Tips Follow These Tips To Keep Your Plumbing System Clog Free Don't pour greasy waste down the sink, but if you do; Don't follow with warm water, as this will melt the grease allowing it to coat the drainage pipes. Don’t throw stringy fibrous material into the disposal. The disposal does not grind these adequately. Turn on the cold water at least 15 seconds before you turn on the disposal, and keep it running briefly afterward. This helps flush waste down the main line. Make sure the disposal is running when you place food debris into it. Don’t wait until it’s full to turn it on. If you are enjoying company, don’t take all your showers at the same time. Take some at night or wait at least 10 minutes between showers. You can turn the temperature up on your water heaters a bit to provide more hot water but do not go above 125 degrees F to avoid burns and scalding. This is especially true for small children, elderly citizens, and babies. Don’t use your toilet as a waste basket. Cotton balls, Q-Tips, hair, facial scrubs, and feminine hygiene products do not dissolve and may clog your drains. Give low-flush toilets an extra flush every now and then to assist with proper draining of waste materials.