You are more likely to call a plumber to open clogged drains than for any other service. But you can avoid such pains with your drains by being careful about what you put into them.

Your most-used drain is in the kitchen sink and that is the one that gets clogged most often. These stoppages usually are caused by liquid fats that are emulsified by dishwater and running through your pipes. As the wastewater flows toward your main sewer, it leaves fatty deposits along the way; a thin layer of grease forms on the pipe wall that builds up over time. Coffee grounds and bits of food cling and add to the layer building up inside the your pipe until the pipe becomes clogged.

To prevent this build up, pour excess grease into a tin can and throw it out with your garbage. If you use a garbage disposal, be sure to run enough cold water through it to carry the particles down and into your main line to prevent buildup in the smaller waste lines. And use a biodegradable waste digester periodically.

Keep a “plumber’s friend,” or large rubber suction cup with a wooden handle, handy in case you do get a blockage. Set the cup tightly over the drain and plunge it vigorously several times. If you are working on a double drain sink, make sure to

seal the other drain so that water will not come up and splash into the other bowl (or on you).

If this doesn’t help, you may have to remove the “j-bend” on the trap under the sink drain and clean it. First, place adhesive tape around the packing nut holding the j-bend or wrap your wrench jaws with cloth to prevent scratching the metal surface. (If you have plastic pipe, do not grip the nut too tightly with the wrench to prevent cracking the nut). Place a bucket under the pipe to catch any drips when you remove the j-bend. Clean out the j-bend with some wire. Have some fresh gasket material ready to slip on the pipes and reassemble.

For clogged toilets, your plumber’s friend should clear out most stoppages. Or use an auger with an adjustable crank handle (plumbers call them “snakes”). And be careful not to scratch or crack the toilet bowl.

If these remedies don’t do the trick, call your licensed professional plumber. Your plumbing system is too valuable to put at risk by using unqualified “plumbers.” (Did you know that it is actually illegal for a person to advertise or provide plumbing services in Illinois if he/she is not licensed?)