UK households issued 'do not' warning when carving pumpkins this Halloween
Not only is carving a pumpkin messy, but it could land you with a £300 bill
With Halloween around the corner, many people will be heading to pumpkin patches or their local supermarket to bag a pumpkin.
The round, orange squash is a popular addition to homes in autumn with many people carving or decorating them for spooky season.
But as thousands of households prepare to carve pumpkins ahead of Halloween, a plumbing expert is warning Brits not to wash pumpkin pulp and seeds down the sink - or you may risk a scary plumbing bill.
Brian Toward, plumbing expert at Wholesale Domestic, says that plumbers often see an increase in blocked drains around Halloween as a result of pumpkin waste being rinsed down sinks.
“Pumpkin pulp might look harmless when you’re rinsing it away, but it’s a sticky, stringy mess that can cause damage once it’s in your pipes,” Brian explains.
“The fibrous strands and seeds don’t dissolve in water and instead, they clump together, harden and stick to the sides of your pipes, trapping other debris and eventually causing a blockage.”
According to Brian, clearing a blocked kitchen drain can cost anywhere from £80 to £150, and more severe blockages could set you back up to £300 - all for something that can easily be avoided.
“The combination of pumpkin pulp, fat, and food residue is a recipe for disaster,” Brian adds.
“Once that mixture sets, it’s like concrete."
Instead, Brian advises households to dispose of the pulp in food waste bins or compost.
"The best thing you can do is scoop pumpkin waste into a bowl or container and dispose of it in your food waste bin or compost, never the sink," he said.
“If you do end up throwing a small amount of pumpkin pulp down the drain, make sure to flush it with hot water with a bit of washing-up liquid to break down any lingering residue.”