The main offenders: grease, wipes, paper towels, and anything that does not dissolve.
Grease, fat, and cooking oil: the single biggest cause of drain clogs. Every bit of grease you pour down the drain cools and sticks to the pipe wall. Over months and years, it narrows the pipe to a blockage. Scrape pans, let grease cool and solidify, then throw it in the trash.
‘Flushable’ wipes: not flushable. They do not break down the way toilet paper does. They accumulate in sewer lines, catch on root intrusion or pipe offsets, and create serious blockages. This applies to facial wipes, baby wipes, and cleaning wipes even when labeled ‘flushable.’
Other things that should not go down drains: paper towels, cotton balls and swabs, dental floss, hair (catches in pipes and accumulates soap scum), eggshells, coffee grounds, and medication (environmental concern rather than clog risk).
For kitchen drains specifically: run cold water when running the garbage disposal (helps carry waste through) and avoid putting fibrous foods (celery, artichokes) or starchy foods (potato peels, pasta) through it.
Questions about your pipes? Call Sunburst Environmental at 678-799-4389 — same-day response across Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. Or request a free estimate online.