What should I never put down my kitchen drain?

Never put grease, fats, oils, coffee grounds, or food scraps down your kitchen drain - these are the top culprits that cause expensive blockages and backups in Ottawa homes.

Grease and cooking oils are the worst offenders. Even when they go down hot and liquid, they cool and solidify in your pipes, creating stubborn clogs that often require professional hydro jetting to remove. This includes bacon grease, butter, salad dressings, and even small amounts that seem harmless. Instead, let grease cool and scrape it into the garbage, or collect it in a container for disposal.

Coffee grounds might seem harmless since they're small, but they don't break down in water and create a sludgy paste that combines with other debris. The same goes for food scraps - even with a garburator, items like potato peels, pasta, rice, and fibrous vegetables like celery can cause problems. Eggshells are particularly troublesome as the membrane can wrap around your garburator blades.

Other problematic items include flour (creates a paste), paint, chemicals, medications, and anything non-biodegradable. In Ottawa's older neighborhoods with cast iron or clay sewer lines, these materials can cause especially serious blockages that require expensive camera inspection and cleaning.

Prevention is key - scrape plates thoroughly before washing, use sink strainers to catch debris, and run cold water when using your garburator to help flush waste through the system. If you do experience slow drainage or gurgling sounds, address it quickly before it becomes a major blockage.

For persistent drain issues or if you're already dealing with a clog, professional drain cleaning typically runs $150-$300 in Ottawa and can save you from more expensive repairs down the line.

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