When it comes to plumbing, many problems originate from faulty pipelines or an outdated sewer. For example, if your sewer is more than 40 years old, then it may need replacement. In addition to old sewers, poorly insulated pipes that freeze and break, and the average 700 water main breaks that break each day are also large issues homeowners encounter with their plumbing.
But sometimes, the plumbing issues homeowners encounter are brought on by human error, especially when it comes to the toilet. While many do not realize it, flushing anything besides human waste down the toilet can be detrimental to your plumbing system and your home, calling for major residential plumbing maintenance down the line.
Here are three things you should never flush down the toilet:
- Dental Floss, Hair, and Other Stringy Things
Hair and dental floss are two stringy things that are neither biodegradable nor easily flushed down the toilet. Upon flushing, the floss and hair can form knots and clumps, trapping in odor and making serious clogs in your pipe. - Fats and Oils
While it may seem like a good idea to dump those excess cooking oils down the john, you thought wrong. In a way, pipes are a lot like arteries. When fats flush the pipes and cool off, they freeze and congeal, building up like cholesterol in arteries. After a while, the blockage can become too great, causing your pipes to have a proverbial heart attack. - Medication
While prescription medication, over the counter medication and other substances don't necessarily mess up your pipes, these ingredients in pharmaceuticals can pose dangers to your water supply. Instead, dispose of medications responsibly, through your local pharmacy or medication disposal program.
In addition to residential toilets, these rules also apply to commercial plumbing repairs as well. Of course, if that wedding ring or dental floss does happen to slip down the toilet, don't hesitate to call your local plumbing repair company for emergency plumbing. Residential and commercial plumbing repairs will be able to get to the root of your clogging issues, and will help keep your sewage systems and pipes clean and free of clogs.