If the only thing that ever passed through your drains was water, you’d rarely have to deal with drain clogs. However, there are some bad plumbing habits that can wreak havoc on your drains and make clogs a common occurrence. Find out more about what habits you need to eliminate starting today.
Bad Kitchen Habits
Pouring fats and oils down the kitchen sink can quickly cause a blockage. These substances harden when they cool and create stubborn clogs and backups, which are very inconvenient and can contaminate the environment. Avoid fat-related blockages by pouring fats and oils into a disposable container and then disposing of it in the garbage.
Misusing the Garbage Disposal
Contrary to what you may have thought, your garbage disposal cannot safely eliminate all types of food debris. Putting fibrous foods like celery, asparagus, starchy foods like potatoes, coffee grounds, and eggshells down the garbage disposal creates a strain on your disposal.
This can create a substantial clog, especially if the garbage disposal doesn’t grind them small enough. Avoid fibrous blockages by putting these items directly into the garbage.
Excessive Simultaneous Use of Plumbing Appliances
When you run multiple appliances simultaneously, you can overload the sewer system, potentially causing a backup or overflow. To avoid a backup due to overuse, stagger your usage so that you’re not doing laundry, running the dishwasher, and showering simultaneously. Sewer lines are designed to drain at a specific rate, so exceeding their abilities can cause a backup or overflow.
Flushing the Wrong Items
Even though many items are labeled as flushable, they shouldn’t be put down the toilet. Toilets were designed to remove human waste and toilet paper. They weren’t designed to remove feminine hygiene products, diaper wipes, dental floss, and many other items.
To avoid the inconvenience of a backup, use the toilet for its intended purpose only and put all other items in the garbage. These items aren’t designed to break down easily, and you’ll end up with a clogged toilet or sewer drain.
Ignoring Signs of Trouble
If something goes wrong with your sewer lines, your plumbing system will let you know. Be aware of signs, such as foul odors and water pooling in your yard. At the first sign of trouble, reach out to a professional plumber for service.
Need Information or an Appointment?
Our team has been providing expert plumbing services since 1997. That means that if you have questions about maintaining your sewer lines, we can answer them. To schedule routine maintenance or sewer line repair in Deerfield Beach, FL, call the team at Kyle Plumbing.