7 Things Professional Plumbers Never Do in Their Own Homes
Plumbing is something that most people take for granted until they notice damages. However, the reality is that effectively working plumbing is a key to sanitation. Without proper functioning of plumbing, you will not have hot showers or toilets that flush. Then you’ll need to call a plumber to repair your plumbing. What if your plumbing needs repair at midnight or on weekends when a plumber can cost you more than the regular fee? Perhaps there is something about plumbing that you don’t know that can prevent the problems at an early stage. By avoiding common actions, you can save your plumbing system. Want to know what those actions are? There is a list of some actions that professional plumbers never do in their homes.
1. Draining Grease Down the Sink
If you pour down the grease, cooking oil, or any other fatty substance into your kitchen sink, well prepare yourself to call a professional. Grease will start clogging your pipes and drain after cooling down. It then will be solidified and create heavy clogs with other substances and cause a sewer-damaging blob. Professional plumbers suggest setting the grease aside into a container to cool it down. Then throw the container into the garbage instead of sending grease dripping down your sink.
2. Using Harsh Cleansers
Stop pouring store-bought drain cleaner down the sink to clear clogs immediately. Not only are these cleaners useless, but they are also corrosive. If you touch chemical drain cleaners, they can burn your pipes as well as your skin. You may be thinking what should you do with clogs then? Professional plumbers recommend using a natural drain cleaner that eats away at clogs through enzymatic activity. It is slower than strong chemicals, but it is better and more secure for your pipes.
3. Use Garbage Disposal as Trash Bucket
Your garbage disposal is not made to dispose of the garbage as a trash can. Small pieces of food can be fine. However, eggshells, chunks of meat, and coffee grounds, among other items, should not be thrown down your garbage disposal. As garbage disposal can’t handle fibrous food like celery, potato peels can quickly clog the disposal, nor can they handle a large amount of food waste. Toss food leftovers in the compost pile to save your sink, and make sure to flush the ground food down the drain with plenty of water after running the disposal.
4. Ignore Checks for Leaks
You may have a plumbing problem; if your monthly water bill is higher than usual, but your water use remains constant. Turn off all taps and any water-using appliances, such as your dishwasher, to find out if you have any problem. After that, go to your water meter and keep an eye on it. There’s water running someplace in your house if the meters are moving. You have a leakage in the plumbing. This is one of the issues that require an immediate response. Turn off the water valves and call the best plumbers in your area.
5. Flush Trash Down the Toilet
You’ve likely known it all already, but it’s valid. Don’t flush anything that doesn’t belong in the toilet. Flushing cat litter clumps, feminine hygiene items, cotton swabs, paper towels, baby wipes, makeup remover wipes, and more should all be avoided. As such items aren’t meant to break down in the water, flushing them raises your chances of clogging your entire sewer system. To avoid problems, only use your toilet for its designated function.
6. Stack Items Under the Sink
Drain traps, the curved pipes under the sink, that keep sewer gases out while allowing wastewater to flow through. They also catch things like debris and other trash that may fall into the sink. Traps include screw-on connections that link them to the surrounding pipes, making them easier to remove when clearing a clogged drain. When these joints become loose, under-sink leaks occur. Keep the space under the sink clear of items to avoid trap leaks. This includes keeping garbage cans, cleaners, and fire extinguishers away from the trap, so they don’t collide with the pipes.
7. Neglect Routine Maintenance
Plumbing systems, like any other thing, require routine maintenance even when everything is fine. Professional plumbers know the necessity of having routine maintenance in their houses to overcome the chances of something major going wrong, such as a leak or corrosion problem.
It’s necessary to annually check the water pressure to make sure it is in the safe range. Other checkups include checking leaks and clogs to make sure you don’t have any broken internal parts of plumbing.
The pros understand it all! These are some actions that professional plumbers never do in their own homes for the durability of their plumbing. If you’re facing any plumbing damages or leaks, hire a professional. The plumber will check your underground drainage system with an advanced equipment camera to check leaks, roots, or other problems. Plumbing is not a DIY task, otherwise, you’ll end up creating more damages to your property. So, don’t take a risk in such scenarios and call experts.
