From the Archive: The Forbidden List
Things That Should Never Go Down a Drain
A toilet line is meant to carry three things only: water, human waste, and toilet paper. Anything beyond that tends to come back as a service call.
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The rule
Only pee, poo and toilet paper go down the toilet. Only water and small amounts of food rinsed from dishes go down the sink. Everything else goes in the garbage, the green bin or a proper disposal program.
The list, item by item
- Wipes of each kind, including those labelled flushable. Unlike toilet paper they hold together, then tangle in pipes and pumping stations.
- Fats, oils and grease. Let them cool, scrape into a container and put them in the green bin or garbage as Halton's waste program directs.
- Paper towels and tissues. Made to stay strong when wet.
- Dental floss, cotton swabs and hair. They knot together and catch everything else.
- Medications. Bring leftovers back to the drugstore counter; Ontario pharmacies collect them.
- Paint, solvents and chemicals. Take them to a family hazardous waste depot.
- Coffee grounds and eggshells. Even with a disposal, they settle in pipes.
- Cat litter. It clumps and sets like clay.
Keep a lidded container by the stove for cooled grease and a small bin in each bathroom. Making the right choice easy is half the battle.
Keep this kit by the main shut-off
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Bucket and old towels
- Adjustable wrench and slip-joint pliers
- Flange plunger for toilets, cup plunger for sinks
- Label on the main valve so anyone can find it
Myths to drop
- Hot water and dish soap do not wash grease away for good. It cools and hardens further down the line.
- A garbage disposal is not a trash can.
- Chemical drain cleaners do not make it safe to flush wipes.
Stop and phone a plumber when
- 1A ceiling or wall starts dripping
- 2More than one drain backs up at once
- 3You smell gas or sewage indoors
- 4A valve will not turn or drips when touched
When it is already too late
If a toilet or sink keeps clogging, or a floor drain backs up, the line needs proper clearing. See drain cleaning, kitchen drain cleaning and main sewer line clearing.
Straight answers to common calls
Are flushable wipes truly a problem?
Yes. They tend not to break down quickly and are a typical cause of clogs and pump failures.
Can I pour grease down with very hot water?
No. It solidifies further down the pipe, out of reach.
Keep reading
- Drain Cleaning in Oakville
Slow sinks, gurgling tubs, a floor drain that backs up after a big wash day.
- Kitchen Drain Cleaning in Oakville
The kitchen sink is the hardest-working drain in the house.
- Garbage Disposal Installation in Oakville
A good disposer is a handy kitchen helper.
- Getting Rid of Smelly Drains
A whiff of rotten eggs from the basement or a sour smell from the kitchen sink.
Ready when you are
One call books the visit. Tell us what you are seeing and we will tell you straight what it likely is.