10 Things Your Plumber Wants You to Discontinue Doing Right Away

Requiring a plumber in Dallas can be inevitable if you are experiencing a drippy or burst pipe. But a lot of the time, you can stop clogging your pipes or needing repairs for your garbage disposal, both of which can be expensive to repair. 

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

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

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

A Canadian study that examined 101 such wipes discovered they all failed a flushability test, according to Forbes. Because 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 wreak havoc on city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can combine with other yucky things that shouldn’t go down the toilet, such as cooking grease and hygienic products, to result in a fatberg. In addition to being unhygienic and just plain yucky, environmental nonprofit Green America says these buildups are pricey to repair. If you rely on a city sewer system, those are expenses that could get shuffled to you in the long run. 

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

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

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

  • Feminine hygiene products 
  • Makeup remover pads 
  • Cat litter 

In addition to wipes, these things can block your sewer line and overflow your toilet, sticking you with an expensive (and gross) mess. 

3. Dropping in Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs 

Using drop-in toilet fresheners may seem like a smart way to keep your toilet bowl clean, but they may do more damage than good. These tablets typically contain chemicals, such as bleach, which can eat through rubber parts in the tank. And as the tablets melt, they can plug the toilet and stop it from flushing. 

4. Using Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is plugged, your immediate response may be to get a cheap liquid drain cleaner. However, there are several things you should realize about these drain cleaners. 

  1. They’re poisonous. Drain cleaners are a toxic combination of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also create intense fumes that can result in respiratory irritation.  
  1. They can eat through your pipes. If these cleaners can burn your skin, think about what they can do to your piping: corrosion, cracks and even failure.  
  1. They’re not good for the environment. As you can figure out, these chemicals aren’t very environmentally friendly.  
  1. They might not even unplug your drain. Regardless of all the chemicals they have, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a little while. That’s due to the fact they often move the clog deeper into your plumbing until it results in a huge problem. 

If you do have to have a drain cleaner, we suggest using an enzymatic cleaner. These chemical-free cleaners rely on bacteria and enzymes to break up clogs and unpleasant odors. While they may take more time than a chemical-based cleaner, they’re healthier for you, your plumbing and the environment. 

If you’re experiencing a strong clog that just won’t go away, calling a professional plumber like Levy & Son Service Experts is your smartest option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s easier to have an Expert complete the job. That way, you’ll also skip breaking your pipes and many other troublesome issues such as leaks, damaged seals and horrible odors. 

After your drain is working like it should, keep it that way by using a screen to keep hair or food scraps from clogging it again. 

5. Pouring Grease Down Your Sink

It may seem like it’s not a problem to pour a little bit of fat down your pipes. But as time passes, that grease can accumulate and block your pipes. If the grease leaks into the sewer system, it can stick to flushable wipes and develop a yucky fatberg like we talked about prior. 

To skip plumbing troubles, drain the fat into a container. After it cools, you can toss it in the trash. 

6. Relying on Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a helpful tool for getting rid of little food scraps. But it can’t eliminate everything. To stop breakdowns or clogs, we suggest 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 revive it with citrus peels or a blend of baking soda and vinegar. 

7. Skipping Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Similar to your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also requires routine service. This service can help us find small issues before they cause big problems, such as a damaging water leak. Some of the troubles we are on the lookout for include: 

  • Proper water pressure  
  • Dripping or blocked pipes  
  • Adequately operating supply lines and plumbing fixtures such as sinks, tubs, showers and toilets 

If you do notice an issue, such as a leaking sink or pipe, it’s important to get it repaired immediately before it becomes larger or results in damage. 

8. Attempting to Fix Your Plumbing on Your Own

When you are dealing with a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, we recommend calling an Expert at Levy & Son Service Experts for leak repair before it grows or causes damage. 

Repairing plumbing is an in-depth job that’s best completed by specialists. There’s a reason why plumbers complete extensive certification and licensing. Don’t attempt water pipe repair without help or hire a handyman, since you could end up wasting time and making a costlier expensive problem. 

9. Trying to Tune Up Your Water Heater on Your Own

When it comes to your water heater, service and upkeep is best left to the specialists. 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 house. 

Pro water heater maintenance gives peace of mind that your water heater is working right. It also provides you advance notice when it’s time to start considering water heater replacement, since they typically only work for about 10 years. 

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

If your house has a big water leak, it’s essential 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. 

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

  • 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, Levy & Son Service Experts can help you find it. 

It’s also a smart idea to install a water leak protection system that will sound the alarm and turn off the water if there’s an issue. You can even use a smart system to watch water use and tell you via your phone if there’s a leak. 

Whatever plumbing problem you’re experiencing, our Expert plumbers at Levy & Son Service Experts are ready to provide support. 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 like they should. Reach us at 469-250-0932 to schedule your appointment now! 

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