10 Things Your Plumber Wants You to Quit Doing Now
Needing a plumber in Windsor can be necessary if you have a dripping or burst pipe. But the majority of times, you can prevent clogging your pipes or requiring repairs for your garbage disposal, both of which can be costly to take care of.
Here are some of the most regular issues our Experts receive calls about at Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts and how you can prevent them.
1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes
Even though they might be called “flushable wipes,” the best 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 have a septic system.
A Canadian study that tested 101 such wipes discovered they all failed a flushability test, according to Forbes. Because flushable wipes don’t disintegrate 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 conglomerate with other nasty things that shouldn’t be disposed of down the toilet, including cooking fat and hygienic products, to result in a fatberg. Besides being dirty and just plain yucky, environmental nonprofit Green America says these buildups are costly to repair. If you use a city sewer system, those are costs that could get passed on to you down the road.
No matter what type 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 Go in the Trash
In addition to 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 clog your sewer line and overflow your toilet, saddling you with a costly (and gross) mess.
3. Dropping in Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs
Relying on drop-in toilet fresheners may seem like a smart way to keep your toilet bowl sanitary, but they can cause more trouble than good. These tablets often contain chemicals, including bleach, which can destroy rubber parts in the tank. And as the tablets break down, they can block the toilet and keep it from flushing.
4. Buying Chemical Drain Cleaners
If your sink is clogged, your first answer could be to purchase a low-priced liquid drain cleaner. However, there are several things you should be aware of when it involves these drain cleaners.
- They’re poisonous. Drain cleaners are a toxic combination of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also make strong fumes that can lead to respiratory irritation.
- They can corrode your pipes. If these cleaners can burn your skin, think about what they can do to your piping: corrosion, cracks and even failure.
- They’re not good for the environment. As you can figure out, these formulas aren’t exactly helpful for the environment.
- They might not even unplug your drain. Despite all the chemicals they pack, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a little while. That’s since they often push the clog further into your plumbing until it leads to a big problem.
If you do require a drain cleaner, we recommend using an enzymatic cleaner. These chemical-free cleaners use bacteria and enzymes to break up clogs and bad odors. While they might take more time 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 dissolve, getting in touch with a professional plumber like Bryant Heating & Cooling 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 do the job. That way, you’ll also avoid breaking your pipes and many other bad issues including leaks, damaged seals and horrible odors.
After your drain is working like it should, keep it that way by installing a screen to keep hair or food scraps from plugging it again.
5. Pouring Grease Down Your Sink
It could seem like it’s not a issue to drain a little bit of grease down your pipes. But as the years go by, that grease can build up and plug your pipes. If the grease leaks into the sewer system, it can cling to flushable wipes and develop a gross fatberg like we discussed prior.
To skip plumbing woes, drain the oil into a can. After it cools, you can throw it away in the waste can.
6. Using Your Garbage Disposal for Everything
Your garbage disposal is a useful tool for eliminating tiny bits of food. But it can’t get rid of everything. To stop issues or clogs, we suggest 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 is smelly, you can clean it with citrus peels or a combination 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 routine maintenance. This service can help us discover minor issues before they result in huge problems, including a damaging water leak. Some of the problems we watch for entail:
- Proper water pressure
- Drippy or blocked pipes
- Adequately functioning supply lines and plumbing fixtures including sinks, tubs, showers and toilets
If you do see trouble, such as a leaky sink or pipe, it’s critical to get it fixed right away before it becomes worse or causes damage.
8. Attempting to Fix Your Plumbing Yourself
When you are dealing with a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, we recommend calling an Expert at Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts for leak repair before it grows or results in damage.
Repairing plumbing is an in-depth job that’s best completed by professionals. There’s a reason why plumbers complete extensive certification and licensing. Don’t try water pipe repair without help or call a handyman, since you could end up wasting time and having a more expensive problem.
9. Trying to Maintain Your Water Heater Yourself
When it comes to your water heater, service and maintenance is best left to the professionals. This includes draining it or testing the temperature and pressure valve. If this isn’t performed correctly, you could burn yourself with boiling water or flood your home.
Professional water heater maintenance offers peace of mind that your water heater is running like it should. It also gives you advance notice when it’s time to start considering water heater replacement, as they often only run for about 10 years.
10. Not Being Aware of Where the Water Main Shutoff Is
When your house has a major 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 shut off the main water valve in your residence:
- 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, Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts can help you find it.
It’s also a smart idea to have a water leak protection system that will turn on an alarm and turn off the water if there’s trouble. You can even use a smart system to monitor water use and tell you on your phone if there’s a leak.
Whatever plumbing problem you’re dealing with, our Expert plumbers at Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts are ready to assist you. And we’ll support our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year, so you’ll be sure that your repairs were finished correctly. Contact us at 226-773-3357 to schedule your appointment right away!