Unexpected Summer Drain Dilemmas

Being the warm dry season, summer seems to be the last time of year we’d expect to deal with drainage issues. Believe it or not, these warmer months are infamous for causing long term damage to your plumbing. ​

Being the warm dry season, summer seems to be the last time of year we’d expect to deal with drainage issues. Believe it or not, these warmer months are infamous for causing long term damage to your plumbing.

So what can go wrong and can we do anything to prevent it? Let’s take a look in today’s article:

Cooling it on the cookouts
If your family tends to host a lot of classic kiwi cookouts then your drains are going to pay for it – depending how you dispose of the leftovers, that is. Some foods are better than others for your sink and garbage disposal, so let’s look at the worst offenders so you know which waste to avoid:

Cooking oils
Oil has a nasty habit of sticking to surfaces. Oil, grease and food fats build up in your drains and they are too stubborn to budge – even with boiling water! When you fry and BBQ for your family and friends, be sure to avoid tipping the greasy oils down your drain (a recipe for future blockages).
To clean your greasy cookware in a drain-friendly way, simply turf the leftover greasy liquid into the garden, fill the pan or tray with boiling water and soak it until the water starts to cool. Tip that water into the garden, too, and then wash your tray as normal. Your drains will thank you later!

Fruit scraps
Feasting on copious fruits is a much-beloved summer tradition in New Zealand. While you’re enjoying your juicy chunks of pineapple and slices of watermelon, your poor garbage disposal is bearing the brunt of the fruit’s hard fleshy scraps.
Corn cobs, pineapple skin and stalks, watermelon rind and skins are all blunting the blades of your disposal. Eventually the pieces that end up washed down your drain will flow bigger and bigger as your disposal loses its ability to chop small slices that are easily washed away. The big chunks of food will stack up in your drain, forming dams of food that stop water from flowing freely along.

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We’re going to revisit this topic later on this month in our ‘part two’ article. Be sure to keep an eye out for more ways in which you can prevent plumbing problems over the summer! If you do experience drainage problems in Wellington over the summer, you can go ahead and get in contact with the team at Maxey Wellington Plumbing. We’ll respond fast and offer professional service so you can safely and effectively use your drains over the summer!