Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Though sometimes you may need to call in the professionals to handle significant plumbing issues, most of the problems that homeowners run into with their plumbing can be fixed relatively quickly. But, some common plumbing mistakes can wreak havoc on your home’s plumbing.
In this post, we’ll go over the most common plumbing mistakes.
Plumbing mistake #1: You throw trash in the garbage disposal
Just because it’s called a garbage disposal doesn’t mean you can put actual garbage in it. Watermelon rinds, avocado peels, eggshells, and potato peels are everyday items that plumbers fish out of clogged garbage disposals.
Some people may be under the misconception that if a food is biodegradable, it can go down the garbage disposal but that’s not the case. There are some items you should put in the garbage can and not the garbage disposal:
– Fibrous vegetables, including celery, asparagus, and corn husks
– Pasta, rice, and other foods that expand when they get et
– Anything that’s very greasy
– Animal bones
– Large amounts of any food
Plumbing mistake #2: You flush household items down the toilet
Toilets are simply not intended to handle solid objects. Flushing solids down the toilet can leave you with a clogged toilet, but it doesn’t end there. Solids being flushed down the toilet can also cause backups, stoppages and cause your toilet to overflow. All of those can cause much more significant damage to your plumbing and your home and can even put your bathroom out of commission for several hours, if not days.
Plumbing mistake #3: You rely on chemical drain cleaners
Another common mistake that plumbers run into is the overuse of chemical drain-cleaning products. While these products work well in a hurry, they rely on acidic liquid chemicals to push a solid blockage through the plumbing. This means that as soon as the cleaner is able to get through, it will move on, leaving most of the clog still in place.
Eventually, overuse of these kinds of cleaners can damage a pipe system’s inside, leading to costly repairs. Also, they are not environmentally-friendly. Instead of relying on chemical cleaners, you should call a plumber or try a drain snake.
Plumbing mistake #4: You overtighten your plumbing connections
Over tightening plumbing fixtures like your toilet bolts, pipe fittings, and supply tubes is another prevalent plumbing blunder. Excess cranking on black or galvanized pipes, elbows, tees, or coupling may cause the fitting to crack.
Although cracking may not happen right away, excessive force can break the fixture days or weeks later, which can lead to flooding.
Another common mistake is over-tightening plastic fittings in the toilet and supply tubes connecting the faucets. It only takes little pressure to seal supply tubes. But, tightening the nuts excessively may break them and cause some leakage.
Over tightening your toilet’s closet bolts or the tank and bowl components may crack the porcelain and damage your toilet, and you may need to call an emergency plumbing service.
Plumbing mistake #5: You pour grease and oils down your drain
A lot of people make the mistake of pouring grease down the drain, especially during the holiday season when people cook turkeys, hams, and other foods that produce a lot of grease. Though you will likely be left with some grease after preparing big meals, you should never dispose of it in the drain. Grease is a major contributing factor to clogged drains. When you rinse the sink out after pouring the grease down the drain, it may look clean, but it’s likely the entire drain is not clear. The grease will eventually turn into a solid and leave you with clogged drains.
The better you take care of your home systems, the longer they will last and work efficiently for you and your family. When you choose a home warranty with Home Warranty One, you can assure we will handle any plumbing issues you run into. Contact us today to find out more.
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