Drain Care
Long Beach, Cerritos, Artesia, and surrounding communities are home to thousands of properties built in the 1950s through 1980s — and those homes have plumbing systems that require special attention. Older cast iron, galvanized steel, or clay drain pipes are more susceptible to buildup, corrosion, and root intrusion than modern PVC piping. Add Southern California's hard water to the mix, and you have a recipe for frequent, stubborn clogs.
The good news is that most drain clogs are preventable. With the right habits and occasional professional maintenance, you can significantly reduce your chances of a messy — and expensive — drain emergency. Here's what our plumbers recommend.
Why Older Homes Clog More Frequently
Before diving into prevention, it helps to understand why older home drains are more prone to problems. Cast iron and galvanized pipes corrode from the inside out over decades, creating rough interior surfaces that trap grease, hair, and debris far more readily than smooth PVC. Clay sewer lines crack and allow tree roots to infiltrate. Older pipe joints shift with ground movement, creating low spots where waste accumulates. And years of buildup that were never properly cleared compound over time.
If your home was built before 1985 and you've been experiencing recurring clogs, a professional camera inspection can reveal the true condition of your drain system — and help you plan preventive maintenance accordingly.
10 Expert Tips to Prevent Clogged Drains
1. Never Pour Grease or Oil Down the Kitchen Drain
Cooking grease and oil are the #1 cause of kitchen drain clogs. Even when washed down with hot water, grease solidifies as it cools in the pipe, coating the inside and accumulating debris until a full blockage forms. Pour used cooking oil and grease into a container and dispose of it in the trash instead.
2. Use a Drain Strainer in Every Drain
Inexpensive mesh strainers placed over shower, tub, and sink drains catch hair, soap scum, and debris before they enter the pipe. This single habit prevents the majority of bathroom clogs. Clean strainers weekly — it takes less than 30 seconds and can save hundreds of dollars in plumbing calls.
3. Flush Drains Weekly with Boiling Water
Once a week, carefully pour a kettle of boiling water down your kitchen sink drain. This helps dissolve grease buildup and flush minor debris through before it accumulates into a clog. Note: don't use boiling water in PVC pipes, but it's effective and safe for metal pipe systems common in older Long Beach and Cerritos homes.
4. Only Flush Toilet Paper — Nothing Else
Flushable wipes, paper towels, cotton pads, dental floss, and feminine hygiene products do not break down properly and are a leading cause of sewer clogs and blockages. Despite the label, even "flushable" wipes bind together in pipes and create significant obstructions in older sewer lines.
5. Clean Your Garbage Disposal Regularly
Run your garbage disposal with cold water — not hot, which can liquefy grease and push it further into the pipe. Avoid putting fibrous foods (celery, corn husks), starchy foods (potato peels, pasta), or large quantities of any food at once into the disposal. Monthly, grind ice cubes with salt to clean the blades and interior walls.
6. Use Enzyme Drain Cleaners Monthly (Not Chemical Ones)
Biological enzyme drain cleaners use naturally occurring bacteria to break down organic buildup in pipes without damaging your plumbing. Use them monthly as a preventive measure. Avoid chemical drain cleaners like Drano — they're corrosive and can damage older metal pipes, worsen pipe deterioration, and only punch a temporary hole through clogs rather than clearing them fully.
7. Keep Tree Roots Away from Sewer Lines
In older Cerritos and Long Beach neighborhoods with mature trees, root intrusion is a major cause of sewer line damage. Know where your sewer line runs (usually from the front of your house to the street) and avoid planting trees within 10 feet of it. Signs of root intrusion include recurring clogs, gurgling toilets, and slow-draining fixtures throughout the house.
8. Install Water Softeners in Hard Water Areas
Southern California has extremely hard water — water with high mineral content. Over time, calcium and magnesium deposits (scale) build up inside pipes, reducing their interior diameter and contributing to clogs. A water softener system reduces mineral buildup throughout your entire plumbing system, extending pipe life and improving water heater efficiency.
9. Schedule Professional Drain Cleaning Every 1–2 Years
Even with the best at-home prevention, professional hydro-jetting every 1–2 years is the most effective way to keep older drain systems running cleanly. High-pressure hydro-jetting completely scours the interior walls of pipes — removing grease, scale, root intrusion, and debris that home remedies simply cannot reach. Think of it as a deep clean for your plumbing system.
10. Know Your Home's Plumbing Layout
Understanding where your cleanout access points are, where your main water shut-off valve is located, and the general routing of your drain lines helps you respond quickly to problems and communicate effectively with plumbers. Many older homes in the Long Beach area have accessible cleanout ports in the front yard or garage — knowing their location can make a drain emergency much easier to address quickly.
When Prevention Isn't Enough: Signs You Need a Plumber
Even with great maintenance habits, some drain problems require professional attention. Call JA Plumbing & Drains when you notice:
- Multiple fixtures draining slowly at the same time
- Gurgling sounds from drains or toilets
- Sewage odors from drains or in the yard
- Water backing up in tubs or floor drains
- Recurring clogs in the same location despite DIY attempts
Keep Your Drains Flowing Year-Round
Schedule a professional drain cleaning or camera inspection with JA Plumbing & Drains. We serve Long Beach, Cerritos, Anaheim, Artesia, Cypress, and all of LA County.
(866) 287-5862 Schedule Service