You may not think twice about flushing that pair of contact lenses or those “flushable” wipes down your toilet.

But did you know that repeated flushing of these items and other commonly used household items can lead to clogs or cause disruptions in wastewater treatment systems?

The sewer and drain cleaning pros at Reid & Pederson Drainage have put together a list of items you may not think would cause much trouble, but that you should never flush down your toilet.

1) Dental Floss

If you floss twice a day (as you should) throwing your used floss down the toilet every day can cause a buildup of the strings, leading to clogs and allowing other debris that is washed down the drain to get caught as well.

2) Medications

Old or expired medications should never be flushed down the toilet for risk of them entering the drinking water system. The best way to dispose of them is by checking to see if your community participates in a drug take back program. If not, you can call your local police and see if you can drop them off at the station.

3) Cigarette Butts

These should never be flushed down the toilet, as they are full of chemicals that can find a way into water sources and pollute them and harm fish and other wildlife. 

4) Gum

Gum is sticky. So flushing it down the toilet brings the risk of it sticking to your pipes. Not only the gum but other debris floating through the pipes can stick to it and cause larger clogs. Your best bet is to simply throw it in the garbage. 

5) Fish

It’s sad to lose your pet goldfish. But flushing him away isn’t the best idea, as dead fish and other carcasses are difficult to deal with at the water treatment plant. Your best bet is to give Goldie a proper burial in your backyard.

6) Cotton Swabs & Cotton Balls

Again, not a good idea to flush down your toilet. Cotton balls expand when in water and Q-tips can also get trapped in pipes.

Help from the Drain Clog Experts

The bottom line? When in doubt, throw it out! Save yourself the headache of dealing with a clog and make sure you only flush the three “Ps!” (We’re pretty sure we don’t have to tell you what those are!”).

Of course if you do find yourself with a clogged toilet, drain or sewer line, reach out to the Crete, IL drain and sewer cleaning experts at Reid & Pederson right away!

If you have a basement, you may have noticed u-shaped metal or plastic guards fitted around the outside of your basement windows. Called a window well, these have a few different purposes.

What are Window Wells For?

The first purpose of a window well is that they are designed to allow light into partially underground areas, such as a basement.

Secondly, window wells can provide an emergency form of egress.

Lastly, many homeowners don’t realize that window wells also play an important role in draining excess rainwater away from your home’s foundation, which can help prevent your basement from flooding. 

Window Well Installation

When window wells are installed, a hole is dug about 1 foot beneath the bottom of the window sill. The well is then filled with gravel and sometimes a drain is installed at the bottom of the pit and connected to the perimeter drain. Other times, an interior drain is installed to redirect water to your sump pump, which then pumps the excess water away from your home. 

Window Well Maintenance

You can perform some simple maintenance to your window wells to ensure that water is always indeed staying away from your foundation. At least twice a year, check the wells to ensure that debris like leaves, trash and other items haven’t found a way into them to clog them. Simply cleaning them up ensures that no drainage issues will pop up. You can also install window well covers that will prevent debris from entering your wells in the first place.

Professional Help for Your Window Wells

If you’re experiencing drainage issues at your home and you suspect a problem with your window wells, give us a call at Reid & Pederson Drainage today. We can diagnose and correct problems before they become an even bigger one, in the form of a wet basement. 

You don’t need the luck of the Irish to keep your sewer and drains flowing. Below are some tips and easy steps you can take to prevent backups and clogged drains in your home this spring.

1) Remember the 4P’s!

Don’t flush anything other than toilet paper and waste down your toilets. Contrary to popular belief, flushable wipes are in fact not flushable!

2) Your Garbage Disposal is Not a Trash Can

Grease, cooking oil, bones, fibrous skins and pasta are some of the worst clog-causing offenders when it comes to garbage disposals. Learn more about how to care for this appliance and things you should never put down your garbage disposal here!

3) Clear Your Drains

Call a professional (ahem) to rod out and clear any current slow drains in your home. Once those heavy Spring rains arrive, those clogged drains could become even more clogged and will require professional drain cleaning.

4) Clean Your Gutters

Spring clean the gutters and downspouts around your home and clear away leaves and debris that may have accumulated during the long winter months.

5) Prevent Drains from Drying Out

Occasionally pour a bucket or two of water down infrequently used drains to fill the p-trap and prevent odors and sewer gas from entering your home. You can learn more about p-traps here!

6) Keep Drains Free of Debris

Use mesh strainers over all household drains to prevent hair, lint, grease, food and other debris from going down your drains.

7) Clean the Lint Trap Inside Your Washing Machine

Check your washing machine lint trap, and clean it if necessary, to prevent laundry backups.

Help from the Sewer & Drain Experts

If you’d like to learn some more sewer and drain cleaning tips for springtime, be sure to check out our other blog post. And as always, if you’re experiencing a sewer or drain issue, give us a call at Reid & Pederson Drainage! Our team is always ready to solve your problem!

Read on to learn more about drainage problems or reach out to the Crete sewer and drainage experts at Reid & Pederson today!