What you put down your sink drain can cause serious complications for your home’s plumbing system, municipal sewer plants, and the environment as a whole. Not only can harmful substances cause complex drain problems, but they can also have a devastating effect on water ecosystems and their inhabitants. Not to forget, they will end up costing you a substantial amount of money to repair.

What you put down your sink drain can cause serious complications for your home’s plumbing system, municipal sewer plants, and the environment as a whole. Not only can harmful substances cause complex drain problems, but they can also have a devastating effect on water ecosystems and their inhabitants. Not to forget, they will end up costing you a substantial amount of money to repair,

To ensure a healthy home plumbing system and safe water habitats, avoid discarding the following substances down your sink drain:

  1. Coffee grounds: Unfortunately, many homeowners will negligently put their coffee grounds down the drain without knowing that they are actually a common cause for blockage. In fact, dumping soggy grounds down the drain is like putting cement in your pipes. It is next to impossible for them to pass through the system and hence, they cause a stubborn buildup that is hard to get rid of. You should put these in your trash or compost / organics bin.
  2. Toxic chemicals: When you send dangerous chemicals down your drain, like paint, cleaning products and solvents, you are actually be sending them into the rivers, lakes, and oceans. Of course, there are water treatment facilities in place that filter and clean the water, but sometimes these chemicals and contaminants can still make their way into large bodies of water. Check with your local municipality about locations and dates when you can bring in these chemical waste items for disposal. Calgary has many hazardous household waste drop-off locations.
  3. Grease, fats, and oils: Putting these liquids down the drain may seem like the easiest choice after spending hours in the kitchen cooking. But think twice to avoid costly plumbing repairs! Grease, oils, and fats will solidify in your drains, clog pipes and wreck your entire plumbing system. These substances can also have a negative impact on the environment, interfering with plant, fish, and other wildlife. Let the FOG (Fat, Oil and Grease) solidify, then double bag it and put it in your trash bin. When the Green Cart program begins for Calgary in Spring 2017, you will be able to put these in your compost / organics bin.
  4. Paper towels, cotton balls, pre-moistened wipes: Unlike toilet paper, which is designed to break down in your sewer system, other paper products like paper towel, cotton balls and baby wipes are intended for greater strength and durability. If you send them down the sink drain, it’s highly likely they will clog your pipes and cause a sewer backup and overflow. Even if the products you buy are biodegradable and “flushable”, it’s a good idea to keep them out of your sewage system and put them in your regular waste bin. If you have not been doing this and are stuck with a drainage problem, be sure to contact your local plumber in Calgary right away to minimize the damage.
  5. Medications: The best way to dispose of old medication is to locate a medication take-back program in your area. Never flush your medication down the toilet or send it down the drain, as it can end up in local lakes, rivers or the ocean.

Contact Imagine Plumbing today at 403-663-1790 if you require a certified and knowledgeable plumber in Calgary to repair your clogged drain. You can also fill out our online contact form with your questions and one of our friendly and knowledgeable staff members will get back to you soon. #FixALeak week is March 20th – 26th. Reach us in Facebook or social media with the hashtags #FixALeak and #ImagineTheSavings. Call Imagine Plumbing today!