Most of us rely on garbage cans and garbage disposals to get rid of our leftover food. But, there are few instances where flushing food down the toilet may seemingly be the best option at the time. While it may seem like a good idea to flush food down the toilet, it’s ultimately not the best idea. Take a look at some of the foods that should never be flushed down the toilet.
Foods That Expand When Mixed With Water
Did you know that your toilet’s pipes are only about 3-inches wide? That’s not much space to work with. Foods that expand in water can block your pipes and sewer line, and be a nightmare to unclog. So to avoid any mishaps, never flush foods such as oats and rice.
Hard Food Scraps
Hard food scraps do not decompose easily. At any time, they can plug up your toilet drain, block your drains, and form a fatberg. They can also compromise your city’s wastewater treatment process. Some examples of hard food scraps include things such as:
- Apples
- Corn on the cob
- Bones
- Nuts
- Hard candy
Starchy Foods
Starchy foods like mashed potatoes, pretzels, and bread can wreak havoc on your plumbing. When this type of food is flushed down the toilet, it can cause a gunky blockage within the pipes. When that happens, it causes a slow down of the flow of your sewer pipe. You can expect more toilet backups if you constantly flush this kind of food down the toilet.
Fats and Oils
You may be pouring liquid fats and oils into the toilet bowl, but they won’t remain a liquid. Once fats and oil cool down, it can form a solid material. Unfortunately, they often cool inside of the pipes, and that means that your toilet’s pipes will become clogged. It’s difficult to remove fats and oils from your pipes on your own. That’s why it’s best to never flush things like butter, meat fat, and cooking oil down the toilet.
Is it Too Late For Your Toilet?
If you’ve flushed food down the toilet and are now rapping the consequences, have Michael Runk Plumbing & Heating resolve the problem for you. As a residential plumber in Sykesville offering 24/7 emergency service, we can fix your toilet’s plumbing whenever you need us. Give us a call or click here to schedule an appointment.