Drains
Nine things that should never go down your drain
Most clogs we clear are caused by everyday habits. Here is what our drain team pulls out of Columbus pipes every week, and how to avoid a call-out.
Marcus Bell4 min read
Drain cleaning is one of our most common calls, and after thousands of camera inspections, we can tell you exactly what causes most blockages. It is rarely one dramatic object. It is months of small things that stick together in the pipe.
Many homes in Clintonville, Bexley and the Short North still have original cast-iron or clay sewer lines. Their rough inner walls catch debris far more easily than modern PVC, which makes good habits even more important.
The usual suspects
- Cooking grease and bacon fat, even when poured hot
- Coffee grounds, which settle like wet sand
- Eggshells and their sticky membrane
- Pasta and rice, which keep swelling in the pipe
- Flushable wipes, which do not break down
- Dental floss and hair, which form nets
- Cotton balls and swabs
- Paint and drywall mud from DIY projects
- Fruit stickers that cling to pipe walls
Grease is the worst offender by far. It flows as a liquid, then cools and coats the pipe a few feet later. Everything else that passes catches on that layer. Pour cooled fat into an old can, let it set and throw it in the trash.
The word flushable on a package means it will leave your toilet. It does not mean it will make it to the sewer.
Skip the chemical cleaners
Store-bought drain chemicals generate heat to dissolve clogs, and that heat can soften older PVC joints and corrode cast iron from the inside. They also make a plumber's job more dangerous if the drain stays blocked. A simple plastic drain snake from the hardware store is safer and often more effective for hair clogs in bathroom sinks.
When to call us
One slow sink is usually a local clog you can tackle yourself. Several drains slowing down at once, gurgling toilets or water backing up in a basement floor drain point to the main sewer line. That needs a professional, and the sooner the better.
Our drain clearing includes a camera inspection, so you will see what caused the problem and whether the line itself is damaged. Members of Brightline Care get 10 to 15 percent off and no call-out fee.
