Primer ยท Drains
Keep It Out of the Drain: Flush and Pour List
The toilet is not a garbage can, and the kitchen sink is not a compost bin. A short list of what to keep out saves most of the clogs we see.
- Plain steps you can do yourself, safely
- Clear signs for when to stop and call
- Written for Newmarket houses and water
- A plumber on the phone if it goes sideways
What goes wrong in the pipes
Your drains carry water and human waste through pipes only a few inches wide, with gentle slopes and bends. Anything that does not dissolve or flow freely snags at those bends and catches the next thing to arrive. In Newmarket, blockages caused by wipes and grease show up in municipal sewers as well as private lines. Keeping them out protects your house, your neighbours and the system everyone pays for.
Have these on hand
- Flange plunger
- Cup plunger
- Bucket
- Rubber gloves
Hands-on steps
Keep out of toilets:
- Wipes of every kind, flushable branding included.
- Paper towels, tissues and cotton balls, which do not break up the way toilet paper does.
- Dental floss, hair and cotton swabs.
- Menstrual products and condoms.
- Medication; return unused drugs to a pharmacy instead.
- Cat litter, even the clumping kind marketed as flushable.
Keep out of kitchen drains:
- Fats, oils and grease. Let them cool and scrape them into the green bin or garbage.
- Coffee grounds, which settle like sand.
- Rice, pasta and bread, which swell with water.
- Eggshells and fruit stickers.
Mistakes that turn a small repair big
- Pouring boiling water after grease, thinking it will wash it away. It just moves the clog further down the pipe.
- Relying on chemical drain openers. They can damage older pipes and are dangerous if a plumber later needs to open the line.
- Assuming a disposal makes the drain unbreakable; it only shrinks the pieces.
Septic homes need extra care
If your property is on a septic system, as many rural homes around Newmarket are, the list gets stricter. Harsh cleaners, large amounts of bleach and antibacterial soaps upset the bacteria that break down waste. Food scraps add solids that fill the tank faster. Treat the toilet as being for toilet paper and human waste only.
Teach the household
Children and guests are often the source of a surprise clog. A small sign in a guest bathroom and a short talk with kids about what goes in the bin save a lot of trouble. Tenants in a basement apartment should get the same list.
A clear list on the fridge or inside a cabinet door keeps everyone honest. The few seconds it takes to bin a wipe are much cheaper than a service call.
When to put the tools down and call
If a toilet backs up after a single flush, or two fixtures slow at once, the blockage is likely beyond reach. Call (365) 517-0623. Heavy grease buildup may need hydro jetting to scour the pipe walls. Basements with electric tanks next to floor drains are at risk when a line backs up; see electric water heater replacement if water has reached yours, and how long water heaters last for context.
Asked on site
Are flushable wipes really a problem?
Yes. They hold together far longer than toilet paper and snag in pipes and pumps.
Is it okay to rinse small amounts of oil down the sink?
Small amounts add up. Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing.