10 Things Your Plumber Wants You to Quit Doing Immediately

Needing a plumber in the U.S. can be necessary if you are experiencing a leaky or burst pipe. But the majority of times, you can stop clogging your pipes or needing repairs for your garbage disposal, both of which can be expensive to fix.

Here are some of the most regular problems we field calls about at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing and how you can avoid them.

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

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

A Canadian study that looked at 101 such wipes discovered none of them passed a flushability test, according to Forbes. Since flushable wipes don’t break down like toilet paper, they can plug your sewer line and cause your toilet to back up.

They can also wreak havoc on city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can attach to other gross things that shouldn’t be disposed of down the toilet, like cooking oil and hygienic products, to result in a fatberg. Besides being unhygienic and just plain yucky, environmental nonprofit Green America says these masses are costly to fix. If you rely on a city sewer system, those are expenses that could get shuffled to you down the road.

No matter what kind of wipe you’re using—makeup remover, cleansing, baby or sanitizing—it should be tossed in the trash once you’re done.

2. Flushing Other Things That Should Be Tossed in the Trash

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

• • Feminine hygiene products

• • Makeup remover pads

• • Cat litter

Together with wipes, these things can plug your sewer line and overflow your toilet, saddling you with a costly (and icky) mess.

3. Relying on Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs

Relying on drop-in toilet fresheners may seem like a good way to keep your toilet bowl clean, but they may do more harm than good. These tablets usually contain chemicals, including bleach, which can eat through rubber parts in the tank. And as the tablets dissolve, they can block the toilet and keep it from flushing.

4. Buying Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is blocked, your first reaction could be to purchase an inexpensive liquid drain cleaner. However, there are several things you should know about these drain cleaners.

1. 1. They’re toxic. Drain cleaners are a toxic mixture of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also create powerful fumes that can cause respiratory irritation.

2. 2. They can eat away at your pipes. If these cleaners can burn your skin, think about what they can do to your plumbing: corrosion, breaks and even failure.

3. 3. They’re harmful to the environment. As you can figure out, these chemicals aren’t exactly helpful for the environment.

4. 4. They might not even work. Despite all the chemicals they include, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a short time. That’s since they often move the clog further into your plumbing until it leads to a big problem.

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

If you’re dealing with a strong clog that just won’t go away, calling a professional plumber like Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is your best option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s simpler to have an Expert complete the job. That way, you’ll also avoid harming your pipes and a host of troublesome issues like leaks, broken seals and troublesome odors.

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

5. Dumping Grease Down Your Sink

It might seem like it’s not a issue to dump a small amount of fat down your pipes. But as time passes, that grease can build up and block your pipes. If the grease gets into the sewer system, it can stick to flushable wipes and lead to a nasty fatberg like we talked about earlier.

To avoid plumbing woes, drain the oil into a bowl. After it cools, you can throw it away in the garbage.

6. Turning to Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a helpful tool for eliminating little food scraps. But it can’t eliminate everything. To stop breakdowns or clogs, we advise not putting these things 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 combination of baking soda and vinegar.

7. Avoiding Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Just like your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also has to have regular service. This service can help us find little issues before they cause big problems, like a damaging water leak. Some of the troubles we watch for involve:

• • Adequate water pressure

• • Leaky or clogged pipes

• • Adequately operating supply lines and plumbing fixtures such as sinks, tubs, showers and toilets

If you do notice trouble, such as a dripping sink or pipe, it’s important to get it fixed without delay before it becomes larger or causes damage.

8. Trying to Fix Your Plumbing Yourself

When you are experiencing a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, we suggest calling an Expert at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for leak repair before it grows or leads to damage.

Mending plumbing is a complex job that’s best done by specialists. There’s a reason why plumbers go through extensive certification and licensing. Don’t try water pipe repair yourself or call a handyman, because you could end up wasting time and having a more expensive problem.

9. Trying to Service Your Water Heater Without Professional Help

When it comes to your water heater, service and tune-ups are best left to the pros. This includes draining it or examining the temperature and pressure valve. If this isn’t done properly, you could burn yourself with boiling water or flood your home.

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

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

When your house has a large water leak, it’s essential to know where the main water valve is and how to shut it off. This valve is often located in a mechanical room near your water heater.

Here’s how to shut 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: move it about a quarter of the way.

If you’re are unsure about where the valve is located, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you find it.

It’s also a good 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 have a smart system to watch water use and notify you on your phone if there’s trouble.

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