The Top 10 Things Your Plumber Doesnt Want You to Do

Requiring a plumber in Dallas can be necessary if you have a leaky or broken pipe. But the majority of times, you can avoid blocking your pipes or requiring repairs for your garbage disposal, both of which can be costly to fix.

Here are some of the most regular troubles our plumbers get calls about at Levy & Son Service Experts and how you can avoid them.

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

Despite the fact they might be called “flushable wipes,” the right location for them is the waste bin. The only thing that should be flushed (other than the obvious) is toilet paper and septic treatments, if you use a septic system.

A Canadian study that examined 101 such wipes found none of them passed a flushability test, according to Forbes. Because flushable wipes don’t disintegrate like toilet paper, they can block your sewer line and make your toilet back up.

They can also cause a lot of trouble to city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can combine with other gross things that shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet, such as cooking grease and hygienic products, to create a fatberg. Besides being unhygienic and just plain gross, environmental nonprofit Green America says these masses are pricey to fix. If you rely on a city sewer system, those are bills that could get shuffled to you in the future.

No matter what type of wipe you’re using—makeup remover, cleansing, baby or sanitizing—it should go in the trash once you’re complete.

2. Flushing Other Things That Should Go in the Garbage

In addition to flushable wipes, there are several other things that don’t belong in your toilet. These include:

Along with wipes, these things can plug your sewer line and overflow your toilet, leaving you with a pricey (and icky) mess.

3. Relying on Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs

Having drop-in toilet fresheners might seem like a great way to keep your toilet bowl clean, but they might do more damage than good. These tablets often contain chemicals, such as bleach, which can wreck rubber parts in the tank. And as the tablets dissolve, they can plug the toilet and keep it from flushing.

4. Dumping Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is plugged, your immediate reaction might be to buy a low-priced liquid drain cleaner. However, there are some things you should realize about these drain cleaners.

1. They’re harmful. Drain cleaners are a toxic combination of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also make powerful fumes that can cause respiratory irritation. 
2. They can eat away at your pipes. If these cleaners can burn your skin, imagine what they can do to your plumbing: corrosion, breaks and even failure. 
3. They’re not good for the environment. As you can determine, these substances aren’t very environmentally friendly. 
4. They might not even unclog your drain. Despite all the chemicals they pack, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a short time. That’s since they often push the clog more into your plumbing until it creates a major problem.

If you do have to have a drain cleaner, we suggest using an enzymatic cleaner. These chemical-free cleaners use bacteria and enzymes to break up clogs and bad odors. While they might work more slowly than a chemical-based cleaner, they’re safer for you, your plumbing and the environment.

If you have a difficult clog that just won’t break up, calling a professional plumber like Levy & Son Service Experts is your best option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s easier to have a professional perform the job. That way, you’ll also avoid harming your pipes and many other troublesome issues including leaks, broken seals and horrible odors.

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

5. Getting Rid of Grease Down Your Sink

It could seem like it’s not a problem to drain a tiny bit of fat down your pipes. But as time passes, that grease can grow and clog your pipes. If the grease finds its way into the sewer system, it can stick to flushable wipes and develop a yucky fatberg like we talked about earlier.

To avoid plumbing woes, drain the fat 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 beneficial tool for getting rid of little amounts of food waste. But it can’t break up everything. To avoid problems or clogs, we advise 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 smells bad, you can freshen it with citrus peels or a blend of baking soda and vinegar.

7. Avoiding Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Much like your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also has to have annual service. This service can help us discover small issues before they result in major problems, like a damaging water leak. Some of the issues we check for involve:

If you do spot trouble, such as a leaking sink or pipe, it’s crucial to get it repaired without delay before it becomes bigger or causes damage.

8. Making an Attempt to Fix Your Plumbing Without Professional Help

When you have a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, it’s important to call an Expert at Levy & Son Service Experts for leak repair before it grows or causes damage.

Mending plumbing is a complex job that’s best done by professionals. There’s a reason why plumbers complete extensive certification and licensing. Don’t try to do water pipe repair without help or get a handyman, because you could end up wasting time and having a costlier expensive problem.

9. Trying to Tune Up Your Water Heater Yourself

When it comes to your water heater, service and tune-ups are best left to the pros. This includes draining it or checking the temperature and pressure valve. If this isn’t completed correctly, you could burn yourself with hot water or flood your residence.

Pro water heater maintenance gives peace of mind that your water heater is operating right. It also offers you a heads-up when it’s time to start considering water heater replacement, since they usually only work for about 10 years.

10. Not Being Aware of Where the Water Main Shutoff Is

In the event your residence has a large water leak, it’s important to be knowledgeable about where the main water valve is and how to turn it off. This valve is typically located in a mechanical room near your water heater.

If you’re are unsure about where the valve is located, Levy & Son Service Experts can help you find it.

It’s also a smart idea to get a water leak protection system that will turn on an alarm and turn off the water if there’s a problem. You can even have a smart system to monitor water use and notify you through your phone if there’s a leak.

Whatever plumbing trouble you’re dealing with, our Expert plumbers at Levy & Son Service Experts are available to help you. And we’ll stand behind our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year, so you’ll be sure that your repairs were finished correctly. Give us a call at 469-250-0932 to book your appointment now!