What the main line can handle

A sewer lateral is built to carry water, human waste and toilet paper. Toilet paper breaks apart quickly in water. Almost everything else that gets flushed or poured down does not, and in an older line with rough cast iron, root-prone clay joints or a low spot, those materials have plenty of places to catch.

Prevention is mostly about keeping the wrong things out, and about knowing your own line well enough to clean it before it stops.

Into the drain, or into the trash

Fine to flush or drain

  • Toilet paper
  • Human waste
  • Water from sinks, showers and appliances
  • Small amounts of food rinse from a strained sink

Trash instead

  • Wipes of any kind, including those labeled flushable
  • Paper towels, tissues and cotton products
  • Cooking grease, fats and oils
  • Coffee grounds and eggshells
  • Dental floss, hair and feminine products

Household habits

  • Keep a small trash can with a lid next to every toilet.
  • Let cooking grease cool in a can or jar and throw it out.
  • Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing.
  • Use a sink strainer in the kitchen and tub drains.
  • Use a lint trap on the washing machine discharge if it drains to a utility sink.
  • Remind guests and children what not to flush.

Maintenance for a line with known problems

Only worth doing if the camera has shown roots, scale or a belly. A sound line usually needs nothing scheduled.

After a stoppage
Get the line cleared and inspected with a camera to find the cause.
Next few months
Watch for slow drains or gurgling, and note when they start.
Before the usual cycle
Schedule cleaning ahead of the point where stoppages have tended to happen.
Each cleaning
Ask what came out and whether the defect looks worse than before.

The short version

Only flush
Toilet paper and waste
Grease goes
In the trash, never the sink
Know your line
Camera it after any main line stoppage
Watch for
Slow drains and gurgling before a full stop

Common questions

Are flushable wipes safe for the main line?

Many do not break down the way toilet paper does and can snag in older pipe. Throwing them away is the safer choice.

Does running hot water after grease help?

It only moves the grease further down the line, where it cools and sticks. Keep grease out of the drain instead.

Should I clean a healthy line on a schedule?

Usually not. Scheduled cleaning makes sense when a camera inspection shows a defect that keeps catching waste.

General information for Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.