You know not to pour toxic chemicals down the drain due to the risk of water pollution, but there’s another very good reason to keep flammable chemicals out of your drains. When liquids like gasoline are poured into a drain along with water, they float above the water. The vapors collect in the small enclosed space, and if those vapors come into contact with an ignition source, the results can be devastating.
The best way to avoid the disaster of fire in a storm drain in Bethel, OH is to always dispose of your flammable chemicals in an environmentally-safe and approved way. The following is a list of some of the items you should keep out of your drains, and away from open flame in general:
- Gasoline, car fluids, turpentine and paint thinner: These are some of the most common causes of household fires. You should not only avoid keeping these items out of your drains and the ground, but away from open flame and anything that could cause a spark.
- Rubbing alcohol, disinfectants and cleaning products: Any time you have a product meant to kill germs, it’s likely that it contains alcohol. Alcohol, especially rubbing alcohol, is extremely flammable.
- Linseed oil: The vapors from linseed oil are so flammable that clothes soaked in linseed oil can catch on fire just by going through the dryer. Linseed oil is commonly used in wood stains and finishes, and is only one of several flammable ingredients found in paint, stains and paint strippers.
- Hand sanitizer: Hand sanitizer also contains enough alcohol that it can create second- or third-degree burns if it comes into contact with an open flame. Naturally, pouring sanitizer down the drain will increase the alcohol present in the water.
- Bleach, stain removers and detergents: You might already know that bleach is flammable, including its vapors. It should always be safely stored away from ignition sources. However, some stain removers and detergents also contain significant amounts of alcohol.
- Lighter fluid: Lighter fluid is literally designed to ignite, so store it safely and never pour it down the drain.
- Nail polish and nail polish remover: Finally, the acetone in nail polish and nail polish remover are highly flammable.
In many cases, these substances must be sealed in a safe container and dropped off at your local hazardous waste disposal facility. Many recycling services will have special programs designed to help their citizens safely and conveniently dispose of flammable materials, saving the environment and preventing storm drain fires at the same time.
If you’re in need of septic service or more information about what causes storm drain fires in Bethel, OH, Gullett Sanitation Services Inc. is your top choice for all things septic. Since 1942, we’ve been serving customers with comprehensive septic and dewatering services, and our dedication to service has been keeping clients happy ever since. Put your systems in the hands of trained and certified professionals by reaching out to our team today to schedule a consultation or service appointment.