Avoid clogged drain Broadview Heights

Five items you should never put in your drain

We see it every week.  Clogged drains, blocked by items that don’t belong there.  Often it is children who are responsible, but sometimes adults aren’t aware of what can and can’t be washed down the drain.  Here are five items that should never be near your drain.

1. Cooking grease, oil and butter should never be washed down the kitchen sink.  For example, warm bacon grease will start to cool as is flows through your drain, clinging to debris.  This debris along with the grease is the beginning of a clogged drain.
2. Chemicals such as motor oil, transmission fluid and paints should be disposed of according to manufacturer’s specifications.  Many chemicals have corrosive properties and can cause significant damage to your plumbing system.  Plus, you don’t want to be adding toxic chemicals to your water system.
3. Food waste should be thrown away in the garbage or be composted.  Eggshells, coffee grounds and fruit peelings are especially prone to clogging drains.  Keep that in mind when cleaning the kitchen!
4. Animal products, such as kitty litter should avoid drains as well.  Some kitty litter is actually labeled as flushable, but in reality it absorbs water and becomes very sticky.
5. Medicine won’t necessarily clog your drain, but you should still avoid flushing it.  Many studies are indicating this may be harmful to our water and aquatic organisms.  Look for collection bins to properly dispose of your old prescriptions.

If you accidentally rinse one of the above items down the drain, be sure to keep an eye on how the drain flows.  If it starts to back up, give us a call in Broadview Heights!