The Wrong Way to Dispose of Hazardous Household Materials

Did you know that there’s a wrong way and a right way to dispose of household cleaners and other chemicals? In Renton, Washington, the King County Hazardous Waste Management Program is funding a grant that will increase education and awareness on where you can properly dispose of household hazardous waste. Not everything can just be thrown away in the garbage, especially not items that could be potentially toxic to a person. When not disposed of properly, materials such as oil based paints and abrasive or harsh chemicals wind up in places they shouldn’t be, like in a landfill or the Renton plumbing system. 

While it may be unintentional, pouring paint down the drain is never recommended. Instead of washing away, the paint will dry inside your plumbing system, coating the pipes and keeping waste water from flowing smoothly. At best, you could be stuck dealing with a slow drain, but at worst, the paint could cause a blockage deep inside your plumbing system that could lead to unpleasant backups.

You might think an easy solution to remedy your paint mishap would be to use liquid drain cleaners, but that will most likely make the situation worse. Drain cleaners and other cleaning agents are also considered hazardous and if you’re not careful, they could end up damaging your plumbing further. Then you’re stuck cleaning up a mess or paying for emergency repairs that could’ve been avoided if you had used a designated collection or recycling center. 

If you’ve accidentally poured hazardous household materials down the drain or if you’ve done so in the past, it’s never too late to get a professional opinion. Experienced plumbers can inspect your drains and plumbing system and can diagnose if they’ve been damaged by hazardous chemicals. Trusted Plumbing & Heating are professional plumbing experts who can assist you with all of your drain and plumbing system needs. Call at (425) 333-2559 to schedule your drain inspection today! https://www.trustedplumbingheating.com/