Pumpkin Plumbing Havoc…

October is filled with spooky Halloween events. Planning costumes, decorating the house and making favourite treats are all a part of the fun although covid-19 may have changed it a little for 2020. Halloween traditions can cause havoc home’s plumbing system. Scary? Maybe. However, GHS are here to help take the fear out of the season.

The number one problem that plumbing engineers encounter every October is pumpkin pulp clogging sinks and toilets. Pumpkin pulp is a wet, sticky, stringy substance containing seeds that can harden quickly. When the pulp hardens, it turns into a gummy resin that can easily clog pipes. Once it has clogged a drain, it is difficult to remove without help from a professional. NEVER put pumpkin pulp in the sink or toilet.

Another problem during the season is directly related to trick-or-treating: makeup and face paint. Cotton, cotton swabs, sponges and other makeup related accessories also clog drains – and toilets. Children (and adults) using makeup for their Halloween costumes will often flush these very absorbent materials; wreaking havoc on the sewer line. In addition to the absorbent material causing problems, some face paint is oil-based and can accelerate the stoppage.

Avoid scary plumbing issues this year by reading our tips for a clog-free Halloween

• When carving a pumpkin, place all of the pulp in a large bowl. Either discard by wrapping up the mess in newspaper and throwing it in the bin. or putting it in your compost pile.
• When gutting a pumpkin, place all of the pulp in a large bowl. Either discard by wrapping up the mess in newspaper and throwing it in the trash.
• Pumpkin pulp doesn’t break down like most organic materials. It is also virtually impossible to stop the blockage with a store-bought drain cleaner.
• Halloween makeup and face paint can always be reused next year. NEVER throw makeup into the sink or toilet.
• Cotton balls and sponges with makeup on them should be thrown into the bin. If you have a washcloth with makeup on it, be mindful of oil-based products when washing them. Consider using a bucket of warm water and liquid detergent to clean the cloth or material before throwing it in the washing machine. NEVER wash material containing oil-based paint directly in the sink.