How can I prevent my drains from clogging?

1. Is a more obvious tip: Be careful what you put down them:

- do not rinse fats or cooking oils down the kitchen sink. Theses liquid fats solidify in the cold pipes and can create clogs.

- Compost or dispose of coffee grounds instead of washing them down the drain.

- Don't use Bleach or Draining solutions if there is a clog. This may fix the problem short term, but causes long term problems with your plumbing, and can lead to larger issues than a clogged drain.

2. Fitting all your tubs and shower drains with a strainer to catch hair and other particles will help to keep them free of clogs. Just make sure that the strainer is cleaned regularly.

If you want to know what to do if you already have a clog, or if your pipes clog easily- see our section on how to clear a clogged drain yourself.