Things You Should Never Put Down Your Drain

If you’ve ever had a clogged drain, then you know how touchy they can be. Although it may seem like just about anything can slide down your drain, in reality, drains are extremely sensitive and can get clogged easily. Although drain cleaning performed by your plumber can help you deal with clogs and slow drains when they occur, you can avoid many problems by making sure these items never enter your pipes in the first place.

Pasta and Rice

Pasta and rice cause problems for the same reason when they are in your drain: they swell as they are exposed to water. As the swelling occurs, they can eventually cause blockages in the drain. It’s not safe to put cooked or uncooked pasta and rice in your drains, as both forms will absorb water and swell. Keep in mind that just because you’ve gotten away with putting these items down your drain once or twice doesn’t mean that you’re in the clear. They can accumulate and cause a blockage that occurs over time.

Coffee Grounds

You may be surprised to learn that coffee grounds are among the worst things you can put down your drain. Once in the drain, coffee grounds turn into slow-moving sludge that inevitably causes clogs. In the past, people thought that coffee grounds would help to keep pipes clean, but in reality, they are a surefire way to ensure that you need repeated service calls from your plumber.

Cooking Grease

All kinds of oils and fats are bad for your drains, but cooking grease is the most problematic. Lard or any other kind of fat that is a solid at room temperature will re-solidify in your drain, causing an instant clog. Running hot water when you dump the grease into your drain won’t help.

Despite your best efforts, drain clogs happen. That’s where we come in. Mike Counsil Plumbing offers drain cleaning services in San Jose, alongside a comprehensive range of residential plumbing services, from water heater replacement to hydro jetting. Schedule an appointment today by calling 408-618-8002.