You might use flushable wipes in your home, but any reputable plumber will tell you not to. These wipes are marketed as flushable, but they get caught in pipes and cause massive clogs. These wipes don't break down in the water as easily as toilet paper, which you can see if you leave a wipe sitting in water for a few hours.

Your garbage disposal isn't designed to handle all the food scraps from your nightly dinner. Putting the wrong things, or too much food, down your garbage disposal can cause problems. Scrape as much food into the garbage as possible, then use the disposal for the rest.

Hair is one of the most common causes of a bathroom drain clog, but you can put a stop to that by having a basket strainer installed. A simple strainer in your shower can catch hair and prevent nasty clogs from building up in your shower drain. Ask a professional plumber about installing to avoid clogs.

Chemical drain cleaners can cause damage to pipes, so make sure you're not using them to clean your drains. Instead, use an enzyme-based drain cleaner that's safe for pipes. Running a drain cleaner in your sink or shower occasionally may help remove minor blockages.

If you really want to avoid a drain clog, you can always hire a plumber to clean your drains every once in a while. Plumbers can use a snake to perform a deep cleaning on your drains, which helps remove all the gunk on the inside of the pipe that makes it easier for clogs to build up. They can also make additional recommendations of actions you should avoid to maintain the health of your pipes.

As a homeowner, it's important to have basic knowledge about your plumbing system and what you can do to keep it in good shape. Investing in drain cleaning services can help you prevent major clogs in your main sewer line. If you have a drain clog or need help preventing them, call Bob Frank Plumbing to schedule service.