Plumbing Dangers – 5 Things You Should Never Do to Your Home’s Plumbing

We’ve all had our fair share of plumbing disasters. And while they may seem to have sprung up out of nowhere to us, they are often a result of our own faults. The way people (most, if not all) treat their plumbing systems, it’s nothing less than a miracle that it works for as long as it does.

From everyday practices to spring cleaning to DIY repairs, people do many things that are harmful to the plumbing system, and we professionals wish they refrain from them. Read on to know about some of the things you should never do to your home’s plumbing system:

1. Throw Anything and Everything Down the Drains

It’s common for people to treat plumbing drains as a catch-all for all the waste, whereas they are only designed to deal with certain types of them. All that kitchen waste – food scraps, grease, oil, tea leaves – that you simply dump into your sink, thinking your garbage disposal will do its magic, can cause stubborn clogs in the pipes.

The same goes for toilet drains.

All those wipes, sanitary napkins, tampons, and pet litter that your toilet seems to be flushing pretty well can accumulate, creating a stubborn clog somewhere down the line.

What to Do Instead?

Remove all the oil, grease, and fat in a separate disposable container. Keep collecting all the leftover fat like this until the container is full. Throw it in the kitchen trash, then. Food scraps and other solids should also always go in the trash.

For toilet drains, always remember that nothing apart from toilet paper should go down them. Even if your wipes are labeled ‘flushable,’ avoid throwing them down the drain.

2. Ignore Preventive Maintenance

Most homeowners only pay attention to their plumbing systems when there’s a problem. And that’s where they are wrong. Like any other system, the network of pipes, valves, and fixtures that maintains a steady water supply around your house and removes the waste requires regular upkeep to continue working at its best.

What to Do?

Schedule regular preventive plumbing maintenance appointments with your trusted professional. If you’re looking for a plumbing service in New Jersey that you can trust, we at Bob Hoegler Plumbing won’t disappoint you. With a team of licensed plumbers and over 30 years of industry experience, we can do more than just fixing your plumbing problems. Contact us to prevent plumbing issues from developing in the first place and keep your home’s plumbing system up and running.

3. Ignore Warning Signs

Let’s accept it – we’ve all been guilty of ignoring the warning signs that our plumbing system gives to inform us about developing problems. From those gurgling sounds and slow drains to a wobbly toilet and small puddles of water around its base, these are all little cries for help from your plumbing system and signs that it is not working at its best.

What Should You Ideally Do?

Never ignore the signs. In fact, look out for them and call a plumber to have them fixed at your earliest. This alone can help you prevent most major plumbing issues.

4. Fill the Pipes with Harsh Chemicals

Drain clogs are one of the most common plumbing problems. And the most common approach to resolve them is to pour a strong chemical-based drain opener down the drain. While it may work many times, it’s important to know that the harsh chemicals you’re filling your pipes with every now and then can also damage them. Moreover, even the slightest mishandling can also cause harm to you. The chemicals used to make these cleaners are often very harsh and may even cause severe skin burns.

What’s the Right Way, Then?

If you’re faced with a stubborn or recurring clog, call a professional plumber to fix it. You can also talk to them about the right way of cleaning your pipes on a regular basis, as well as ask for the best product recommendations.

5. Try to DIY Every Plumbing Project

Don’t get us wrong; we aren’t against plumbing DIYs. In fact, we encourage our clients to do little things on their own to keep their plumbing system in good working condition between professional maintenance appointments. However, we (and all plumbers) also want our clients to know that they cannot DIY everything. Like any other task, certain plumbing jobs are best left to professionals because they require unless they require expert-level knowledge and skills. Many also require using specialized tools that most (if not all) people do not have at home. Attempting to DIY them may do you more harm than good. You may end up further worsening the problem, converting what would have been a small, inexpensive fix into a long, complicated, and expensive plumbing project.

The Better Alternative

If you want to DIY plumbing, stick to smaller, simpler tasks that you’re sure you can successfully pull off. Leave anything large-scale, complex, or that you’re not sure you can do to a reliable professional plumber.

The Sum Up

Plumbing problems can range from small inconveniences to big, expensive troubles. Although sometimes they are inevitable, most can be prevented with the right practices and regular upkeep. Let us help you with the latter while you follow the best practices to keep a plumbing system in good shape and avoid the common plumbing mistakes homeowners often make.

Whether you’re searching for a reliable plumber to schedule regular preventive maintenance visits or are faced with a plumbing disaster that needs immediate attention, Bob Hoegler Plumbing can help. If you’re in the Central New Jersey area, call us at (732) 595-2078 for your desired plumbing services.

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