The routine, in order
- Scrape plates into the green bin. Durham's green bin program accepts food scraps, including small amounts of grease soaked into paper towel.
- Cool and bin grease. Pour cooking fat into a container, let it set, and dispose of it with organics or garbage as Durham guidance directs.
- Use strainers. Fit sink and shower strainers to catch food and hair.
- Flush only toilet paper. Wipes labelled flushable still cause clogs.
- Run water. After using a disposal, keep cold water running for several seconds.
- Clean traps. Remove hair from tub and shower drains every few weeks.
Why this matters in Pickering
Older Pickering homes often have cast-iron or clay drains with rough interiors, while newer homes have long, flat runs to kitchen islands. Both conditions let debris settle. Durham Region also asks residents to keep fats and wipes out of the sewer system, since they cause blockages in municipal pipes and pumping stations as well as in homes. What goes down your drain affects your neighbours too.
Call when a drain stays slow after plunging, when several fixtures stall together, or when water rises through the basement floor drain.
Slips worth avoiding
- Pouring grease down the sink with hot water. It cools further down the line and sets.
- Putting coffee grounds, eggshells, rice or pasta in the disposal.
- Flushing wipes, cotton swabs, dental floss, paper towels or hygiene products.
- Pouring paint, solvents or medication into drains.
- Relying on chemical openers that can damage pipes and harm whoever works on them later.
Time to ring a plumber
Call when a drain stays slow after plunging, when several fixtures stall together, or when water rises through the basement floor drain. Those are clues the problem is beyond the trap. Repeated clogs in the same line may mean a sag, roots or a damaged pipe, which a camera inspection can identify. If sewage is backing up, stop using water and call promptly.
Trees, roots and outside lines
Good habits inside the house cannot stop roots outside. If clogs return to the main line no matter how careful you are, read our note on roots in sewer lines. For slow kitchen sinks specifically, our kitchen drain cleaning page covers what we do on site.
A basement floor drain also needs care. Pour a pail of water into it every few months so the trap keeps its water seal and sewer odour stays out of the home.
A note on enzyme cleaners
Enzyme and bacterial drain products are gentler than caustic openers and can help keep soft build-up in check if used regularly. They will not clear a full blockage, and they do nothing for roots or a sagging pipe. Treat them as maintenance, not a repair, and follow the label directions for septic-connected homes.
Questions callers ask
Are flushable wipes safe?
No. They do not break down the way toilet paper does and frequently cause blockages.
Is a little grease okay?
Small amounts add up. Wipe pans and bin the grease instead.