Stuff That Should Never Go Down a Drain (But Always Does)

Kids flush everything—rings, toys, whatever fits. Adults? Not much better. Those “flushable” wipes? Lies. Every city worker I know hates them. Feminine products, diapers, cotton swabs, floss picks—they all just sit there, plotting.

Cat litter? Why would anyone flush that? It’s like pouring sand in your pipes. “Flushable” is just a word on a package; no plumber believes it. I once pulled a makeup sponge out of a U-bend the size of a small potato.

If you wouldn’t want it sitting around in your bathroom, don’t flush it. But if a LEGO gets stuck, just call a plumber and pray. Here’s more on what not to do, but honestly, nobody listens until it’s too late.

What Clogs Really Mean (Spoiler: It’s Never Just a Clog)

Wild, right? One day it’s a slow shower drain, next thing, you’re talking about burst pipes and mystery water creeping under the floor. It’s never just a clog. There’s always something uglier hiding underneath, pretending to be a minor problem.

Hidden Damage: The Stuff You Can’t See

Here’s what makes me nuts—nobody notices pipe damage until water’s coming through the wall. I’ve opened up drywall chasing a clog and found copper shavings everywhere. Not fun. Met this plumber, Len Fox (guy’s a legend, carries a moisture meter everywhere), and he claims 74% of hidden leaks start from cracks you only find because something clogged first.

Everyone blames hair or grease, but sometimes the clog’s just the tip-off that the whole line’s rotting or the foundation’s shifted. If you can, run your hand along the joints—damp spots mean trouble. Weird smells? Peeling paint? That’s what the pros look for before they call in the big guns. Get an inspection if you’re even a little suspicious.

Hard Water: The Silent Pipe Killer

Ever seen a faucet crusted with white junk? That’s not toothpaste—it’s hard water, and it’s everywhere. People dump vinegar on it and wonder why nothing changes. Nobody tells you this: minerals don’t just look gross, they choke your pipes over years, until your water pressure is just sad.

USGS says 85% of homes have “hard” water—calcium, magnesium, all that. You’ll notice it in spotty glasses, cranky washing machines, and showers that take forever. If you want to fix it, get a real water softener, not those magnetic doodads. By the time you see the pressure drop, your pipes might look like they belong in a cave. You can’t smell it, but trust me, mineral buildup will ruin your day if you let it.

Tree Roots and Outdoor Intrusions

Okay, so picture this: I get a call from someone with these monster acacias basically hovering over her main sewer line. Every time it rains, her bathroom’s a swamp and, naturally, she blames the kids’ toys. Classic. Then the city guys show up, act all mystified—no toys, just roots busting through those ancient terra-cotta joints. I mean, I’ve seen the camera footage—roots everywhere, twisting around like they’re auditioning for a horror movie. Disgusting.

Honestly, tree roots couldn’t care less about your fences, your plastic pipes, or your sense of property. One tiny crack, and suddenly you’re not dealing with a simple “clog”—you’re starring in your own tree-root intrusion drama. Sewer pros? They’re not exaggerating: roots in your line are a money pit. You ignore it, you’re just asking for water damage, digging up the yard, and probably a neighbor yelling about runoff. Only thing that works for me—rooter, then trenchless relining. Forget those chemical cocktails from the hardware store. Who thought planting trees near pipes was a good idea? Seriously.

Plumbing Red Flags You Can’t Ignore

Ever walk into your own house and get smacked in the face by a weird swampy smell? Pipes start making noises like they’re fighting each other. You think, “Eh, it’ll pass.” Yeah, right. Next thing, you’re chiseling out a soap scum boulder and regretting every DIY video you ever watched.

Unpleasant Odors and Foul Smells

This one time, someone called me about a “funky basement.” I tracked it down to a corroded pipe hiding behind the dryer. Not glamorous. My nose isn’t exactly a precision tool, but if your bathroom or kitchen reeks of rotten eggs or dirty socks—after you’ve cleaned—don’t just light a candle and hope. Sewer gases like hydrogen sulfide and methane? They’re not just gross, they’re sketchy for your health. Sometimes it’s a dry trap, easy fix. Other times, it’s a cracked pipe under the slab, which is way less fun.

People always blame the cat for bathroom odors. Nope. I’d bet money it’s a busted vent or a leaky flange. North Penn Now calls these smells a classic plumbing red flag. Plumbers have these smoke machines or cameras—if the smell hangs around, they’ll find it. Wax ring fails? Welcome to the club. Sewer air in your closet is a new low, trust me.

Gurgling Sounds and Noisy Pipes

Hear pipes gurgling, popping, or just being weird? They’re not haunted (I checked, I swear), but something’s up. Usually trapped air, slow drains, or a clog way down the line. Water’s supposed to mind its business, not put on a show. If your toilet gurgles after laundry, your main line’s probably stressed—roots, buildup, whatever, just like Nu Flow’s experts talk about.

I tried plunging a bathtub once, and suddenly the kitchen sink thirty feet away started gurgling. What? Not normal. Pipes should just work. If you hear noises, it’s usually misaligned joints, vent issues, or sediment. Just because water goes down doesn’t mean you’re in the clear—if the noise sticks around after snaking, call someone who actually knows what they’re doing. And anyone who says “it’s just air”? Nope. It’s never just air. Maybe a squirrel chewed your vent cap. It happens.