Flush the Goldfish and Other Plumbing Myths

Ah, flush it! There are a lot of plumbing myths out there causing many to adopt a care-free attitude about what can be flushed down the toilet and chased down drains.Believing these common myths could set you up for a plumbing disaster. So, if you’ve been using your pipes as an alternative to garbage pickup, you may want to read on. Here are the top plumbing myths debunked!

Here, Kitty Kitty!

You might think it’s purrr-fectly ok to send cat litter down the toilet but think again. The sand and clay components of the litter solidify upon contact with water. The solid masses can wreak havoc on your drain and cause clogs.

Even if the cat litter is labeled as flushable; don’t. Avoid a plumbing nightmare and dispose of cat litter by scooping it into a double-lined plastic bag and send it out with your regular trash.

Rest in Peace, Little Goldie

If your beloved pet goldfish has gone to the light, sending him to his final resting place via the toilet (after you say your goodbyes) isn’t the most sound idea. If the fish is oversized, you could find yourself with a clog. This may sound a little harsh, but its best to place the fish in a plastic bag and send out with your garbage. Here are other reasons why this myth sounds a little fishy:

• NEVER flush a live fish. (We don’t know why anyone would do this anyway, but it happens!)
• While it’s rare, live goldfish can survive this cruel flush and make their way through the sewer system.
• Surviving fish will morph into over-sized creatures thus altering the ecosystem.
• Be humane; don’t drain! Give your unwanted pet fish away to a loving home.

Take the Plunge!

Contrary to popular belief, using a plunger will not fix all clogs. While it’s a handy tool, be cautious when toiling over your toilet. You may be able to resolve small clogs, but if you aren’t using the proper plunging techniques, you could make the clog worse and cause an overflow.

Grind it up!

You probably love your garbage disposal. It’s a magical mechanism that will send your smelly, unwanted food into the plumbing abyss. If you like to grind up EVERYTHING, you could cause damage to your pipes, create messy clogs and lock up your garbage disposal system.

Avoid plumbing problems and stop putting these things down your garbage disposal:

• Grease: When the grease cools, it solidifies inside the drain causing clogs
• Fibrous Foods: Foods such as celery, asparagus, artichokes, kale, lettuce, potato peels, onion skins, and chard can get tangled in blades.
• Uncooked Pasta and Rice: Pasta and rice that is raw will expand in water causing your drain to back up or clog.
• Coffee Grounds: Coffee grounds can get caught in the drain trap and cause a blockage.
• Fruit Pits, Seeds, and Cores: Garbage disposals will have a hard time processing these solids. Throw them in compost instead.
• Eggshells: Just like fruit pits, seeds, and cores, it’s best to throw eggshells in a compost. The membrane lining of the shells could stick to the sides of the disposal.
• Bones: Putting bones in a garbage disposal can damage the blades.

Whether you have a clogged toilet or need repair and maintenance on your garbage disposal, AAA Service is always available to help! Let our expert plumbers get your plumbing in tip-top shape! Call us today or schedule an appointment online.