10 Things Your Plumber Wants You to Discontinue Doing Now

Having to have a plumber in Hurricane can be necessary if you have a drippy or burst pipe. But many times, you can stop clogging your pipes or requiring repairs for your garbage disposal, both of which can be pricey to repair.

Here are some of the most frequent troubles our plumbers get calls about at Teays Valley Service Experts and how you can avoid them.

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

Although they might be referred to as “flushable wipes,” the best location for them is the waste bin. The only thing that should be flushed (other than the obvious) is toilet paper and septic treatments, if you use a septic system.

A Canadian study that examined 101 such wipes learned none of them passed a flushability test, according to Forbes. Since flushable wipes don’t disintegrate like toilet paper, they can plug your sewer line and lead to your toilet backing up.

They can also wreak havoc on city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can conglomerate with other yucky things that shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet, like cooking oil and hygienic products, to lead to a fatberg. As well as being dirty and just plain nasty, environmental nonprofit Green America says these buildups are pricey to get rid of. If you use a city sewer system, those are expenses that could get shuffled to you down the road.

No matter what type of wipe you’re using—makeup remover, cleansing, baby or sanitizing—it should be tossed in the trash once you’re complete.

2. Flushing Other Things That Should Be Tossed in the Waste Bin

Besides flushable wipes, there are a couple other things that don’t belong in your toilet. These include:

Along with wipes, these things can plug your sewer line and overflow your toilet, sticking you with a costly (and nasty) mess.

3. Using Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs

Using drop-in toilet fresheners may seem like a good way to keep your toilet bowl sanitary, but they can do more harm than good. These tablets often contain chemicals, such as bleach, which can destroy rubber parts in the tank. And as the tablets dissolve, they can plug the toilet and stop it from flushing.

4. Dumping Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is clogged, your first answer might be to get a low-priced liquid drain cleaner. However, there are several things you should be aware of when it involves these drain cleaners.

1. They’re harmful. Drain cleaners are a toxic combination of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also create intense fumes that can lead to respiratory irritation. 
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. They’re harmful to the environment. As you can figure out, these chemicals aren’t extremely helpful for the environment. 
4. They might not even work. Despite all the chemicals they include, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a short time. That’s due to the fact they often push the clog further into your plumbing until it leads to a huge problem.

If you do need to use a drain cleaner, we suggest using an enzymatic cleaner. These chemical-free cleaners use bacteria and enzymes to break up clogs and foul odors. While they can take more time than a chemical-based cleaner, they’re healthier for you, your plumbing and the environment.

If you’re dealing with a strong clog that just won’t dissolve, calling a professional plumber like Teays Valley Service Experts is your best option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s faster to have an Expert perform the job. That way, you’ll also avoid harming your pipes and a host of troublesome issues such as leaks, nonworking seals and troublesome odors.

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

5. Pouring Grease Down Your Sink

It could seem like it’s not a big deal to drain a tiny bit of oil down your drain. But as the years go by, that grease can grow and plug your pipes. If the grease gets into the sewer system, it can cling to flushable wipes and create a nasty fatberg like we talked about prior.

To stop plumbing woes, drain the grease into a bowl. After it cools, you can throw it away in the garbage.

6. Relying on Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a beneficial tool for eliminating little bits of food. But it can’t eliminate everything. To prevent issues or clogs, we suggest not putting these things 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 is smelly, you can revive it with citrus peels or a mix of baking soda and vinegar.

7. Ignoring Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Similar to your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also needs annual maintenance. This service can help us discover little issues before they cause expensive problems, including a damaging water leak. Some of the issues we watch for involve:

If you do find a problem, like a dripping sink or pipe, it’s crucial to get it fixed right away before it grows larger or results in damage.

8. Making an Attempt 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 Teays Valley Service Experts for leak repair before it gets bigger or causes damage.

Fixing plumbing is a complex job that’s best left to specialists. There’s a reason why plumbers finish extensive certification and licensing. Don’t try water pipe repair yourself or call a handyman, since you could end up wasting time and having a pricier expensive problem.

9. Trying to Service Your Water Heater Without Professional Help

When it comes to your water heater, service and upkeep is best left to the pros. This includes draining it or testing the temperature and pressure valve. If this isn’t performed right, you could burn yourself with boiling water or flood your home.

Professional water heater maintenance offers peace of mind that your water heater is running like it should. It also provides you a heads-up when it’s time to start considering water heater replacement, since they typically only operate for about 10 years.

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

If your home has a major water leak, it’s important to know 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.

If you’re are unsure about where the valve is located, Teays Valley Service Experts can help you find it.

It’s also a wise idea to get a water leak protection system that will sound the alarm and shut off the water if there’s an issue. You can even use a smart system to monitor water use and tell you on your phone if there’s trouble.

Whatever plumbing trouble you’re faced with, our Expert plumbers at Teays Valley Service Experts are here to help you. And we’ll support our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year, so you’ll be sure that your repairs were finished correctly. Reach us at 304-760-5088 to schedule your appointment today!