Clogged drains aren’t just an annoyance, they can potentially be hazardous. They can cause sewage backup and may even contribute to problems like leaks. So how can you prevent clogged drains in Roswell, GA? Just avoid flushing or rinsing things that don’t belong in your drains, like the following. Here are some things that can surprisingly cause clogs.
Food in Your Garbage Disposal
It bears remembering that your garbage disposal system is not a trash can. It’s not a replacement for a bin that can hold a greater volume of food waste and packaging. Garbage disposals are only meant to break down residual food waste left on your dishes. Throw food waste into the trash and only let your garbage disposal take what’s left. And never, ever put hard food waste like bones in your garbage disposal.
Cooking Oil
Cooking oil isn’t as slippery in your drains as you might expect. In fact, it actually goes through some changes after you wash it down. Rather than flowing through your drains and into the sewer or septic system, oil will coat the lining of your pipes and could even harden there, forming thick and gelatinous masses that restrict water flow through your drains. If you have a septic system, cooking oil can do the same in there, reducing its capacity. Drain cooking oil into a container like a bottle or can and then throw it in your trash bin.
Hair
Sure, everyone knows that the hair you pull out of your head when you shower can clog your drains. But even if you’re careful to dispose of long strands of hair in the trash–as many women are advised to do, you can still cause clogged drains. Shaving your face at the sink or legs in the bathtub can deposit enough small hairs to eventually cause clogs. Also, hair that ends up in your sink when you groom your hair at your vanity can accumulate over time. Your head, face, and body drop hair all the time, and these can eventually build up to form tough wads that clog your drains.
Feminine Hygiene Products
Feminine products aren’t flushable, even if they’re paper or cotton-based. They must be disposed of in the trash. While they may partially dissolve in water, it takes a long time for them to break down–long enough for them to cause tough clogs. In fact, they tend to have the opposite effect. Because they’re designed to hold liquids, they may actually expand in drains when you flush them.
If you’re dealing with clogged drains in Roswell GA, call a plumber near you. A plumber can safely and effectively remove clogs for clear and quick-moving drains.