Modern plumbing can handle a lot of wear and tear, but it isn’t invincible. If you flush the wrong item down the garbage disposal or toilet, you’ll wind up calling a local plumber for drain cleaning or septic system repair. Here, the team at A-1 Tri-County Plumbing in Seguin, TX, share a few foods and household items that you should never put down the drown. 

What You Should Never Flush

1. Grease & Oil

Grease and fat can harden when they cool. Even if they make it through your pipes, fat and oil accumulate quickly in the septic tank and can clog your drain field if they pass through the grease trap.

2. Pasta & Rice

Both rice and pasta will make it down the pipe easily—but once in your plumbing, they’ll begin to absorb water. As these foods swell, they can stick in your pipes and cause serious clogs. Toss them in the trash instead.

3. Paper Towels

You might think paper towels are flushable since they’re similar to toilet paper, but toilet paper is specifically designed to dissolve in water, while paper towels are made to hold together when wet. For this reason, they can clog your sink or plug the hose during septic tank pumping.

4. Chemicals

As much as possible, limit the number of cleaners, paints, solvents, medications, and other chemicals you pour down the drain. These substances can seriously harm the ecosystem when they enter the water supply. Choose green alternatives whenever possible and dispose of your chemicals safely.

5. Cat Litter

Even if it says it’s flushable on the label, don’t put your cat litter down the sink or toilet. Every grain can expand as it absorbs water, creating a huge mess that clogs drains and septic systems.

Your household drains are excellent disposal options for a range of materials—but you should know exactly what you’re flushing. Put these items in the trash instead to keep your pipes flowing and avoid unnecessary calls to the plumber.

If you experience clogged pipes for any reason, contact A-1 Tri-County Plumbing in Seguin, TX. They are your source for 24-hour emergency plumbing services. Their skilled and certified plumbers will handle any job from basic drain cleaning to major septic system repairs. To schedule a visit, call (512) 353-8656 or contact them online.