Sometimes a call to the plumber is the result of something that’s completely out of your hands, like a burst pipe, a sewer line break or leak, or to install a new water heater or bathtub. But let’s face it, we’re human, and many of us have had to call a plumber for something we could have prevented.
We’re talking about clogged drains and pipes as a result of putting something down the drain or flushing an item down the toilet that’s better off being tossed in the garbage or recycling bin.
To help you avoid the burden of unclogging a backed up sink or toilet on your own, or a call to the plumber, we’ve come up with a top ten list of items you should never put down a drain (or garbage disposal, for that matter).
And the ten worst things to put down the drain are…
- Cooking oils and butter
Cooking oils, butters and margarine that are tossed down the drain when hot can congeal in the pipes. Eventually, this will make debris you send down drain stick to the pipe and eventually cause a blockage. This also happens when you pour animal fat (like bacon dripping) and vegetable fats like coconut oil down the drain.
To dispose of fats safely, pour them in a metal container (like a coffee tin), cover, and throw away. The verdict is out whether to reuse fats or not. While they may not be good for the waistline, grease and oils are definitely not good for the drain.
- Egg shells
These belong in the compost bin. The reason? Eggshells are very hard on garbage disposal blades and even small pieces of eggshell can collect in pipes and cause a blockage.
- Coffee grinds
The biggest issue with putting coffee grounds down the drain is that they won’t break down in water. Since they aren’t water soluble, in time remaining grounds in the drain will clump together and cause a clog. Coffee grinds are best left for the compost pile.
- Rice and pasta
Both semolina and rice will swell when flushed down the drain and will cause blockage. While newer types of pasta made with rice or vegetables (usually gluten-free pasta) may be slightly better for drains, we advise against putting this type of pasta down the drain, too. The same goes for most types of rice including brown and arborio rice.
- Produce stickers
Make sure to peel any produce stickers off your fruits and veggies and discard them so they don’t end up in the drain. The stickers can adhere to the sides of pipes and can even damage the water filters at your city water treatment center.
- Medication
It’s critical that you take any unused or expired prescription medications back to the pharmacy. Most wastewater treatment systems don’t have the ability to filter out medications which can end up in rivers and lakes. This not only contaminates the water, it can be dangerous to fish and all water wildlife.
- Sanitary napkins and tampons
Most people know that sanitary napkins aren’t flushable, but tampons aren’t either. Sanitary napkins are simply too thick to be flushed down toilets and will almost instantly cause a blockage. They aren’t biodegradable either, so they’ll pollute water if they don’t clog the pipes first.
Tampons, as well as their wrappers, are not flushable, and most manufacturers note this on tampon boxes, but they are often still the cause of toilet clogs. Tampons will expand in water, which makes it easier for them to get stuck in pipes.
- Flushable wipes, cotton balls and paper towels
Like sanitary napkins, flushable wipes including baby wipes, facial wipes, are too heavy and thick to be flushable. Eventually, they’ll get stuck and cause a pretty significant clog in the drain. Consider this: toilet paper will disintegrate completely within 24 hours. When a wipe is flushed down the toilet, it can take weeks for it breaks down. Then, as each wipe gets flushed down the toilet, they accumulate to cause a big clog.
- Cat litter
If you think flushable cat litter is too good to be true, you’re right. Not only can large clumps of cat feces coated in clay or a biodegradable material like corn, wheat, or walnut shells, clog toilets, flushing cat droppings down the toilet can allow a parasite called toxoplasma gondii to enter the water supply, and that can cause toxoplasmosis in humans.
- Bleach
Because bleach is a toxic substance, you should never pour it down a drain. Doing so can cause the bleach to mix with different substances in your pipes which can result in toxic fumes.
Remember: If you’re concerned an item may clog a drain, it probably will. When in doubt, throw it in the garbage can. Keep this top ten list handy, and get in the habit of never flushing these items down the drain.
Now that January is well underway and Cincinnati has had its first major snowfall of the year, it’s pretty safe to say winter is finally upon us — and it’s here to stay for a while.
With the colder temps, new issues can arise when it comes to keeping our home’s plumbing, especially when it’s below freezing outside. That’s when pipes can freeze, and when they do, it has the potential of causing serious damage to your home if the pipe bursts.
Not only could your walls and flooring get destroyed by broken, burst pipes, but the leaked water can create mold and mildew that can threaten your family’s health – including the health of your pets.
Protect your home this winter from frozen pipes. Below are five signs to watch for to avoid a costly, serious home repair, tips on how to unfreeze pipes, and what to do in the event your pipes burst.
Five signs you’ve got a frozen pipe
There’s no water
Let’s start with the obvious. If you turn on your faucet on a cold day and no water, or very little water, comes out of the faucet or tap, you’ve likely got a frozen pipe. Once you suspect a frozen pipe is the culprit, turn on every faucet slowly to see where the frozen pipe is located. If your home is older, be prepared for multiple frozen pipes once one has frozen.
The temperature drops
You’ve got to have freezing temps for frozen pipes. Every homeowner, especially those with homes with older, more fragile plumbing, should be on the lookout for frozen pipes once it gets below 32 Farenheit outside.
There’s frost on pipes
Check any exposed pipes in your home including those in your basement or under your sinks. If there’s frost on them, there’s a good chance that it burst because water has accumulated outside of the pipe itself. You should also check exposed pipes in the garage and in attics. Once you’ve detected a pipe with frost on the outside, shut off its water supply to avoid any additional damage.
Damp walls and floors
A frozen, leaking pipe can cause moisture in walls and on the floors. If you suspect a burst pipe in a wall, check for dampness or water stains. Also look for rings on the carpet, buckled laminate, warped wood, and water marks on the ceiling.
Odd, foul smell
When pipes get blocked due to freezing, your water supply can back up causing a bad smell from the faucets or drains.
How to thaw a frozen pipe
First, shut off the water to the section of plumbing that’s frozen. It’s also a good idea to have a bucket and mop handy in case, once the water thaws, it gushes where there’s a break.