Drain Care: Making Sure What Goes Down Doesn’t Come (Back) Up!
Elkins Apartments experienced a clogged sewer system at one of our properties recently and given the nature of what we found.. we thought it would be a good time to remind everyone about some drain care tips! Because you really don’t want what goes down the drain to come back up, and it will do just that if your drain lines get clogged!
WHEN IN DOUBT, DON’T FLUSH IT—THROW IT OUT!
Limiting what you put down the drains is the best way to keep them clear.
Check out these “HELPFUL TIPS” on how to prevent clogged drains:
The Kitchen
- Keep food, coffee grounds, and grease (from kitchen products) out of kitchen drains.
- Generally, put leftover food in the trash, even when you have a garbage disposal. Garbage disposals are not an excuse to put everything down the kitchen drain. Some stuff just won’t work… never ever put
- cruciferous veggies (look it up, but its the family with cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower and more–these turn gummy and completely jam up the lines),
- coffee grounds,
- grease,
- oil,
- oh, bottle caps, glass, you’d be surprised what we find when folks tell us “its not working.”
- What’s a good thing? Citrus! You can toss lemons, limes, etc into a garbage disposal and let ‘r rip. Ice is good too. Both clean the disposal.
Everywhere (toilets, sinks, wherever else)
- Watch what you flush. Toilets are designed to handle only human waste and toilet paper. Flushing dense, stringy or bulky materials can cause a clog. Dental floss, feminine hygiene products and other household waste should go in the trash instead. This includes paper towels, napkins, tissues, plastic or latex items, and disinfectant/ hand wipes. Avoid using the toilet as a wastebasket. It’s better for the environment and for the drains.
- So on toilets… really the answer is: ONLY human waste and normal toilet paper. NOTHING else is ok.
Showers and Tubs
- Keep hair and soap scum out of bathroom drains. Cover your tub and shower drains with a mesh screen or a perforated shower drain hair catcher. Either one will collect the hair and let the water run through.
- If a shower or sink is draining slow, use a Zip-It or similar product. It works much better than nasty caustic chemicals.
What you put down the drain can have a major impact on how well the sewer system works. And even if it makes it through the home system, it goes into the community, and that’s not good either, and is bad for us and the environment.
It is your responsibility to follow these tenant guidelines. Not doing so can lead to massive inconvenience and general nastiness, which none of us want, right?! Thank you in advance for your cooperation.