A clogged drain is not only an inconvenient problem, but it can even lead to plumbing emergencies that can catch you off guard. For this reason, you need to take the extra effort to ensure that as much as possible, only human wastes and water should go down your drain. This article lists down some of the most common things found clogging drains when these things shouldn’t have been there in the first place.
Coffee Grounds
Statistics show that most plumbers encounter coffee grounds as the cause of most clogs, particularly in kitchen pipes. A highly skilled blocked drains plumber Summer Hill residents depend on in times of emergencies, suggests that rather than pouring coffee grounds into your drain, you can make a compost bowl instead. The reason behind this is that even if coffee grounds prove to be small enough, they can still tend to stick around your pipes.
Egg Shells
Another thing that you should never pour down your drain is eggshells. While they may seem harmless, the garbage disposal can grind them up into small pieces, causing them to get stuck in grease and fat, or other oily substances. From there, they can create a thick mess that can end up clogging your pipes. Thus, make sure that you dispose of eggshells properly in your trash can rather than pouring them down your drain.
Grease and Oil
Most kitchen plumbing woes stem from pouring grease and oil down the drain. The reason behind this is that both grease and oil can act as a binder for various types of materials that can end up blocking your drain. For instance, when coffee grounds or egg shells get in contact with them, they can create a thick and sticky glob that can eventually coat your pipes. When that happens, water will no longer be able to flow through your pipes. Even the fat from the bacon that you cooked can end up binding materials that can clog your drain.
Paper Towels
Yes, paper towels may prove to be biodegradable but it doesn’t mean that they can be easily dissolved. This is also true for cotton balls, which is why you should never try to pour them down your drain. Keep in mind that paper towels are designed to be absorbent, and so are cotton balls, which make them clog pipes easily. Hence, make sure to throw your paper towels, and even cotton balls, properly in the trash can.
Household Fluids
Never attempt to pour your household fluids down your drain because not only can they cause a blockage in your drain, but they can even damage your pipes too. These household fluids, which include your cleaners or car fluids, can even contaminate your water supply. The best thing to do in this case is to check your locality for the policies on how to dispose of your household fluids properly.
Medication
Finally, make sure that you don’t send down your medications in your drain because while they might not cause any clog, these can contaminate your water supply. As much as possible, you need to dispose of them properly. Thereby, even if you were told years before to flush down your prescription medicines, you should exert the effort to break the practice.
The Bottomline
The things listed above are only some of the things that you should never put down your drain. When you take the time to ensure that only human waste and water run down your drain, then you will be alleviated from any potential plumbing emergencies in the future. Rest assured that when you do experience any plumbing emergency, there will always be a reliable plumber ready to help you address your problem.
