10 Things Your Plumber Wants You to Stop Doing Now

Requiring a plumber in the U.S. can be inevitable if you have a leaky or burst pipe. But the majority of times, you can prevent blocking your pipes or needing repairs for your garbage disposal, both of which can be costly to fix.

Here are some of the most regular problems our professionals get calls about at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing and how you can stop them.

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

Although they might be known as “flushable wipes,” the ideal location for them is the trash. The only thing that should be flushed (other than the obvious) is toilet paper and septic treatments, if you rely on a septic system.

A Canadian study that examined 101 such wipes found they all didn’t pass a flushability test, according to Forbes. Since flushable wipes don’t dissolve like toilet paper, they can clog your sewer line and lead to your toilet backing up.

They can also cause a lot of trouble to city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can attach to other nasty things that shouldn’t be disposed of down the toilet, such as cooking grease and hygienic products, to create a fatberg. Along with being unsanitary and just plain nasty, environmental nonprofit Green America says these blobs are expensive to get rid of. If you’re on a city sewer system, those are bills that could get passed on to you in the future.

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

2. Flushing Other Things That Should Go in the Waste Bin

Other than flushable wipes, there are several other things that don’t belong in your toilet. These include:

• • Feminine hygiene products

• • Makeup remover pads

• • Cat litter

Along with wipes, these things can plug your sewer line and back up your toilet, leaving you with a costly (and gross) mess.

3. Relying on Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs

Having drop-in toilet fresheners could seem like a good way to keep your toilet bowl sanitary, but they might cause more trouble than good. These tablets typically contain chemicals, such as bleach, which can wreck rubber parts in the tank. And as the tablets break down, they can plug the toilet and stop it from flushing.

4. Using Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is clogged, your first response could be to get an inexpensive liquid drain cleaner. However, there are some things you should be aware of when it involves these drain cleaners.

1. 1. They’re harmful. Drain cleaners are a toxic mixture of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also create severe fumes that can result in respiratory irritation.

2. 2. They can corrode your pipes. If these cleaners can burn your skin, imagine what they can do to your piping: corrosion, fractures and even failure.

3. 3. They’re not good for the environment. As you can imagine, these formulas aren’t very helpful for the environment.

4. 4. They might not even work. Despite all the chemicals they have, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a short time. That’s because they often push the clog deeper into your plumbing until it leads to a huge problem.

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

If you’re dealing with a tough clog that just won’t dissolve, contacting a professional plumber like Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is your smartest option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s simpler to have an Expert do the job. That way, you’ll also avoid damaging your pipes and a wide variety of horrible issues like leaks, damaged seals and horrible odors.

After your drain is working like it should, keep it that way by using a screen to keep hair or food scraps from plugging it again.

5. Getting Rid of Grease Down Your Sink

It can seem like it’s not a issue to pour a tiny bit of oil down your sink. But as time passes, that grease can grow and plug your pipes. If the grease leaks into the sewer system, it can cling to flushable wipes and develop a gross fatberg like we talked about prior.

To prevent plumbing troubles, drain the grease into a bowl. After it cools, you can dump it in the garbage.

6. Using Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a beneficial tool for eliminating small amounts of food waste. But it can’t break up everything. To stop issues or clogs, we recommend not putting these foods 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 freshen it with citrus peels or a mix of baking soda and vinegar.

7. Ignoring Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Just like your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also has to have regular service. This service can help us find little issues before they result in expensive problems, including a damaging water leak. Some of the problems we are on the lookout for entail:

• • Correct water pressure

• • Drippy or blocked pipes

• • Adequately functioning supply lines and plumbing fixtures such as sinks, tubs, showers and toilets

If you do see an issue, including a leaky sink or pipe, it’s important to get it fixed without delay before it becomes larger or results in damage.

8. Trying to Fix Your Plumbing on Your Own

When you are experiencing a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, we recommend calling an Expert at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for leak repair before it grows or results in damage.

Mending plumbing is a detailed job that’s best completed by pros. There’s a reason why plumbers go through extensive certification and licensing. Don’t attempt water pipe repair yourself or hire a handyman, as you could end up wasting time and having a costlier expensive problem.

9. Trying to Service Your Water Heater Yourself

When it comes to your water heater, service and tune-ups are best left to the professionals. This includes draining it or testing the temperature and pressure valve. If this isn’t completed correctly, you could burn yourself with scalding water or flood your residence.

Pro water heater maintenance gives peace of mind that your water heater is operating properly. It also offers you a heads-up when it’s time to start considering water heater replacement, as they usually only run for about 10 years.

10. Not Being Aware of Where the Water Main Shutoff Is

In the event your house has a big water leak, it’s important to be knowledgeable about where the main water valve is and how to switch it off. This valve is often located in a mechanical room near your water heater.

Here’s how to switch off the main water valve in your house:

• • If it has a wheel: turn it clockwise until you can’t anymore.

• • If it has a lever: move it about a quarter of the way.

If you’re still not sure where the valve is located, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you find it.

It’s also a good idea to install a water leak protection system that will sound the alarm and turn off the water if there’s a problem. You can even have a smart system to keep an eye on water use and notify you on your phone if there’s a problem.

Whatever plumbing problem you’re dealing with, our Expert plumbers at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing are ready to assist you. And we’ll back our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year, so you’ll know that your repairs were finished correctly. Contact us at 866-397-3787 to request your appointment right away!