Homeowners Urged to Put Vinegar Down the Drain this March to Avoid Expensive Plumbing Bills Later – It's a Post-Storm Savior

If you've been dealing with extreme weather over recent weeks, you'd be well advised to check your home for damage now so you can tackle any issues before they worsen and become more expensive to fix.

Sometimes these potential issues aren't immediately obvious, though, like covertly blocked drains. The leaves and debris from winter's storms may have washed into your drains causing back-up and ultimately, flooding. Once you notice the effects, chances are it will be too late to fix on your own, which might mean an expensive bill.

It's important to avoid drainage mistakes if you don't want to be out of pocket, so I've asked the experts for their advice on tackling this issue head-on with an ingredient found in most households – white vinegar (from Walmart) – as well as some other products to help keep your pipes flowing as they should.

What Causes Drains to Block?

'After heavy storms, drains tend to take a bit of a battering. When you get sudden downpours, a lot more debris gets washed into the drainage system than it normally would so things like soil, small leaves, grit and so on can build up in gullies and pipe bends and start restricting the flow,' explains Ian Wood, Drainage and Plumbing Specialist at Reactive Plumbing and Drainage Ltd. 'Inside the home you get a knock-on effect because outdoor drains and sewers are already under pressure, so grease, soap residue and food waste inside the pipework has an easier time sticking and forming a blockage.'

What Can I Use to Keep My Drains Clear?

You may already have a bottle of this common household product in your cupboard, and it's one of the best DIY drain cleaning methods when it comes to preventing bigger problems with your drain later on. Robert Schwachenwald, Owner at Bizzy Bee Plumbing Inc in North Carolina says: 'White Vinegar can help as it is acidic, so it breaks down light buildup like soap residue, grease, and mineral deposits inside the pipes, keeping them cleaner and reducing any odor.' He suggests pouring about half a cup of white vinegar down the drain, letting it sit for 30 min, then flushing with hot water.

If your water is already draining slowly, you could try mixing another ingredient, Dean Christian, Plumbing Manager at Awesome Home Services in Colorado Springs, says, 'the key is mixing vinegar with baking soda to naturally dissolve mineral deposits while removing odors as well. It is best used as a preventative measure for maintenance, though it can help with minor, slow-draining clogs.'

Dean recommends adding half a cup of baking soda (Amazon) to white distilled vinegar, pouring it down the drain, then letting it fizz for up to 30 minutes, before flushing it through with boiling water.

How Often Should I Pour Vinegar Down the Drain?

When it comes to pouring vinegar down the drain, Ian advises 'As a preventative, doing this once every couple of weeks is usually enough for most households.'

For his vinegar and baking soda mix, Dean recommends repeating this around once a month, overnight, to allow the mixture time to settle in. 'You can apply this method to your indoor and outdoor sinks before a heavy rain, too,' he advises.

And when it comes to the best time of day to try this method, Ian suggests 'Evening tends to be the best time, simply because the sink is used less overnight. That gives the vinegar time to sit in the pipe and do its job without being immediately washed away by someone running the tap.'

What Should I be Aware of When Trying This Method?

Ian explains: 'This is mainly a preventative measure, but it can help if you’re just starting to notice slow drainage. Vinegar can break down light grease buildup and soap scum, which sometimes clears minor restrictions.'

However, using vinegar to clean your drain won't be enough to deal with a full blockage. 'If the drain is already properly blocked, you’ll usually need something stronger like mechanical clearing, plunging, or professional equipment to get things moving again,' adds Ian.

And, if you live in an older property you might want to check what your pipes are made of. 'A quick caveat is that most PVC pipes will work fine with this technique, but excessive use of acidic vinegar can potentially wear down older metal pipes.' This can lead to damage and potential leakages in your pipework, which you'll want to avoid.

Ian also adds that this method is only effective for indoor drains. 'Outdoor drains are dealing with bigger debris like leaves and mud, so vinegar won’t really solve those issues on its own – it is far more effective to keep the grates clear and remove debris physically.'

What to Buy to Keep Your Drains Clear

Once you've sorted your indoor drains, make sure you know how to unclog your yard drains to keep the whole system clear of blockages.

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