Cleaning up after a meal and tidying your living space are important steps in maintaining a clean home, but not everyone goes about these tasks the right way. While it’s tempting to toss unwanted items down the sink or toilet for convenience, there are a few items that should never get sent down the drain due to the harmful effects they can have on your plumbing. Below are five of the most common items that you shouldn’t introduce to your pipes.

5 Items That Shouldn’t Enter Your Plumbing

1. Abrasive Cleaners

Some cleaners, specifically those containing ammonia and bleach, can cause an array of issues when tossed down the sink or toilet. These abrasive chemicals will kill necessary bacteria in your septic tank, which will affect the efficiency of your home’s plumbing and drainage systems. Certain cleaners, when combined in a sink. also produce toxic gases that are dangerous in your home. Bleach should never be combined with ammonia, rubbing alcohol, or vinegar, which also should never be mixed with hydrogen peroxide. Research your town’s recycling program if you need to dump old cleaners.

2. Cooking Grease, Fats, & Oils

Grease, oils, and fats are one of the biggest culprits behind clogged plumbing. As the grease cools, it congeals into a thick glob that will eventually block anything else trying to go down the drain. The problem gets worse as the moisture in your pipes mixes with the fats solidifying in your system. A better solution is to drain grease into a container and toss in the trash.

3. Medication

Medication does not lead to plumbing clogs, but different kinds of medication do contaminate the environment when flushed down a toilet or sink. When wastewater enters treatment plants, the process cannot filter out drugs. As a result, these substances end up in water supplies, bodies of water, and animal habitats, particularly marine environments. Call your township for information on drug take-back programs that handle the proper disposal of medication.

4. Starches

Pasta and rice expand in water. This can clog your drain pipes as these starchy food items travel down them. A better solution is to throw leftovers into the trash and avoid the clog altogether. The same goes for potatoes and their skins, which can form giant, glue-like masses in your plumbing.

5. Coffee

Coffee grounds will cause buildups in pipes. Instead of letting that happen, compost your grounds or sprinkle the remnants around your garden and landscaping to stop insects and critters from infesting your property.

 

 

Dealing with clogged plumbing? Trust the professionals at Emery Plumbing. Since 2001, these plumbing contractors in Hilo, HI, have been the top choice for everything from hot water heaters to basic household repairs and installations. Their team is also available for kitchen and bathroom remodeling. To schedule an appointment, call (808) 960-8828. For more on their residential plumbing services, stop by their website.