When you have a plumbing system in need of repair, it’s never convenient. Plumbing issues can occur in the middle of the night, right before you planned to leave for work, or in the middle of a dinner party. The best way to keep such problems from occurring is to keep your plumbing system maintained. Schedule regular maintenance and drain cleaning with a professional, and keep your drains maintained by keeping certain items out of the drain.
You probably know to keep non-food items, like cigarette butts and plastic wrappers, out of the kitchen sink. The garbage disposal simply cannot process these items, and you may end up with drain clogs or a defunct disposal unit. But you should also avoid these common food items, many of which can be detrimental to your plumbing.
- Fats, Oils, and Grease: This is perhaps the substance that most surprises homeowners when we inform them of its potential effects. These solidify when they cool down, and when they do so in the pipes, clogs occur. Additional debris collects until you have a major clog on your hand that requires professional repair.
- Hard Food Items: Of course, you should avoid large hard food waste like meat bones, as these will stop the disposal and may put unnecessary strain on the motor. But you should also avoid smaller hard food items like popcorn kernels.
- Fibrous Foods: This category includes things like celery and potato skins, which are difficult to break up and may get wrapped around the impeller, slowing down the disposal motor.
- Expandable Foods: Even something as seemingly innocuous as spaghetti could cause trouble for your drains. But expandable foods like rice and pasta may expand in the pipes, stopping the drains and allowing waste to backup into your home.
Schedule drain cleaning with a professional if you’d like to make sure that your plumbing system is in good condition. A plumber will inspect your drains and use special equipment to pull out clogs and clear out the lining of the pipes. Call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing for quality plumbing services in Bethesda.