There are plenty of things you’re probably doing that you don’t even realize wreak havoc on your plumbing. Do you reach for the Drano whenever your sink gets clogged up? A lot of people do, and it’s actually terrible for plumbing because the chemicals can degrade the materials in the pipes and the plumbing equipment. What else might you be doing to ruin your plumbing that you don’t even realize?
Here are five things you should avoid doing so you don’t have to call up a plumber for repiping or repair:
Neglect the Hoses
Behind appliances like your dishwasher and washing machine are rubber hoses that connect to the plumbing system. The hoses actually feed the water into and out of these appliances. The trouble is that the rubber breaks down over time, and when it does, you have a water-logged mess on your hands.
Instead of waiting for these hoses to burst, you should take a proactive approach and replace them every five years. Don’t think you can get away with inspecting them instead. Signs of disintegration are not always obvious. Just replace them and be on the safe side.
Using the Same Water Heater for Too Long
Water heaters are expensive, and they’re a pain to install. We understand why it’s easier to wait a few more months or even a few more years until you get a new water heater, even though you know you really need one. But if you wait too long, you are setting yourself up for disaster. A failing water heater can flood the whole floor while you are at work or away on vacation.
Water heaters last an average of eight to 12 years. Replace yours when you know that it is nearing that mark. Don’t wait until the last minute. That life expectancy is only an average – not a guarantee!
Flush Things Down the Toilet
Know what you should flush down the toilet? Toilet paper and human waste. Really, you’d be better off putting your toilet paper in the trash can beside the toilet, but we understand if you don’t. Know what you shouldn’t flush down the toilet? Goldfish. Tampons. Sanitary pads. Kitty litter, cleaning wipes, toilet brushes, and pretty much anything else. Your toilet is not a trash can, so stop treating it like one.
Even if a product says that it is flushable, such as cleaning wipes, you shouldn’t put it in the toilet. Most products are not designed to break down quickly, so they will linger in your pipes and can eventually cause a blockage. It may not even happen right away. But eventually, you flush the toilet, and instead of everything you don’t want to see going down and away, it comes right back up and spreads all over your floor.
Overload the Garbage Disposal
You can put things down your sink drain if you have a garbage disposal, so long as they are food scraps. But you have to be careful not to put too much in there, or you risk creating a huge mess.
Pouring grease into your disposal will clog the drain, as will overloading it with fibrous vegetable scraps. When you put things in the disposal, go slowly and make sure the water is running. That will give help push things through and give the disposal time to properly chop things up as they move through. If you don’t do these things, you can get a nasty clog that will cause backups or even damage your pipes.
Do Your Own Plumbing Work
You are not a trained plumber, and even if you have watched that YouTube video showing you how to fix your pipe 100 times, you don’t know what you’re doing. You can easily make a mistake that can lead to big problems down the road. You could use the wrong kind of pipe for the job, apply the wrong fastener, or even fail to tighten a connection enough. There are too many variables that only experience and proper training can adequately handle. If you try to save a little by doing the work yourself, you’ll end up costing yourself a lot more in repairs to your plumbing and your home later.
There are a lot of things you can do to damage your plumbing. It’s important that you educate yourself and that you work with an experienced San Diego plumber to keep tabs on your system and make the necessary repairs. You and your plumber will be partners in ensuring that your plumbing has a long and healthy life to protect your home.
In California, Integrity Repipe can help you. We are a reputable repiping plumbing company that can help you with everything from repiping your home to figuring out why your water bills are too high. We perform repipe repair on a variety of materials, and we specialize in PEX repiping. Call us in California to learn more about our services or to schedule an inspection.
Published by – Integrity Repipe Inc
Integrity Repipe Inc – Mission Viejo, CA
27281 Las Ramblas, Suite 200
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Phone: 877-473-7473
Website: integrityrepipe.com
Integrity Repipe Inc – San Clemente, CA
927 Calle Negocio Suite O
San Clemente, CA 92673
Phone: 949-397-2404
Website: integrityrepipe.com/san-clemente
Integrity Repipe Inc – Long Beach, CA
2201 N Lakewood Blvd, Ste D #297
Long Beach, CA 90815
Phone: 562-362-5040
Website: integrityrepipe.com/long-beach
Integrity Repipe Inc – Chula Vista, CA
591 Telegraph Canyon Road
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Phone: 619-313-5744
Website: integrityrepipe.com/chula-vista
Integrity Repipe Inc – Ladera Ranch, CA
27762 Antonio Parkway L1
Ladera Ranch, CA 92694
Phone: 949-397-2795
Website: integrityrepipe.com/ladera-ranch
Integrity Repipe Inc – Lakeside, CA
8337 Winter Gardens Boulevard
Lakeside, CA 92040
Phone: 619-494-3507
Website: integrityrepipe.com/lakeside
Integrity Repipe Inc – Aliso Viejo, CA
27068 La Paz Rd #771
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Phone: 949-449-1142
Website: integrityrepiping.com/aliso-viejo-repipe-copper-pex-ca
Integrity Repipe Inc – Oceanside, CA
1759 Oceanside Blvd C,
Oceanside, CA 92054
Phone: 442-300-3057
Website: integrityrepiping.com/oceanside-repipe-copper-pex
Integrity Repipe Inc – Porter Ranch, CA
19360 Rinaldi
Porter Ranch, CA 91326
Phone: 818-630-9265
Website: integrityrepiping.com/porter-ranch/