Down the Drain

Often, when pressed for time, people throw things down their kitchen sinks without thinking – especially if they have a garbage disposal. But not all garbage is created equal when it comes to keeping your drain healthy. Certain foods and textures can cause nasty clogs and back-ups and should be disposed in the trash or compost pile rather than in the drain.

Here are 7 of the most troublesome clog culprits.

1. Coffee Grounds – everyone loves the smell of freshly ground coffee and you might think it could freshen your drain; however, if you’ve ever left the grounds in the pot overnight you’ll notice they clump together. If that happens in your drain, it’s going to clog. Send grounds to the compost heap or the garbage instead.
2. Cooking Oil, Butter and other Fats – any fat substance should cool down, be wiped out of a pan or poured into a bottle and disposed of in the trash. Remember oil and water don’t mix well in a measuring cup or in your drain!
3. Egg Shells – egg shells have sharp edges that can get stuck and cause backups. It has also been reported that ground eggshells are the consistency of sandpaper and can dull your disposal blades.
4. Bones – bones are too hard to be continually ground up in the disposal and over time, can make your disposal blades less effective.
5. Pasta and Rice – pasta and rice continue to absorb liquid even after being cooked and can cause a sticky mess that’s hard to break down.
6. Flour – ever make paste as a kid? You use flour and water. Think about a sticky paste sitting in your drain catching other things on their way down. Not a pretty picture!
7. Produce Stickers – those little suckers are everywhere and sometimes slide down the drain when you wash your veggies prior to cooking. The adhesive on the back can keep them stuck in your pipes and eventually cause a backup.

While most small clogs can be cleared with a bit of elbow grease and ingenuity, for larger problems, call your local plumber to keep your pipes clear and clean!

Fred Webster Jr. is the owner of MillTown Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning and Drain Cleaning in Chelmsford.