9 Items That Should Never Go Down the Drain
How often have you been preoccupied with cooking and don't feel like going to the trashcan to throw away food scraps? How frequently do you dispose of a small amount of garbage in the sink simply because it's accessible at the moment? We have all engaged in it, but we should refrain from doing so. If you put the incorrect item in your sink, it can lead to a blockage and make the fixture unusable until repairs are made. Here are 9 items you should refrain from throwing down your drain.
Grease
While cooking, avoid dumping fats, oils, and grease down the drain because they can cause clogs in your pipes. These materials have the ability to harden and obstruct your plumbing, causing serious clogs in both your pipes and the community sewer system. Any of these slippery materials can combine with other items to form fatbergs. These jelly-like buildups have the potential to increase and block pipes. Grease, gravy, ice cream, cheese, meat fats, and condiments all fit into one of these three groups.
Paint
Emptying paint into the drain may pollute water sources and harm your plumbing. Read the instructions on the paint label before disposing of it as directed. When unsure, bring any extra paint to a hazardous waste disposal facility.
Pasta
Pasta and rice contain a lot of starch and expand further when they are cooked and exposed to water. A tiny strand of angel hair in the drain may not cause issues, but a large serving of risotto being dumped could result in a blocked pipe.
Eggshells
The majority of sink drains are not big enough for eggshells to fit through, so do not attempt to push them down. Eggshells, if they somehow end up in your drain, have the potential to create blockages. The sharp corners of the shell can also trap other items and cause an obstruction. If your drain ends up getting clogged, call High Speed Plumbing for clogged drain line repair.
Starch
Potatoes, rice, and pasta can swell with water, forming a sticky material that can block your plumbing. The starch found in potatoes can make your disposal blades stick, while the peels can attach to the pipes' walls. Utilize a strainer to trap starchy food particles to prevent them from going down the drain. To clean out the sticky food from your drain, schedule a drain cleaning with High Speed Plumbing.
Coffee Grounds
While coffee grounds are of high quality, they can lead to plumbing issues if disposed of in the sink. Before you clean out your coffee cup, make sure to throw away the used coffee grounds in the garbage. On the other hand, coffee grounds are excellent for use in composting.
Household Cleaners
Household cleaners, weed killers, insect killers, car fluids, and paint can cause harm if they are disposed of in the drain. While they may not cause blockages in your plumbing, these fluids can disturb the delicate biological ecosystem crucial for wastewater treatment. Call a plumbing service to clean out your drains if you ever rinse down these chemicals.
Medication
Whether expired or not, disposing of medications down the sink can lead to their leakage into the environment. This can lead to harm to marine organisms and underwater ecosystems. Numerous public wastewater treatment plants are unable to remove these medications, leading to their presence in drinking water.
Cotton Balls
These can decompose naturally, but it's still not advised to flush them. They do not break down immediately. Additionally, they have the ability to absorb liquid, potentially causing blockages in your plumbing. Dispose of these items in the garbage.
To avoid having to call a plumber for plumbing emergencies, pay attention to what you throw down your drain. If you need assistance with a dependable plumbing repair service, contact High Speed Plumbing.
