Clogged drains are a household nuisance that nobody wants to deal with. Sometimes, a clogged drain just happens due to normal day-to-day use. But if you find yourself frequently calling us for drain cleaning in Toronto or nearby neighborhoods, there might be something larger going on with your plumbing system…or you could be the culprit. Prevent clogs this summer and beyond by promising to never put these five things down your sink drains, shower drains, or garbage disposal!
Oil and Grease
We’ve all done it — quickly rinsed the grease or oil from cooking into the kitchen sink drain. Perhaps you’ve even considered pouring motor oil into an outdoor drain on your property. Doing this may be convenient at the moment, but it can cost you big time if it becomes a habit. Even a small amount of oil or grease can stick to your pipe lining and harden, creating a gunky clog that affects your sewer line. You might even have to pay for a drain replacement if the issue is severe enough that hydro-jetting can’t fix it!
Household Trash
Household trash should never go down any drain in your home, including your kitchen sink, toilet, or anywhere else. The only items that should be flushed down your toilet are human waste and toilet paper. That means you should never flush:
- Paper towels
- Baby wipes (even ones that claim to be “flushable”)
- Feminine hygiene products
- Paper or plastic wrappers
- Diapers
- Any other trash
Instead, provide a garbage can in all of the bathrooms in your home so that family members and guests alike can toss trash out safely.
Most Food Waste
Garbage disposals may seem like a food waste free-for-all zone, but there are some things you should never wash down the drain in the kitchen. These include:
- Eggshells, bones, or other “hard” food waste
- Fibrous foods
- Coffee grounds
- Gum, caramel, or other sticky or chewy foods
- Rice, pasta, or other foods that expand in water
Shower Slime
It’s much more difficult to prevent hair, soap scum, and other residue from washing down the drain in your shower — but with a little bit of extra effort, you can avoid letting these substances clog your pipes. For example: Invest in a drain stopper with extra protection against hair, regularly snake your shower drains, or just give us a call anytime for drain cleaning!
Chemical Drain Cleaners
Chemical drain cleaners are meant to act quickly and solve your problem easily — or so that bottle says. In fact, chemical drain cleaners erode the inner lining of your pipes. Rather than reaching for caustic chemicals, try hot water, baking soda, and vinegar to clear out clogs, unclog a drain with standing water, or clear up that kitchen sink clog.
Ditch Your Drain Problems Today!
Don’t tolerate drain clogs anymore. Same Day Plumbing is ready to help anytime! Give our team a call to book drain cleaning or discuss plumbing problems. We’ll get your systems up and running again. We can even offer more tips on how you can protect your drains in the future. Contact us today to make your drain woes a thing of the past!
