Plumbing problems, no matter the severity, are inconvenient for everyone. If you don’t want your money to go down the drain with repair bills, here are things you shouldn’t do to your plumbing.
Prevention is always better than a cure, and this saying applies to plumbing perfectly. Some of us get used to doing things that can damage our plumbing (e.g., throwing bones in the garbage disposal, flushing baby wipes, pouring oil down the sink, etc.), mainly because nothing terrible has happened–yet. But do you want to wait until you have a busted pipe or a clogged drain?
To avoid having to deal with a plumbing problem in your home, here are some things that you should not do:
1. Throwing grease in the sink
Oil is immiscible with water, meaning they don’t mix. When you pour grease down the drain, it will stick to the sides of the pipes, thicken into nasty sludge, and cause a narrowing that will make it harder for water to pass through. As a result, your sink has higher chances of clogging up and refusing to drain, in which case, a Salt Lake City drain cleaning service might be in order.
2. Flushing things other than toilet paper
Other than human waste and toilet paper, nothing else should be flushed down the toilet. Think twice before flushing “flushable wipes” as well, since not all products that are labeled as such break down in the septic system.
Even seemingly flushable things like dental floss, hair, cotton buds, cotton balls, bandages, and other similar items cannot be broken down entirely in the water and will most likely accumulate into one big clog.
3. Throwing everything down the garbage disposal
Your garbage disposal is not designed to handle every type of food waste that you throw into it. In fact, certain types of debris can clog the drain or, worse–damage the blades of your garbage disposal.
Things like bones, coffee grounds, celery, corn husks, eggshells, fruit pits, pasta, and grease, among many others, should be put in the trash instead to avoid ending up with faulty garbage disposal.
4. Hanging things from pipes
If you have exposed pipes in the basement, don’t use them to hang clothes or other objects with substantial weight. Hanging objects on pipes can cause a strain on their structure, which may eventually lead to a burst and a very, very messy basement.
5. Ignoring leaks and running toilets
A tiny leak may seem like an irrelevant problem that you can take care of later, but even the smallest leak can add a big chunk to your water bill. The same goes for toilets with continuously running water. Make sure to have these leaks checked out by a plumber to see if it is a sign of a bigger problem with your plumbing.
6. Using drain cleaners
Avoid using chemical drain cleaners. They can damage your pipes and septic system and even make the clog worse. Instead, use natural drain cleaners like vinegar and baking soda or have a plumber clear the clog for you.
Conclusion
Having plumbing issues is often a stressful experience, especially if it affects your daily life. If you want to avoid plumbing problems as much as possible, these are the things that you should never do with your plumbing.
