always follow waste with water to flush the drain.
- Once a week, fill the sink with water and then release it to flush your piping.
- Run ice down the garbage disposal to sharpen the blades easily and dislodge any food remnants that may have become attached to the blades.
Other recent maintenance tips you may have missed:
7 Types Of Kitchen Countertops For Your Apartments
Which Cooktop Is Best For Your Rental Property?
A Guide To 4 Types Of Flat Roof Systems
6 Ways To Trash Your Apartment Waste Management Issues
About Keepe:
Keepe is an on-demand maintenance solution for property managers and independent landlords. We make hundreds of independent contractors and handymen available for maintenance projects at rental properties. We are available in the Greater Seattle area, Greater Phoenix area, San Francisco Bay area, Portland area, and are expanding. Learn more about us at http://www.keepe.com
