We all know or should know that there are certain things you should keep out of your drains, or else you face the consequences of placing the wrong items down your disposal. You want to be cautious about what you put down your drains to not only avoid clogs but also to protect your drains from damage.
That's where we here at Service One Air Conditioning and Plumbing come into the picture. We know what to keep out of your drains to avoid clogs and other malfunctions. You don’t want to encounter a clogged drain on the regular. Here are some items that you should keep out of your drains to avoid clogs and damages to your plumbing:
Grease
Grease, fats, and oils are the major culprits and should never be poured down your drain. When either of these makes their way down your disposal, your drain can literally be rendered inoperable because grease attaches itself to the perimeter of your pipes, grabbing anything else that goes down your drain. This will lead to all kinds of buildup that can block your water flow completely. If you are noticing that your drainage has slowed, have a plumber inspect your drain as soon as possible to avoid backups and other plumbing issues.
Hair
Another item to keep out of your drain is hair. A sink just can’t drain normally with a wad of hair stuck in it. Water will be unable to make it through the pipes smoothly. Other deposits in a drain can trap hair around them as well. As time goes by, this can compromise the entire drain. From there, the hair can affect major plumbing connections, leading to further damages.
Food Debris
Whether it’s eggshells, bones, coffee grounds, coarse vegetables, pasta, rice, peanut butter, flour, cornstarch, or rice, any and all of these foods need to stay out of your drains. Reserve them for your garden compost pile or your trash bin. They all will wreak havoc on your drainage system as they simply won’t breakdown in your plumbing system.
Stickers and Wrappers
Stickers and food and candy wrappers can create problems when washed down your drains. The glue that’s used on them is enough to stick to pipes. Whether at the local source of your drain or somewhere else, they can cause all kinds of problems. Simply throw any stickers or wrappers away in a trash receptacle to avoid malfunction.
Soap Scum
When you want an answer as to what to keep out of your bathroom drains, it’s soap scum. It will surely clog your drains over time. The minerals in hard water that pass through your drains will react with soap and the fat that’s in that soap, creating problematic build-up. As scum builds up, mold, mildew, hair can accumulate causing a clogged drain.
Tiny Toys
It’s easy for a tiny toy to fall into a drain, and it happens often, especially if you have small children. The problem is small toys like marbles, balls, cars, mini action figures, dollhouse items, and other small toys are hard to get to once they’ve made it past a certain point in your drain. On their way down, they can stick to anything else in the drain, including soap scum, hair, mineralized pipes, etc. Make sure to keep a watchful eye on your playing children!
If you are experiencing slow drainage, backflow, or any other plumbing malfunction, don’t hesitate to contact ServiceOne Air Conditioning & Plumbing at (407) 499-8333! We are OPEN as an "Essential Service" during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The health and safety of our customers is a core value, especially during these concerning times with the spread of COVID-19. Our team is prepared to continue to do business as usual while abiding by health officials' recommended guidelines while in your home or place of business.