10 Things Your Plumber Wants You to Discontinue Doing Right Away

Having to have a plumber in the U.S. can be inevitable if you are dealing with a drippy or broken pipe. But a lot of the time, you can avoid plugging your pipes or needing repairs for your garbage disposal, both of which can be costly to take care of. 

Here are some of the most frequent issues our Experts get calls about at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing and how you can prevent them. 

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

Although they might be known as “flushable wipes,” the best spot for them is the trash. The only thing that should be flushed (apart from the obvious) is toilet paper and septic treatments, if you rely on a septic system. 

A Canadian study that tested 101 such wipes learned none of them passed a flushability test, according to Forbes. Since flushable wipes don’t break down like toilet paper, they can block your sewer line and lead to your toilet backing up. 

They can also cause problems with city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can conglomerate with other yucky things that shouldn’t go down the toilet, including cooking grease and hygienic products, to create a fatberg. In addition to being unsanitary and just plain nasty, environmental nonprofit Green America says these buildups are pricey to get rid of. If you rely on a city sewer system, those are expenses that could get shuffled to you in the future. 

Whatever type of wipe you’re using—makeup remover, cleansing, baby or sanitizing—it should go in the trash once you’re finished. 

2. Flushing Other Things That Should Go in the Waste Bin

Besides flushable wipes, there are a few other things that don’t belong in your toilet. These include: 

  • Feminine hygiene products 
  • Makeup remover pads 
  • Cat litter 

Like wipes, these things can block your sewer line and back up your toilet, leaving you with a pricey (and icky) mess. 

3. Using Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs 

Having drop-in toilet fresheners could seem like a great way to keep your toilet bowl fresh, but they may cause more trouble than good. These tablets often contain chemicals, including bleach, which can wreck rubber parts in the tank. And as the tablets dissolve, they can block the toilet and stop it from flushing. 

4. Buying Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is blocked, your first response could be to get a cheap liquid drain cleaner. However, there are a few things you should know about these drain cleaners. 

  1. They’re toxic. Drain cleaners are a toxic combination of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also produce strong fumes that can result in respiratory irritation.  
  1. They can corrode your pipes. If these cleaners can burn your skin, consider what they can do to your plumbing: corrosion, fractures and even failure.  
  1. They’re bad for the environment. As you can determine, these formulas aren’t exactly helpful for the environment.  
  1. They might not even unplug your drain. Regardless of all the chemicals they pack, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a limited time. That’s because they often force the clog further into your plumbing until it results in a major problem. 

If you do require a drain cleaner, we recommend using an enzymatic cleaner. These chemical-free cleaners rely on bacteria and enzymes to break up clogs and unpleasant odors. While they can work more slowly than a chemical-based cleaner, they’re better for you, your plumbing and the environment. 

If you have a strong clog that just won’t go away, calling a professional plumber like Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is your wisest option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s faster to have a professional finish the job. That way, you’ll also prevent damaging your pipes and a wide variety of bad issues such as leaks, broken seals and unpleasant odors. 

After your drain is flowing freely, keep it that way by installing a screen to keep hair or food scraps from plugging it again. 

5. Dumping Grease Down Your Sink

It may seem like it’s not a big deal to pour a small amount of oil down your sink. But as time passes, that grease can grow and plug your pipes. If the grease finds its way into the sewer system, it can cling to flushable wipes and develop a gross fatberg like we talked about prior. 

To avoid plumbing troubles, drain the oil into a can. After it solidifies, you can throw it away in the waste can. 

6. Relying on Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a helpful tool for eliminating tiny food scraps. But it can’t eliminate everything. To avoid malfunctions or clogs, we recommend not putting these items down your garbage disposal: 

  • Coffee grounds  
  • Pasta, oats, rice and bread  
  • Bones, nuts, pits and seeds  
  • Eggshells  
  • Onions and potato peels  
  • Fibrous fruits and vegetables  
  • Grease 

If your garbage disposal has a bad smell, you can revive it with citrus peels or a blend of baking soda and vinegar. 

7. Ignoring Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Just like your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also has to have annual maintenance. This service can help us spot minor issues before they lead to major problems, including a damaging water leak. Some of the troubles we check for entail: 

  • Adequate water pressure  
  • Leaky or plugged pipes  
  • Adequately operating supply lines and plumbing fixtures such as sinks, tubs, showers and toilets 

If you do see an issue, including a leaky sink or pipe, it’s important to get it repaired without delay before it grows bigger or leads to damage. 

8. Trying to Fix Your Plumbing on Your Own

When you are experiencing a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, we recommend calling an Expert at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for leak repair before it gets bigger or results in damage. 

Repairing plumbing is a complex job that’s best completed by professionals. There’s a reason why plumbers go through extensive certification and licensing. Don’t try water pipe repair yourself or call a handyman, as you could end up wasting time and making a costlier expensive problem. 

9. Trying to Maintain Your Water Heater on Your Own

When it comes to your water heater, service and maintenance is best left to the pros. This includes draining it or testing the temperature and pressure valve. If this isn’t performed right, you could burn yourself with boiling water or flood your residence. 

Pro water heater maintenance gives peace of mind that your water heater is running like it should. It also provides you a heads-up when it’s time to start considering water heater replacement, because they often only operate for about 10 years. 

10. Not Knowing Where the Water Main Shutoff Is

When your house has a major water leak, it’s critical to know where the main water valve is and how to switch it off. This valve is often situated in a mechanical room near your water heater. 

Here’s how to turn off the main water valve in your home: 

  • If it has a wheel: move it clockwise until you can’t anymore.  
  • If it has a lever: rotate it about a quarter of the way. 

If you’re don’t know where the valve is located, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you find it. 

It’s also a good idea to get a water leak protection system that will turn on an alarm and cut off the water if there’s a problem. You can even have a smart system to keep an eye on water use and tell you via your phone if there’s a leak. 

Whatever plumbing issue you’re faced with, our Expert plumbers at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing are available to help you. And we’ll back our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year, so you’ll know that your repairs were done correctly. Give us a call at 866-397-3787 to request your appointment today! 

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