What Things You Shouldn’t Put Down Your Drain

When it comes to plumbing, it’s normal to be skeptical.

If you’re like most people, you’re probably unaware of how your pipes function. Even if you do, there are several things that might go wrong with the pipes behind your walls and beneath your washbasin.

But did you know that some of the things you put down your drain can actually cause damage to those pipes? It’s true! Here are some things that shouldn’t be put down your drain:

Bones

Bones are a big no-no when it comes to plumbing and learning “how to keep the house cool in summer.” They can get lodged in your pipes and cause a clogged drain or get stuck in the garbage disposal and damage it.

Fruit pits

Fruit pits are another thing that should never go down your drain. Their shape makes them difficult to remove from your pipes once they’re stuck there. Plus, they’re acidic and can cause corrosion to your pipes and other parts of the plumbing system.

Coffee grounds

Coffee grounds aren’t just a nuisance for your skin—they’re also a problem for your drains! Coffee grounds are highly acidic and can eat away at the rubber gasket on your sink stopper, causing leaks or even worse problems down the road if left unchecked!

Grease 

Grease and oil build up over time after they’ve been sitting in your pipes for too long (or if you have a grease trap that doesn’t get cleaned regularly). This build-up will eventually block off drains completely, causing wastewater backups in bathrooms or kitchens where sinks are located nearby. It also increases the risk of backups occurring elsewhere along those same lines because fat doesn’t dissolve very easily.

Oil

Oil can cause problems with drains because it builds up over time, causing blockages in your pipes (which means no more water!). But even if it manages not to cause a problem right away, it still leaves behind a sticky residue that needs to be cleaned up—and who wants to do that? Not us! And definitely not you! So don’t put oil down your drain!

Flushable Wipes

Flushable wipes are a bad idea because they’re not actually flushable. They shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet at all—that’s why they come with warning labels. If you want to use them, make sure you throw them in the trash instead of flushing them down your drain.

Eggshells

Eggshells can be a real drain on your pipes. They’re so small, after all, and they’re slippery as heck. They just slide right down into your plumbing and start clogging things up, which is never fun. So please—don’t put them down your drain!

Pasta and Rice

Pasta and rice are two of the most popular foods in the world. They’re also two of the worst things you can put down your drain. Both types of food are composed of long chains of starch molecules that are designed to be broken down by salivary enzymes.  This means that when they’re washed down the sink, they’re not broken down at all; instead, they just sit in your pipe, waiting for someone to come along and try to clear them out.

Pasta and rice can also clog up your pipes because they absorb water like a sponge, making them expand until they fill up all available space and overflow into your sink or tub. If this happens when you’re not home, it could lead to flooding or other damage to your home or property!

Fibrous Vegetables

Vegetables like celery, broccoli stalks, and asparagus should not be thrown down your garbage disposal either. The same thing goes for any other vegetable with long fibers (like corn husks) or seeds (like peppers). These things can get stuck on the blades of your disposal and cause blockages.

Medications

Medications are designed to work in your body, not in your drain. If you flush medications down the toilet or sink, they can contaminate local water sources and cause health problems for others who drink from them.

Cleaning Chemicals

Cleaning chemicals like bleach and ammonia should never be poured down your drain because they can damage pipes, harm the environment, and leave an unpleasant smell in your home. Instead, dispose of these products properly by mixing them with water and putting them in a sealed container or bag before throwing them out with household trash.

Dental Floss

Dental floss can become trapped in your pipes and produce a blockage, resulting in no water flowing through your pipes at all. And what do you believe occurs next when it happens? The water begins to back up, causing floods and damage to your property.

Paper Towels and Wipes

Paper towels and wipes are made from absorbent material that gets sucked up into your pipes, causing blockages and clogs. If you have small children or pets in the house, this is especially important because those little hands love to grab paper towels from under the sink!

Hair

It’s true that hair is a natural filter. But in your drain, that hair can get trapped and clog your pipes, which means you’ll have to call the plumber

Used Motor Oil

Motor oil benefits your automobile (and its engine) but is detrimental to your drains. It can accumulate over time and produce a variety of plumbing issues, including blockages and backed-up pipes. If you need to dispose of used motor oil, instead of pouring it down the drain, take it to a nearby auto parts store or recycling center.

Dirt

Dirt collects in drains easily and causes a lot of damage over time—especially if you have a garbage disposal in your kitchen sink! If you’re using the garbage disposal regularly, rinse any dirt in the sink before you put anything else down there—or better yet, just throw out any food scraps yourself instead of putting them down the garbage disposal at all!

Paint

Paint can clog drains, leading to all sorts of issues with water flow. And who wants that? No one! So don’t put paint down your drain.

Razor Blades

Razor blades are made of sharp metal and can easily get stuck inside your pipes, causing damage and other problems. So if you want to avoid these issues, don’t put razor blades down your drain!

How to Effectively Clean Your Drain?

Your drain is the most important part of your house. It takes all the dirt and debris you throw down, and it still works. But what if you accidentally put something in there that shouldn’t be there?

That’s easy! All you have to do is follow these simple steps to learn “how to keep your house cool in the summer”:

  1. Try to use the Plunger: If you feel like the object stuck in your drain is small enough, then try using a plunger. The air pressure from the plunger can push out the object and helps to clean your drain.
  2. Use a Snake: If you have a snake handy, it would be best to use it to unclog your drain. Snakes are made up of flexible wire at least 10 feet long and have a chain on one end, which helps grab hold of any object stuck in your drain and pulls them out easily.
  3. Use Baking Soda: Another method of cleaning your clogged drains is using baking soda and vinegar solution. Mix 1 cup of water with 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup baking soda into a bowl and pour this mixture down your clogged drain after covering it with a towel or paper towel so that no fumes enter into your nose while pouring this down there!
  4. Use Commercial drain cleaning chemicals: These can be purchased from online retailers or nearby hardware stores. They come with various formulas ranging from powerful liquid cleaners to abrasive powders that can cut through grease and other blockages.

If You’ve Accidentally Put Something In Your Drain That Isn’t Supposed To Go There, Don’t Panic!

Don’t worry; we’ve all been there. Sometimes a stray toilet paper roll gets tossed in the wrong place, or maybe you forget to rinse out the sink after using it. And sometimes even the most conscientious of us can get distracted and accidentally flush something down the toilet that we shouldn’t.

Whatever it is that’s gotten stuck in your pipes, don’t worry—we can help!

At Master Tech Plumbing, we specialize in professional drain cleaning services in Columbia and Mid-Missouri. We’re not just a plumber company but also a drain cleaning company. And when those two specialties combine, it means we can help you get your clogged drains back on track with the best service available.

We understand how difficult it may be to determine what is wrong with your drains and pipes when they begin to malfunction. That is why we provide free consultations before beginning any work so that we can examine the problem together and determine how best to proceed. We’ll also go through what work will be done and how much it will cost before we begin so there are no surprises later on.

If you’ve got a clog or backup in your sewer line and are looking for expert plumbers for Drain Cleaning in Columbia and Mid-Missouri, give us a call today!

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