Key takeaways
- Only toilet paper and human waste belong in the toilet.
- Wipes labeled flushable still clog pipes.
- Grease cools and coats pipes, so it goes in the trash.
- Coffee grounds, rice and pasta swell and settle.
The toilet
The toilet is for human waste and toilet paper. Wipes, even the ones labeled flushable, paper towels, tissues, feminine products, dental floss, cotton swabs and cat litter do not break down quickly. They catch on rough spots and low spots and build into a plug.
If something ends up in the toilet by accident, such as a toy, stop flushing and call for help. Flushing repeatedly pushes it deeper.
The kitchen sink
Cooking grease is liquid when hot and a waxy coating when it cools. Wipe pans with a paper towel, pour small amounts of grease into a can and put it in the trash. Coffee grounds, rice, pasta and eggshells swell or settle in the pipe and combine with grease into a hard mass.
A garbage disposal grinds food but does not make it pipe-friendly. Run cold water while it works and keep fibrous scraps such as celery and corn husks out of it.
Showers, laundry and the yard
A hair catcher in every shower and tub drain prevents most bathroom clogs. In the laundry room, a lint trap on the washer hose catches fibers before they reach the standpipe. Outdoors, keep leaves and mulch out of yard drains and downspout lines.
If you are not sure whether something belongs in a drain, ask. A short question to a Nashville drain pro is much cheaper than an emergency call.
Related services
Quick answers
Are flushable wipes really flushable?
They are labeled that way, but they do not break down like toilet paper, and many plumbing and sewer systems report problems with them. The safest choice is to trash them.
Is it okay to pour boiling water down a clogged drain?
Hot water can help with a soft grease clog in metal pipe, but boiling water can soften some plastic fittings and will not clear a real blockage. A cable or jetter is more reliable.
Ready to talk it through? Get a free estimate or call 615-209-7643.