Your Plumber Wants You to Quit Doing These 10 Things Right Away

Needing a plumber in Windsor can be necessary if you are experiencing a leaky or ruptured pipe. But the majority of times, you can stop blocking your pipes or breaking your garbage disposal, both of which can be costly to fix.

Here are some of the most common troubles we field calls about at Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts and how you can prevent them.

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

Even though they might be referred to as “flushable wipes,” the right spot for them is the trash. 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 examined 101 such wipes discovered they all failed a flushability test, according to Forbes. Since flushable wipes don’t dissolve like toilet paper, they can plug your sewer line and make your toilet back up.

They can also cause problems with city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can combine with other yucky things that shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet, like cooking fat and hygienic products, to result in a fatberg. Along with being dirty and just plain yucky, environmental nonprofit Green America says these masses are costly to repair. If you use a city sewer system, those are bills that could get shuffled to you in the long run.

Whatever style of wipe you’re using—makeup remover, cleansing, baby or sanitizing—it should be tossed in the trash once you’re finished.

2. Flushing Other Things That Should Go in the Garbage

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

Along with wipes, these things can clog your sewer line and make your toilet run over, leaving you with an expensive (and nasty) mess.

3. Dropping in Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs

Relying on drop-in toilet fresheners could seem like a good way to keep your toilet bowl fresh, but they might cause more trouble than good. These tablets often contain chemicals, including bleach, which can wreck rubber parts in the tank. And as the tablets break down, they can block the toilet and keep it from flushing.

4. Dumping Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is clogged, your first reaction might 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.

1. They’re toxic. Drain cleaners are a toxic mixture of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also produce powerful fumes that can cause respiratory irritation. 
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, fractures and even failure. 
3. They’re harmful to the environment. As you can determine, these formulas aren’t exactly environmentally friendly. 
4. They might not even unplug your drain. In spite of all the chemicals they have, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a little while. That’s because they often push the clog deeper into your plumbing until it leads to a major problem.

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

If you have a tough 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 troublesome issues including leaks, broken seals and troublesome odors.

After your drain is flowing freely, 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 can seem like it’s not a big deal to dump a little bit of oil down your sink. But as the years go by, that grease can accumulate and block your pipes. If the grease leaks into the sewer system, it can stick to flushable wipes and create a yucky fatberg like we discussed previously.

To prevent plumbing woes, drain the grease into a container. After it hardens, you can toss it in the garbage.

6. Relying on Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a beneficial tool for breaking up small bits of food. But it can’t get rid of everything. To avoid issues or clogs, we recommend 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 has a bad smell, you can clean it with citrus peels or a blend of baking soda and vinegar.

7. Avoiding Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Similar to your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also requires regular service. This service can help us discover small issues before they lead to huge problems, such as a damaging water leak. Some of the issues we watch for include:

If you do spot a problem, including a leaky sink or pipe, it’s important to get it repaired right away before it becomes worse or leads to damage.

8. Attempting to Fix Your Plumbing Yourself

When you are dealing with a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, we suggest calling an Expert at Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts for leak repair before it gets bigger or results in damage.

Fixing plumbing is an in-depth job that’s best completed by specialists. There’s a reason why plumbers go through extensive certification and licensing. Don’t try to do water pipe repair without help or get a handyman, since you could end up wasting time and having a more 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 specialists. This includes draining it or examining the temperature and pressure valve. If this isn’t completed correctly, you could burn yourself with boiling water or flood your residence.

Pro water heater maintenance provides peace of mind that your water heater is operating like it should. It also gives you a heads-up when it’s time to start thinking about water heater replacement, because they usually only last for about 10 years.

10. Not Realizing Where the Water Main Shutoff Is

If your house has a major water leak, it’s critical to know where the main water valve is and how to turn it off. This valve is often found in a mechanical room near your water heater.

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 good idea to have a water leak protection system that will sound the alarm and cut off the water if there’s an issue. You can even get a smart system to watch water use and notify you via your phone if there’s a leak.

Whatever plumbing problem you’re faced with, our Expert plumbers at Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts are ready to assist you. And we’ll stand behind our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year, so you’ll have peace of mind that your repairs were finished right. Contact us at 226-773-3357 to schedule your appointment now!