They are many products that are used every day, and to most people these may seem like they can be placed down the plumbing. There are some objects; however, that household plumbing systems cannot handle very well, which can cause clogs to form, leaks to occur, or even more serious plumbing problems could arise. Five of common items that should not go down your household plumbing are grease, medicine, paper-towels/pre moistened wipes, coffee grounds and cleaning products.
Grease
Grease should be handled carefully to avoid plumbing problems. Even when grease is solid at room temperature, it can heat up and turn into liquid if placed in plumbing piping or garbage disposal units. It cools after a while and becomes hard again, which can block plumbing lines. This also applies for other fats like butter, lard, or oil.
Medicines
Many of us have taken some type of medication at one time or another and it is normal to flush or throw them away in the household plumbing. However, this can be very dangerous if you are not careful about which medications that are thrown into plumbing systems. Many medicines such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and cold pills contain acetaminophen. These drugs are found in the plumbing system after they enter wastewater. Consumption of chemicals such as these can be fatal to humans and causes damage to plants and aquatic life when they make it back to waterways through wastewater. Make sure to research local places that you can take your old medicines to so that they can be disposed of safely.
Paper-Towels/Pre-Moistened Wipes
Overuse or misuse of paper-towel/pre moistened wipes lead to plumbing problems, which is why it should not go into plumbing systems. Unlike toilet paper, these other two are not made to dissolve easily in water (many paper-towel brands actually boast about how strong their products are when wet). This can become a big issue if they are flushed down the toilet because they will pile up in the plumbing system and cause problems.
Coffee Grounds
Also, coffee grounds can be a big problem for plumbing because of the binder used to hold the beans together. This binder is difficult to break down or digest and will form clogs over time. The grounds tend to clump together forming large objects which do not pass easily through pipes. Even if you run water with them, it could take months before they go through plumbing systems because of their sticky binders that do not easily dissolve. If you need a new way to dispose of your coffee grounds, try throwing them in a compost bin to use as fertilizer.
Cleaning Products
Cleaning products are harmful if not used correctly. Many of these chemicals are corrosive, acidic, or alkaline, which can cause plumbing blockages and leaks to form. They can also be dangerous if they go into your plumbing system because they could then end up in your water supply. The chemicals can be deadly to marine life if they get in the waterway. It is best to leave plumbing maintenance to the professionals and purchase the right equipment needed for plumbing jobs such as drain rods and plumbing snake tools.
There you have it! These were just five common items that should never be placed down your plumbing systems. If you suspect you have a plumbing issue or problem with your plumbing system or pipes, contact an experienced plumber.
