Usually, people don’t put in much thought about their home’s plumbing, especially when there are no issues. However, once a plumbing problem happens in your home, many homeowners do not know what to do. Some of these plumbing issues happen on their own and can be tough to prevent. However, many plumbing issues arise due to everyday mistakes. Here are some things you may be doing that are ruining your home’s plumbing.
Flushing foreign objects down the toilet
Have you ever had a paper towel clogged toilet? There are many things homeowners flush down their toilets without even knowing the negative impact it has on their plumbing system. Flushing items such as paper towels, dental floss, cotton swabs, cat litter, diapers and wipes can turn your home’s plumbing upside down. A paper towel clogged toilet is never fun to deal with, so start taking caution when flushing things down the drain.
DIY Plumbing
As there are some plumbing problems that homeowners find as an easy fix, there are others that can be difficult to handle. If someone is inexperienced and unknowledgeable about plumbing and tries to fix an issue themself, it can turn into a huge disaster. Hiring an experienced professional such as SerivceOne will ensure you that your home’s plumbing is being fixed safely and correctly.
Putting certain items down your sink drains
Most people are aware that you can’t put certain items down your sink drains, but which items exactly? Grease and oils are substances that should never go down your drains. They can create sticky globs inside your pipes, ultimately blocking anything from coming through. Pouring grease and oils down your drains also is responsible for 47 percent of all sewer overflows.
There are some other foods that you should never put down your drains as well. Coffee grinds and eggshells should never come close to your drains and should be disposed of in a trash can. Although they seem small, both of these foods can clog your drains. Also, you should never put potato peels through your garbage disposal. These can cause a thick starchy mess that will severely clog and damage your plumbing pipes.
Leaving hoses connected during the winter months
When summer leaves and the winter months come storming in, it’s very important that homeowners are disconnecting hoses from exterior faucets. Not doing so can result in cracks in your hose and pipes, and can potentially lead to devastating leaks throughout your home, both inside and outside. If you are worried about your pipes freezing, putting an insulation cap on your bare spigots will give some added protection and caution.
Whether it’s frozen pipes, a failed do it yourself project, or a paper towel clogged toilet, plumbing issues can cause homeowners unneeded stress and headaches. However, taking great caution on what you are putting down your plumbing pipes will help homeowners ensure their plumbing system is working efficiently and safely.
At ServiceOne, we offer residential plumbing services to homeowners in the Omaha, Neb. and Dubuque, Iowa areas. Our team of licensed professionals are very knowledgeable on all things plumbing and can fix any problem in front of them. If you encounter a plumbing issue in your home, trust ServiceOne.