Even in a climate as mild as our area, winter weather affects just about every system that keeps your home running. Your plumbing is no exception. A clog in your drain is bad enough, but a frozen clog in your drain can feel insurmountable. Fortunately, many winter drain problems can be avoided with a bit of care and troubleshooting from both you and your plumber.

Have a Plumber Inspect Your Drains

Have your professional plumber inspect your plumbing, including your drains, before the cold weather sets in. As with every other system, a professional can notice small problems that you wouldn’t notice as a layperson, and repair them before they become dire. A plumber also performs more gnarly jobs such as entering your crawlspace and flushing out your main drain.

Flush Your Drains

Another way to make sure your drains beat the winter is to flush them with hot, but not boiling, water. Hot water loosens some debris enough to allow it to be flushed into the sewer or septic tank with other types of debris. Plumbers suggest flushing the drain about every week. If you need an even more powerful solution, sprinkle a cup of baking soda into the drain, add enough white vinegar to make it fizz, then rinse it down with hot water. The reason you shouldn’t use boiling water frequently is that it may soften and weaken your plumbing pipes. This is especially true if they are constructed from PVC.

Be Mindful of Outdoor Drains

Your outdoor drains include your gutters, and they’re even more vulnerable than your indoor drains. Have a professional clean them out if you’re nervous about climbing ladders. Don’t hesitate to call for more help if they have to be cleaned out more than once. Keep your other outdoor drains cleared of trash, and ask your professional about installing heat tapes to keep them from freezing on especially frigid nights.

Follow the Flushing Rules

The rules about flushing things down the drain during the rest of the year apply even more so in winter. Flush only bodily wastes down the toilet, and don’t flush fats or grease down the kitchen sink. Recycle used oil or fat, or put it in an old carton and toss it in the garbage. Use a paper towel to wipe most of the grease out of your pots and pans.

Don’t let winter create problems for your drains, whether they’re indoor or outdoor. If you ever need drain cleaning, get in touch with our professional plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Cedar Rapids, IA.