5 Things You Need to Stop Putting Down Drains

As blocked drain specialists, we have seen absolutely everything that has been placed down drains which inevitably has caused them to become blocked. Unfortunately, people overestimate their drainage systems’ resilience to harmful chemicals and products and as such, they have experienced problems far greater than they originally anticipated. With this in mind, this blog will discuss the 5 things you need to stop putting down drains today. 

Cotton Buds and Makeup Pads

Anything made with cotton is going to absorb water which, if thrown down a toilet or sink, will not break apart when soaked. This is obviously going to be a recipe for disaster in any plumbing and drain situation. Although it seems super convenient to discard cotton buds and makeup removers down a toilet, they can also become wedged in the curves of your home’s drain pipes and create an obstruction. For this reason alone, you should think twice before discarding cotton waste and instead, put them in a general disposal bin. 

Adhesives And Paint

A second object you need to stop putting down drains is adhesives and paint. It is highly recommended not to pour anything down an inside or outdoor drain that’s supposed to harden or stick as it dries. Furthermore, the sink or bathtub might seem like a super convenient place to rinse away any stubborn paints or glues, however, once the adhesive forms a solid blockage in your pipes, you will instantly regret pouring the paint down the drain. As for the consequences, well it will most likely lead to costly maintenance solutions to fix the issue. 

Grease

Grease is yet another substance you should stop pouring down drains. This is because grease solidifies once it is cooled off. This can cause major and catastrophic problems in your house and your outdoor drains. One problem in particular is known as a ‘Fatberg’. Fatbergs (the combination of fat, grease and wet wipes) is well documented to create huge clogs in plumbing networks. 

An interesting fact about Fatbergs is that one case back in 2013 saw a lump of solid fat the size of a bus in the sewers beneath London. Fatbergs can be regularly found in homes and result in thousands of pounds worth of plumbing repairs. Similarly, the smaller variants of Fatbergs are known as ‘softball clogs’ and can be equally destructive to drainage systems.

This makes grease a significant problem in plumbing pipes when homeowners make a habit of pouring it down the sink. Over time, grease builds up on the pipe walls deep down in your home’s drains and sewer line, and it can start to form clogs with other materials trying to pass through. Clearly, this is undesirable for any drainage system in your home or surrounding vicinity and should make you think twice before pouring down the drain. 

Wet Wipes

Wet wipes, and even the ‘flushable’ ones, are never a good idea to flush down a drainage system. This is because wet wipes are designed to hold their shape in moisture. If they weren’t, they simply wouldn’t survive in their original packaging. Due to this property, it means that wipes don’t rupture as quickly as traditional toilet paper in your drain pipes which makes them more likely to cause a clog. 

Furthermore, unlike toilet paper that usually breaks apart in about 24 hours, toilet wet wipes will remain virtually imperishable even when flushed. Not to mention, your drain pipe lining is likely to be full of small holes due to general ageing of the pipes and are susceptible to the growth of tree roots. As these roots begin to grow, then they spread which makes it easier for toilet wet wipes to be caught thus, creating a wall of wipes and sewage blocking potential to increase drastically.

Bleach 

To end our list of things you need to stop putting down drains is bleach. Bleach is highly dangerous when poured down a drain as it reacts with the substances in your pipes. In addition, they release toxic fumes when mixed with other household cleaners and kill the ‘good bacteria’ of your septic system. Your septic system relies on good bacteria to break down the waste however, If bleach enters the septic system, it can simply kill off that good bacteria. 

As a preventative measure, if you suspect that bleach has been poured down your drain, make sure you thoroughly rinse the system with water to fully clear out all of the harmful substance. 

Final Point

If you are reading this news article and are unsure whether you have flushed or poured any of the listed items down your drains, it is probably best to get in contact with a specialist. Thankfully, you have come to the right place here at Draincall. Our highly skilled and qualified drain engineers can help identify and repair any drainage system problems you may have. For more information, why not get in touch with our friendly staff who can assign you an engineer to fix your problems right away before they become catastrophic and more costly down the line.