Lubbock HVAC, Plumbing, and Energy Management Blog

Home Plumbing Tips From Beth Sinclair

 

Here are the latest plumbing tips from Beth Sinclair:

 

I bought lunch for our office-staff today and I learned something new about kitchen drains. We were having spaghetti, lasagna, and salad. The salad dressing that came with the meal had too much oil in the dressing so I poured the oil down the drain. Did you know that pouring grease down your drain is a BIG plumbing no-no? Well, I at least knew that much, but this is what I learned. If you should ever pour grease down a disposal, run COLD water with it.  Cold water will coagulate the grease and flush it away. Hot water on grease only coats the sides of the pipes!

My son has written about this product before but we have a drain cleaning product called Bio-clean. This is a biodegradable and chemical free way to treat your drains and keep them clear. Tom and I use this product at home and our office on a regular basis. It is one of the better products out there, if you are looking for a good drain cleaning product that works.  If you want more information about Bio-clean, read this article or ask a question and we will get you an answer ASAP. Again, I am reminded that I am never too old to learn something new!!

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Safe Drain Cleaning Product: Bio-Clean

 

 

Do you have a smelly or clogged up drain that needs attention?  Sinclair plumbing offers a product that is just right for the job.  Not only does is help clean drains, it also cleans:

• Septic systems
• Garbage disposal odors
• Grease Traps
• Sewage ejector sumps
• Outdoor privies and vaults
• RV & boat holding tanks
• Cat litter pans
• Grease Traps

Bio-Clean is a product that will help solve your drain problems.  It is a blend of bacteria and enzymes.  The bacteria are natural, not genetically-engineered. 

 

"How does it work?" from The Bio-Clean Story

In Nature all animal and vegetable matter, from insects to mighty oaks, is broken down and recycled into plant food by enzymes and bacteria. Bio-Clean uses this same principle to biodegrade animal and vegetable waste in pipes.

Like all living things, bacteria must eat to survive. Fortunately certain types of bacteria will use for food the grease, hair, soap film and all the organic waste that tend to clog peoples drains.

Enzymes act like short order cooks. They prepare food for bacteria by breaking large molecules down into a size the bacteria can "swallow". Each enzyme works on one specific type of molecule. For example, the protease enzyme only works on protein. Lipase works only on fats.

The bacteria are dormant while in the jar. When mixed with water they come to life in about 30 minutes. In the meantime the enzymes are breaking down the waste. They are very fast. In fact, they work on contact. When the bacteria revive they are hungry. Each one eats its weight of waste every minute - and they never sleep! As a result of eating and growing they start to multiply through cell division. Their number will double every 30 minutes under favorable conditions.

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I use this product myself and I love it!  I have a shower drain in my master bathroom that has had some problems in the past and I use Bio-Clean when it needs to be cleaned or unclogged.  It is not hard to use and you don't have to wear a HAZ-Mat suit to use it :-)  You mix the proper dosage with water and poor it into the drain you need help with.  Let it sit over night and that's it!  There are some occasions were you might have to treat the drain more than once.  If you are interested in purchasing Bio-Clean please contact Sinclair by filling out a short form and we will contact you to make the purchase.  One can of Bio-clean is only $43.25!  If you have any questions or comments please let me know.  

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Clogged Drain Repair

 

 

From time to time, we get questions and we would like to pass along to you some of these with our answers. Perhaps we can help answer some of your questions, too. If you have a question that you would like for us to address, please let us know.



CUSTOMER QUESTION:  If my drain is clogged, should I use a chemical cleaner before I call a plumber?


Our residential plumbers do not recommend this for several reasons; most drain chemicals are very toxic in nature, not a good thing to keep around the home if you have children or pets. The toxic chemicals can also have a negative effect on your piping as well. Over time these chemicals may deteriorate your pipes from the inside out. When this happens, the drain line(s) will have to be replaced.

A safe alternative that you might try before calling a plumber is Bio-Clean. Bio-Clean is a multipurpose, earth friendly product. It can be used in all household drains to keep them running free:  tubs, showers, sinks, and garbage disposals. It’s the best septic product on the market and can even restore failing systems.

Bio-Clean is marketed and sold as a drain cleaner but can be used in many other situations. It carries no warning labels on the can and it is 100% safe for people, pets and the environment. Be careful of bargains and cheaper products that claim to be environmentally safe and effective. If a product has warning labels on it, can it really be safe?

Bio-Clean can be purchased by calling or coming by our office at 6501 Upland Avenue Lubbock, Tx (806-749-COOL 2665). We hope this information will help you keep the pipes at your place running smoothly!

Have more questions?  What types of chemical cleaners do you use?  Send us a comment.  Enter Sinclair's recipe sweepstakes!

 

Photo by David Blackwell