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Some of the most vulnerable home fixtures are garbage disposals and drains. You can save a lot on Sydney plumbing repairs involving plumbing by doing the right thing.
This means that you should always take good care of your drains by avoiding to put certain things in them. Here are the 10 things you shouldn’t put in your drain.
Coffee Grounds
Most plumbers agree that coffee grounds tend to be some of the worst things that clog drains. They usually attract grease and when they build up, they form a texture that looks like sludge.
The sludge-like substance clogs the drain and has a smell of old coffee. Rather than throwing coffee grounds into the drain, you can use them as compost or reuse them in many other friendly ways.
Egg Shells
Although egg shells look fragile, they are major culprits that clog drains. As you dispose drain-safe products in your garbage disposal or sink, egg shells may attach themselves on the items.
With time, they will stick together to form a clog. Rather than disposing them into the drain, use them as compost.
Grease and Cooking Oil
Although cooking oil is used in almost all meals, you should always avoid pouring excess or leftover oil into the drain. Oil may thicken with time and clog the drain.
Hiring an expert to unclog the drain may be quite expensive. Also, products that are greasy like bacon, meat, gravy, and poultry should never be poured into the drain. Just like oil, grease may clog your drains and ruin the pipes.
Pasta
Pasta is one of the most commonly eaten foods. If you have ever prepared pasta, you’re obviously aware that water makes it expand.
Thus, if you throw the pasta into the drain, it will swell and clog the drain. Throw pasta in a trash can rather than in your drain.
Potato Peels
Most items that expand or glue themselves on the drain and damage it. Potato peels form a glue like material when putting in a drain.
With time, the peels will form starch that will harden and block the drain. This will also happen to a garbage disposal.
Medicine
Almost everyone has some old medications placed somewhere at home, especially in cabinets. Even if the medicines have expired or you don’t need them anymore, avoid throwing them into the toilet or drain.
Instead, drop them off at a nearby pharmacy for proper disposal as medical waste. Also, chemicals in medicines can affect the quality of water near you.
Fruit Pits
As homeowners freshen their kitchen, they assume that it is okay to put fruit pits into the garbage disposal or drain.
Fruit pits may break, dent or crack the disposal blades. Also, avoid putting avocado seeds and grape skins into the drains.
Rice and Beans
Rice and beans form a starchy substance in a watery environment, just like a potato skin. The dense substance can clog the drain.
Although some little beans or rice may not harm the pipes, anything beyond a quarter cup should rather be disposed of in garbage rather than the drain.
Paint
Whichever type of paint you use, be it water or oil based, never drain excess paint into the drain. Paint will stick in the pipes and prevent other substances from flowing through the pipes.
Luckily, most cities have waste facilities for disposing of hazardous waste such as paint. You can always ask your local paint store on where you can dispose excess or old paint.
Seafood Shells
There are many people who like seafood. However, you might not like having smelly shells in your garbage. Similar to chicken bones, seafood shells may not go down your drain.
Although they may go through the disposal blades, they will not go through the drain pipes. They’ll surely clog your pipes.
If you need to learn more or would like to hire our local plumbers in Sydney, please feel free to reach out to us.