fbpx

Top 5 — Things You Should Never Put Down Your Home Drain

If you're like most homeowners, you may not think twice before rinsing things down the drain. But did you know that certain items can cause major drain clogs and even damage your pipes over time? At Mister Quik Home Services, we understand the importance of keeping your home’s drains in top shape, which is why we're sharing the top 5 things you should never put down your drain.

$99 Drain Cleaning

1. Grease, Oil, and Fat 

We see this a lot – grease clogging up a kitchen drain!  Pouring grease, oil, or fat down the drain may seem harmless when they’re hot and liquid, but as they cool, they solidify, making it harder for the water to drain. This leads to stubborn clogs that can block your pipes, cause slow drainage, and even result in sewer backups. Instead of pouring grease down the drain, let it cool and dispose of it in a sealed container in the trash.

No Grease Down The Drain

2. Coffee Grounds 

 

If you are a coffee drinker, you are probably guilty of this one.  Coffee grounds are one of the biggest culprits for clogged drains. Even though they may seem small, they don’t break down in water and can quickly accumulate, creating blockages. To avoid this, consider composting your coffee grounds or throwing them in the trash instead of rinsing them down the sink. 

#2 reason for a clogged drain

3. Eggshells

 

Many people believe that eggshells are harmless, but they can actually create serious issues in your plumbing system. The tiny shell fragments can bind with other substances to form clumps, leading to stubborn clogs. Plus, the membrane inside the shell can stick to the sides of pipes, making things worse. If you need to dispose of eggshells, consider adding them to your compost bin or throwing them away. 

4. Medications

 

Flushing old medications down the drain may seem like a quick solution, but it can harm the environment. Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to filter out pharmaceuticals, meaning these chemicals can end up in our rivers, lakes, and even drinking water. Instead, take your expired or unused medications to a pharmacy that offers safe disposal services or look for local take-back programs. 

5. “Flushable” Wipes

 

Despite what the packaging says, flushable wipes are not as safe for your plumbing as you might think. Unlike toilet paper, which breaks down quickly, these wipes can take a long time to disintegrate, leading to blockages in your pipes. To avoid costly repairs, it’s best to dispose of wipes in the trash, even if they’re labeled as “flushable.” 

Clogged Drains

Taking care of your home’s drains is crucial to avoiding costly repairs and maintaining a healthy system. By keeping these top 5 items out of your drains, you can prevent unnecessary damage, protect your pipes, and save money in the long run. If you ever run into clogged drains, don’t hesitate to contact Mister Quik Home Services. We currently offer our “Any Drain, Any Time for only $99” drain cleaning service. Our team of professionals is here to help with all your plumbing needs!

mrquik.com

While it’s a rather unassuming gadget on the wall in your living room, it’s an integral part to your entire home’s management. So, before you just put any old thermostat on your wall, here’s a list of how you can choose the best fit for your home and comfort system.

Programmability

You’ll see thermostats listed as “non-programmable” or “programmable”. A programmable thermostat allows you to set the heating/cooling system to turn on or off at certain scheduled times. This is helpful for when the house is empty during the day while you are at work and the kids are at school, as well as cooler temperatures at night to help you sleep.

A seven-day programmable thermostat can have time and temperature settings for each day of the week. Or, there are programmable thermostats for 5-2 and 5-1-1. This means there is one weekday setting, while the 5-2 has one and the 5-1-1 has two separate settings for the weekend when the hours spent in the house can be different.

A non-programmable thermostat does not have settings that can be set for automatic changes. You must manually change the temperature and the on/off functionality of heating or cooling sources.

Which is best? That’s up to you. The big plus for the programmable thermostat is that it is known for being highly energy efficient—after all, you aren’t paying to heat an empty home during the day.

Changeover Type

In terms of thermostats, a changeover type refers to whether it automatically switches from heat to cooling as the air temperature crosses to a certain, set temperature. Manual changeovers must be changed over by hand while auto changeovers will change automatically based on the set temperature.

System Use

There are different thermostats for different air conditioning systems. If you have a heat pump, your system might manage heat pumps while another might not. It’s important that, when looking at thermostats, that you keep in mind the type of system you have and purchase a thermostat that states it can be used with that system, or it will not work properly.

User Interface

There are three different styles of thermostats: dial, digital with buttons or touch screen. The dial is the simpler approach and get more complicated, in terms of functionality and operations, as you move towards the touchscreen. Mister Quik offers both the digital with buttons and the touchscreen options by Trane and Honeywell.

Extra Features

The more updated models such as the touchscreen thermostat have some extra features that you may or may not want to use. Extra options might include:

  • Password protection
  • Indoor/Outdoor remote sensor
  • Humidification control

Voltage

There are two ways for thermostats to be powered, either by line-voltage or low-voltage. To choose the right voltage, you need to look at the current wire you have in your wall: A very thin wire requires a low-voltage thermostat, a heavy wire requires a line-voltage thermostat.

If you’re still confused as to what thermostat is the best fit for your Indianapolis area home and for your heating and cooling system, call the experts at Mister Quik. We’ll help you make the best choice for your home, budget and lifestyle.