Dumping household waste down the drain seems so easy, but do you know how much damage it can cause to your drain and sewer system? Sure, it’s easy to pour that bacon grease down the sink after you cook breakfast, but even the smallest amount can cause major issues.
Improper disposal of waste in your toilet or sink can result in clogs, backed up drains, or other malfunctions. These appliance systems have their limits, and even though these boundaries are often pushed on a daily basis, they aren’t indestructible. In order to prevent issues with your plumbing, here are a few items that should never be put down your drains.
Diapers
This one may be obvious to some, but you’d be surprised how many clogs are caused by diapers. The same goes for feminine hygiene products as well. Once they get stuck, a professional will likely have to be called. A plunger won’t be able to dislodge these items, and removal can be costly and destructive. It’s possible that the clog can get sucks right outside of your house, and that a professional may have to tear up your lawn to reach it.
Hair and Dental Floss
Hair will always make its way down the drain – no matter how hard you try to keep it out! A few strands is no big deal, but the more that builds up, the bigger the clog. Dental floss acts in a similar way – both can stick to your pipes on their way down.
Fat, Oil, and Grease
Whenever you finish cooking a meal, it’s likely that you’ll have some sort of mess to clean up. It may be easy to just dump the leftovers down the drain, but doing so can wreak havoc on your plumbing. Did you know that these materials harden and congeal as they cool? This means that as they travel down your drain, they stick to the sides of your pipes and harden. They also catch other materials on their way down, resulting in major clogs. When they are introduced to public sewer systems, they mix with other particles. This not only damages public infrastructure, but it can affect drinking water.
Paper Products
Toilet paper is designed to dissolve in water – this is why we can flush it in small amounts. Paper towels, cotton balls, swabs, and similar materials aren’t designed this way. Once they get wet, they can accumulate and result in a blockage.
Coffee Grounds
Not even your garbage disposal can handle coffee grounds! They are a major cause of clogs, and any plumber will tell you to simply throw them away in the trash.
Egg Shells, Bones, and Hard Food Waste
Even though your garbage disposal can shred these food waste materials with ease, it’s still likely that they can cause a clog in your system. It’s best to throw these materials in the trash or in a compost pile.
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