What to Avoid Putting Down the Drain

In the same way food grease and oil hardens into a fatty mass when it cools, the same thing happens to it if it is washed into a sink drain.

It is simple to avoid thinking about what we put into sink drains at home. Usually, whenever a serious drain clog takes place, it is an accident, such as a child flushing a toy. Even so, it’s important to be mindful of anything that goes into the plumbing system.

Following are five things plumbers caution homeowners about putting down the drain.

Dental floss

Dental floss, in conjunction with frequent brushing, is terrific for oral health. However, it’s tough on plumbing. It’s not biodegradable and will affix itself to drain lines. It will subsequently enable various other things placed in the drain to stick to it and eventually bring about a drain clog.

Cooking grease

In the same way food grease and oil hardens into a fatty mass when it cools, the same thing happens to it if it is washed into a sink drain. It might make its way partially to the municipal sewer system, but more than likely, it will coat the home’s drain lines.

Everything else flushed down the drain following the grease will cling to it, gradually reducing the diameter of the pipe until it closes entirely. It may even result in a busted pipe and a required drain repair. A garbage disposal will not prevent this; the result will be the same. So the best thing to do with kitchen grease and oil is to put it in a can that homeowners throw in the trash.

Food waste

There is nothing wrong with using a garbage disposal to chop up food so it can flow through the drain lines better. However, homeowners must know what can and can’t go into the disposal. Specific foods will not break down very well within a garbage disposal. For example, pasta and rice will expand within plumbing pipes, and like grease, other debris will stick to it, creating a clog and blockage.

Hair

Hair is likely the most common item to go into drains in the house. In the short term, it won’t seem to result in much trouble. In the long run, however, it will close up drains. Whether shower or sink drains, hair from a brush or straight from the homeowner’s head produces the same results. The easiest solution is to use drain screens to minimize the amount of hair that makes it into the drains.

Medications

The primary problem with medicines is where they end up, not that they could get trapped in the drains and bring about a plumbing issue. If flushed or washed down drains, they will end up in the local community water system and may have a harmful effect on the drinking water or wildlife.

All households need a professional drain cleaning occasionally. Adopt the habit of hiring a licensed plumber to clean the drains once a year to prevent major plumbing issues.

Simba Plumbing offers residential and commercial plumbing services to Phoenix and surrounding areas. We are family-owned, meticulous and provide affordable, transparent pricing. Call us at 602-962-3537.