We can all get a little crazy sometimes when cleaning up around the house and forget that our plumbing system is not a “whole house” disposal system. Here are some reminders of what not to put down your water drainage pipes and some care to take when dealing with a plumbing issue.
- Don’t pore grease down your sink. This is a big reason for clogged sinks in your kitchen. Instead, allow grease to cool, then pour into a jar or can and toss into your garbage.
- Misuse of your garbage disposal. Overloading and putting the wrong items down your disposal can jam the blades or overheat the motor. Avoid melon rinds, onions, celery, and fibrous items.
- Flushing improper items down your toilet. Your toilet is not a trash can. You should never flush any paper or cloth items, only official toilet paper. Any other items can lead to clogs and backups.
- Not removing hair from drain traps. The drain trap is designed to catch soap scrum and hair. This needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. Otherwise, you will have poor drainage and risk clogging.
- Using the wrong tools to clear a clog. A drain snake should be used on sink drains. If your toilet is clogged, you should try a plunger first. If that doesn’t work, try a toilet auger. If that doesn’t work, then it is definitely time to call a professional.
- Twisting or pulling too hard on faucet handles. Turning a faucet on or off is a simple thing. Twisting or pulling too hard on the handles can cause the washers to strip resulting in a drippy or broken faucet.
- Putting construction materials down your laundry sink. Don’t clean up from that drywall or paint job in your laundry sink. Joint compound and paint can harden in your pipes causing them to clog. And, if you are on a septic system, theses items can clog and damage your septic.
- Turning on a water heater too soon. If you install your own water heater, make certain to allow the water heater to fill completely before turning it on. Otherwise, you can burn up your brand new water heater.
- Turning a blind eye to small plumbing leaks. Avoiding small leaks will only cause them to worsen, cause damage to your pipes, waste water, and provide mold a perfect environment to grow. Get leaks taken care of immediately to avoid bigger problems later.
- Stripping threads. When doing plumbing repairs, remember not to over tighten the plumbing components. Over tightening can cause the components to strip or break.
Hope these reminders allow you to keep your plumbing in good working order, and preforming as needed for you and your family.
