Maintaining clear drains is essential to prevent plumbing disasters. Common household items, when disposed of incorrectly, can lead to severe blockages. Let’s look at ten items that should never be put down your drain.
1. Cooking grease and oils
Grease, fats, and oils are plumbing enemies. When washed down the drain, they solidify, accumulating over time and creating major blockages known as ‘fatbergs’.
2. Coffee grounds
Coffee grounds may seem harmless but can cause significant blockages. These grounds accumulate, creating a dense, sludgy mess that impedes water flow.
3. Eggshells
Eggshells can also lead to blockages. When ground up by a waste disposal unit, they become granular sediment that sticks to other waste, creating blockages. It is best to compost them or throw them in the rubbish.
4. Produce scraps
Scraps such as potato peels, celery, and corn husks do not break down easily and can swell, causing blockages in the kitchen sink. Compost these items or dispose of them in the bin. The RHS explains how to compost scraps.
5. Sanitary products
Sanitary products, including nappies and tampons, are not designed to be flushed down the toilet. They expand in water and can cause significant blockages in domestic plumbing.
6. Paper towels
Unlike toilet paper, paper towels do not disintegrate easily in water. Flushing them can quickly lead to clogs in your drainage system.
7. Condoms
Like sanitary products, condoms are non-biodegradable and can cause blockages in the sewage system. Always dispose of them in the bin.
8. Paints
Tipping paints down the drain can lead to environmental pollution and pipe damage. Paints should be disposed of according to local hazardous waste regulations.
9. Medications
Flushing medications can contaminate water supplies and harm aquatic life. A CCTV drain survey Northampton by a specialist such as https://www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/cctv-drain-surveys-northampton/ can look for any medication that has been flushed.
10. Flushable wipes
Despite being marketed as flushable, wipes do not break down like toilet paper and are a leading cause of sewer blockages.
Being mindful of what goes down your drains is crucial for maintaining a functional plumbing system.