The key to having smooth running drains starts with prevention. While your drains are all in good working order, take steps regularly to keep them that way. You don't have to resort to harsh chemicals or drastic measures.

One of the best things you can do for your drains is to keep stuff out of them that can cause blockages. Outfit kitchen sinks with filter strainers that will prevent bits of food, pieces of vegetables, and other lumpy stuff from ever getting into the drain. It will also keep out items such as buttons, rings, pieces of broken glass, and other foreign articles that will plug drains.

It is important to keep greases and fats from entering the drain. Wipe pans and plates with paper towels or otherwise remove the oily residues from them before placing them in the sink. Fats and greases solidify along the edges of the pipes and in the traps, forming hard-to-deal with masses that narrow gradually and finally don't allow anything to pass through them.

Hard water contributes to forming blockages in drains. The minerals in the water combine with soap and other elements to form scale or scum which then solidifies. If you see scale buildup on the sink or tub surfaces, the same thing is happening inside your pipes. You can use commercially available descaling compounds or de-liming compounds to help get rid of these accumulations before they become obstructive. Having softened water helps here.

Weekly treatment with common household agents can help prevent blockages. Baking soda and vinegar combine with a fizzing action that can help loosen any forming blockage. Add a cup of baking soda to the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar. Cover the drain and wait 15 minutes. In the meantime, boil a kettle of water, remove whatever you have covering the drain and pour the boiling water down the drain. The boiling water helps dissolve any fats or grease that may have accumulated. Flush the drain with hot tap water.

In the bathroom, put strainers in sinks and hair traps in showers and tubs. Hair is especially hard on drains, forming tangles and loops that trap all sorts of other foreign articles as well as soap scum. Remember to clean the hair traps and strainers frequently. Every week is good.

If blockages become resistant, you can use plungers and drain snakes to attempt to loosen them. There are chemical drain cleaners sold in supermarkets and home stores, but care should be taken in using these since they can be corrosive and damaging to skin and if not successful they can be hazardous to clean up before repair can be done.

When your drains become seriously blocked, call in professional help to restore function. An expert plumber will have the proper tools and knowledge and can perform the task safely and without damage to your plumbing system.