Plumbers usually have some good war stories about the substances that people think they can pour down the drain without repercussions. To be sure, you would think most people would have been taught in their youth that certain things are just a big no when it comes to disposing of them in the toilet or the sink.
But just in case you missed that course in basic drain safety, here are some surefire tips to help you avoid drain clogs — and the need to make that call to your local plumber to free up your pipes.
Seven Things That Should Never Go Down the Drain
- Oil/grease. Oil and grease will coagulate in your drains and trap food, causing a clog over time. No, pouring hot water down the drain with the oil or bacon grease will not help it move on. Dispose of oil and grease in the trash, or better yet, find out if your community recycles it.
- Feminine products. Even though tampons, sanitary napkins and cotton balls look small enough to flush, they are absorbent and swell up with water, clogging the toilet.
- Toxic chemicals. Although the water treatment plant can get some chemicals out of waste water, some will end up in our oceans, rivers and lakes. So dispose of them properly, according to your municipality’s laws.
- Any type of paper other than toilet tissue. Toilet paper is designed to dissolve; other paper, such as paper towels, printer paper and newsprint are not. They will form clogs in your toilet line.
- Pasta. Pasta absorbs water and will clog your lines. Pasta and other starchy foods such as rice also shouldn’t be disposed of in the garbage disposal, as it will form a paste and clog the unit.
- Medications. These substances can find their way into our drinking water.
- Liquid drain cleaners. Despite the claims made by the manufacturers of these products, they can be harmful and destroy your pipes.
If you’d like to know more about drain safety, contact Energy 1 Heating and Air Conditioning. We serve the Lorain area, including Elyria and Oberlin.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about drain safety and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area