What Shouldn’t Go Down My Drain?
You made mashed potatoes for dinner and put the scraps down the kitchen sink to let the garbage disposal do its job. You painted that cabinet in the garage and cleaned the brush in the slop sink. Or maybe you emptied the kitty box in your toilet and flushed it. We have all done things like this many, many times, without giving it a second thought. Did you know that those little lapses in judgement could end up costing you a lot of money?
Abusing your home’s plumbing system by allowing it to come in contact with certain items and materials could eventually lead to a failure in your home’s plumbing system. You cannot typically see your home’s plumbing system, but you can protect it against clogs and corrosion by being aware of what you are putting down your drains and acting quickly when you notice a problem such as slow draining or backing up.
How to Tell if Your Drain is Clogged
It is generally easy to spot a problem with your plumbing. You may notice that the water in your kitchen sink or bathtub is draining slower than usual. If you do nothing, eventually they will stop draining all together, which will indicate that the clog has blocked a portion of the entire pipe. When one of your pipes gets to this point, it usually means the problem has been building up for months or even years. Whether you realize it or not, you’ve been subjecting your plumbing to all kinds of foreign objects and things that don’t belong going down your drains. Now I know you are thinking, “It’s a drain, isn’t it there for me to wash things down.” The simple answer is NO! Your drains and plumbing system in your home are designed to process liquids, not food, cat litter, scraps, wipes, grease or any other foreign materials.
What Not to Put Down Your Drains!
Here are some common things people think are ok to put down the drains but are NOT!
1. Flushable Cat Litter
We know the label says you can flush it, but this is a misconception. “Flushable” cat litter had been know to clog drain and create huge problems for septic systems. Cat littler can pick up bacteria from your cat’s feces, which is resistant to chemicals used to treat water, which means it will eventually find its way into the water supply and be a threat to many animals, especially sea otters.
2. Coffee Grounds
You would think that because coffee grounds are so tiny, that they won’t stick around in your pipes, but that is not the case. In fact, a lot of plumbers say that coffee grounds are one of the most likely sources of a clog in the kitchen pipes. Coffee grounds can be disposed of in a few different ways. Your vegetable garden is one of them. Coffee grounds have a high nitrogen content, along with a few other nutrients plants can use. If you have a compost pile, coffee grounds help create organic matter that improves the ability of soil to hold water.
3. Eggshells
They may seem harmless, but when you put them down the drain, the garbage disposal grinds them into smaller pieces that get stuck in grease, fat, and other oily substances to create a mess that will easily clog your pipes. As another advantage for your garden, eggshells in your garden’s soil will help keep pest like snails, slugs, and cutworms away. They also work well in your compost pile as they provide calcium and other key nutrients.
4. Grease, Fat, and Oils
These three items act as a binder for all sorts of materials, such as eggshells, and create thick, sticky globs that will coat your pipes until nothing can pass through them. These substances count for more than 47% of all sewer overflows that happen in the United States each year. The best way to dispose of bacon grease, meat fat and other substances like these is to place them in a can or jar, allow them to cool and throw them away. Vegetable oil, canola oil, or olive oil are compostable in small quantities. They can also be used to kill weeds; just place it in a spray bottle and spray those unruly nuisances away.
5. Cotton Balls and Paper Towels
Just because cotton balls and paper towels are biodegradable, does not mean they will dissolve instantly. Both are designed to be absorbent; this makes them the perfect culprit to clog pipes. It is best to throw both these items in the trash.
6. Condoms
Really wish I didn’t have to mention this one and make people uncomfortable, but sadly I do. Condoms are made of rubber and are not biodegradable. They do not dissolve in water. It can and will get stuck in your pipes causing clogging or damaging pipes.
7. Feminine Hygiene Products/Flushable Wipes
Another product companies tell you is ok to flush, but they are NOT. They do not dissolve in water, which means they too have the potential to get stuck. All feminine products should be carefully wrapped and thrown in the garbage. Wipes do not break down quickly and can get stuck in bends in your pipes or cling to grease buildup and clog your plumbing or cause damage to sewer infrastructure.
8. Flour
Another product I really didn’t think was necessary to bring up, but sadly it is. When you mix flour with water you get a very sticky mess. Whether dry or wet when going down the drain, it will become sticky and remain on your pipes acting as a wall for other items to cling to. This can and will lead to blockages causing a clog.
9. Pasta and rice
Just like rice not being good for birds because it swells when mixed with water, it will also swell when in your drains, taking up even more space in your pipes. The same is true for pasta.
10. Food Waste
You have a trash can for a reason. Food waste should never be put down the drain. Not only is it a blockage risk, but if it sits in your pipes for more than a couple of days, it will start to decompose and send unpleasant odors through your pipes and into your home.
There are so many items that just do not belong going down your drains. The list is endless. Not only can they clog and damage your plumbing system, but they are also not good for the environment. Your drain and plumbing system running through your home are designed to process liquids, everything else belongs in your trash can or composite pile. Your garbage disposal isn’t meant to grind your food byproducts into small debris, it is meant to break down small bits of leftover pieces of material after washing plates. If it is too late and you are having an issue with your pipes, give Rootbusters Plumbing a call 844-247-7668. We can help!