What Shouldn'T Be Put Down The Drain

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The debate over what you can safely put down the drain continues and partly depends on what type of system you have. Septic systems require more care than municipal systems do, but  you still need to be careful, both to prevent plumbing problems and to lessen contamination of the water supply.

Clogs

Your most immediate concern may be to avoid clogging up your pipes, which often leads to an emergency call to the plumber. You know not to flush diapers and may even refuse to flush female sanitary products. However, you might slip up on the smaller stuff. For instance, flushing your dental floss may not seem like a big deal, but it can get caught on your pipes and block the passage of other items. Also, floss, like cigarette butts, is not biodegradable, so even if your home's pipes aren't adversely affected by these items, the local water plant can be. To be safe, avoid flushing even "flushable" wet wipes. They can catch onto other material and add to an already existing clog. If something looks like a potential problem, put it into the waste can instead.

Water Supply

You should also never put medications down the drain. Recent studies have shown that the nation's water supply already has trace amounts of a number of drugs, including high blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and a variety of pain relievers. Most of these medications end up in the sewer simply because your urine contains drugs that you are taking. More research is being done on the adverse effect this contamination is having on humans and wildlife, but experts are concerned.

One way you can lessen this contamination is to properly dispose of your medications. Do not rinse them down the kitchen sink or flush them down the toilet You should mix your leftover medication with coffee grounds or some other substance that makes them indigestible. Then place them in a plastic bag, seal it, and place in the garbage. This method will keep you from adding unnecessarily to the problem.

What you put down the drains in your home can cause you immediate problems in the way of nasty clogs and possible sewage backup. You may also be contaminating the water system by inappropriately getting rid of your medications and other toxic substances. Some chemicals and medications will end up in the water, but you should do whatever you can to lessen your personal impact. Talk to a plumber, like Northstar Plumbing Windsor, if you need more help.

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12 July 2016