Things that should never go down your drains

THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER PUT DOWN THE DRAIN

No one wants to worry about their sink refusing to drain or face the nightmare of an overflowing toilet. Drain blockages can be stressful for any homeowner as it is not only a nuisance to deal with, but overflowing drains is also a health and hygiene concern. Tossing things down the drain when you’re in a hurry might seem convenient but tossing the wrong things can get caught in your plumbing potentially contributing to severe clogs and blockages. Luckily there are ways to avoid the build-up that leads to these unfortunate scenarios. At Horncastle Plumbing, it’s our job to keep your plumbing functioning as efficiently as possible. To help you keep your pipes and drains in top form, we’ve put together this list of seven things you should never put down your blocked drains Adelaide. Take a look.

Cooking Oil, Fat or Grease

Grease, fat and oil should never be disposed of down the drain as these liquids easily cling to the sides of the pipes. As these grease and fat particles accumulate, they eventually resulting in a clog. Grease and oil trap food particles, hair, and anything else that they come into contact with, so avoid dumping anything greasy, fatty or oily down your drains. These things should be collected in disposable containers and trashed with household waste.

Cotton balls

Commonly used in the bathroom, cotton balls and Q-tips should never be flushed in toilets or washed down the drains. This is a sure way to cause a clog as cotton absorbs water and gets caught in pipe corners. These clogs grow with time and cause a major blockage in your plumbing.

Paint

Any leftover paint from your home reno, art project or DIY job should never be poured down the drain. Chemicals in paints are hazardous to the environment. It is flammable, releases dangerous fumes and will stick to your pipes.

Hair

Hair in drains is inevitable. Ladies with long hair aren’t the only culprits as facial hair disposed of in sinks also lead to clogs in the long run. Hair makes its way into your pipes through showers and sinks and accumulates quickly inside a drain as it gets caught on anything. We recommend installing hair traps on your drains to minimise hair making its way into your pipes.  The same clog can happen if you flush hair down the toilet or bathroom sink. Whenever possible, try to prevent hair from going down the drain.

Paper Towels

Paper towels don’t dissolve the same way toilet paper does. In fact, they break down much slower and, in the process, they can cause clogs. Hence, you should never substitute paper towels for toilet paper and flush them down your toilet. While they may be biodegradable, the plumbing system is not designed to handle an accumulation of paper towels. Always toss used paper products in the trash.

Sanitary Products

Sanitary products use cotton, which absorbs water and expands in drains causing blockages that necessitate plumbing repairs. Even if a sanitary product packaging states flushable, it should not be flushed down the toilet. Instead of flushing these items, dispose of them in the trash.

Disposable Diapers

Diapers are messy but they should never be flushed down the toilet. Disposable diapers are highly absorbent and get clogged in pipes and u-bends beneath the toilet and in pipes and sewer lines.

Some diapers are labelled flushable, however, unlike toilet paper is made to break down; disposable diapers are made to expand and hold together. They are nonbiodegradable and a big nuisance if found in pipes and drains.

There are many reasons why your household or business could be experiencing clogged or blocked drains. Understanding exactly how each issue is caused can be an opportunity to better guard against it. When you need it repaired properly and quickly don’t hesitate. Just give Horncastle Plumbing a call on 8271 0664 and we will have an expert drain cleaner at your doorstep in to time.