When it comes to clogged and blocked drains and garbage disposals, plumbers tend to see the same types of service requests. Soap scum in tub drains, food waste in the garbage disposal, and foreign objects down toilets are typical issues.
Ask any plumber and they’ll probably tell you a story about a time they saw something truly strange causing a clog or blockage. Here are some examples of items that are unusual, but also somewhat common. By reading these examples you can hopefully avoid the need for plumbing repairs and garbage disposal service in your Olympia, WA home.
Children’s Toys
If you have kids, you know how much they enjoy giving their toys baths and putting them in strange places. Sending their action figures or model cars on a trip down the sink can be great fun during playtime, but not so fun for the adult who ends up with a major clog. Another common culprit is Legos which despite their small size are still large enough to cause big problems. Fortunately, these objects are easy for professional plumbers to retrieve and return to the grateful kids.
Jell-O
You probably know that you shouldn’t put starchy foods down your drain or garbage disposal. Add items made from gelatin to that list. Whether in powdered or prepared form, the gelatin in Jell-O will expand in your pipes and potentially cause clogs. It’s best to throw these items in the trash.
Smartphones
Losing a smartphone down the toilet is one of those things that most of us have experienced but few would like to admit. Smartphones have a way of accompanying us to the bathroom where they can slip out of pants pockets or hands while taking care of business. In some cases, the person doesn’t realize they’ve dropped their phone down the toilet until an attempt to flush is made. Yikes! A plumber can unclog the toilet but you can kiss your smartphone goodbye. It’s always a good idea to avoid taking your smartphone into the bathroom.
Cat Litter
For the cat owners out there, disposing of cat litter or feces down the toilet is tempting–especially when litter boxes are usually placed in bathrooms. However, you should never dispose of cat litter this way. Cat litter can cause major blockages in toilets because it’s designed to form clumps when it comes in contact with liquid. Toilet paper is the only thing that should be flushed down the toilet.
Bathroom Items
When it comes to our furry feline friends, they seem to have a curious habit of knocking items off of tables, desks, and bathroom sinks. Bathrooms and kitchens can be especially interesting to them because they are naturally drawn to faucets and love to nap in sinks. Plumbers have had to retrieve assorted small items such as tweezers, nail clippers, and Q-tips from bathroom drains, leaving a stunned homeowner to wonder how they got there. It turns out it’s often Mr. Whiskers and Ms. Fluffy who were the ones responsible for the misdeeds.
Clogged drains and disposals are easy for professional plumbers to fix—no matter how strange the cause might be! For expert plumbing services, contact Brooks Plumbing Co. today!
