10 Things Your Plumber Wants You to Discontinue Doing Right Away

Having to have a plumber in the U.S. can be necessary if you are dealing with a dripping or ruptured pipe. But the majority of times, you can prevent plugging your pipes or requiring repairs for your garbage disposal, both of which can be pricey to fix. 

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

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

Even though they might be referred to as “flushable wipes,” the ideal 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 have a septic system. 

A Canadian study that tested 101 such wipes discovered they all didn’t pass a flushability test, according to Forbes. Since flushable wipes don’t dissolve like toilet paper, they can block your sewer line and cause your toilet to back up. 

They can also wreak havoc on city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can conglomerate with other nasty things that shouldn’t go down the toilet, such as cooking fat and hygienic products, to lead to a fatberg. In addition to being unsanitary and just plain nasty, environmental nonprofit Green America says these masses are pricey to repair. If you use a city sewer system, those are expenses that could get shuffled to you down the road. 

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

2. Flushing Other Things That Should Be Tossed in the Trash

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 

Together with wipes, these things can clog your sewer line and back up your toilet, saddling you with an expensive (and nasty) mess. 

3. Using Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs 

Having drop-in toilet fresheners might seem like a smart way to keep your toilet bowl sanitary, but they might cause more trouble than good. These tablets often contain chemicals, including bleach, which can eat through rubber parts in the tank. And as the tablets dissolve, they can clog the toilet and keep it from flushing. 

4. Dumping Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is clogged, your immediate response might be to buy a cheap liquid drain cleaner. However, there are a few things you should realize about these drain cleaners. 

  1. They’re poisonous. Drain cleaners are a toxic combination of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also produce severe fumes that can result in respiratory irritation.  
  1. They can eat away at your pipes. If these cleaners can burn your skin, think about what they can do to your pipes: corrosion, breaks and even failure.  
  1. They’re harmful to the environment. As you can imagine, these substances aren’t exactly helpful for the environment.  
  1. They might not even unclog your drain. In spite of all the chemicals they pack, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a little while. That’s since they often push the clog more into your plumbing until it creates a major problem. 

If you do require a drain cleaner, we advise using an enzymatic cleaner. These chemical-free cleaners have bacteria and enzymes to eliminate clogs and foul odors. While they can take more time than a chemical-based cleaner, they’re better for you, your plumbing and the environment. 

If you’re dealing with a difficult clog that just won’t go away, calling a professional plumber like Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is your best option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s faster to have a pro perform the job. That way, you’ll also prevent harming your pipes and a host of bad issues like leaks, nonworking seals and troublesome odors. 

After your drain is clear, keep it that way by having a screen to keep hair or food scraps from clogging it again. 

5. Pouring Grease Down Your Sink

It might seem like it’s not a big deal to drain a little bit of fat down your sink. But over time, that grease can accumulate and plug your pipes. If the grease leaks into the sewer system, it can stick to flushable wipes and lead to a gross fatberg like we mentioned prior. 

To stop plumbing issues, drain the oil into a bowl. After it cools, you can throw it away in the trash. 

6. Turning to Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a useful tool for breaking up small amounts of food waste. But it can’t get rid of everything. To avoid breakdowns 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 smells bad, you can freshen it with citrus peels or a combination of baking soda and vinegar. 

7. Avoiding Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Similar to your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also has to have annual tune-ups. This service can help us find small issues before they cause major problems, like a damaging water leak. Some of the issues we are on the lookout for involve: 

  • Proper water pressure  
  • Drippy or plugged pipes  
  • Properly operating supply lines and plumbing fixtures like sinks, tubs, showers and toilets 

If you do notice an issue, such as a leaking sink or pipe, it’s important to get it fixed immediately before it gets worse or leads to damage. 

8. Trying to Fix Your Plumbing on Your Own

When you are dealing with a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, we suggest calling an Expert at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for leak repair before it grows or leads to damage. 

Fixing plumbing is a complex job that’s best done by pros. There’s a reason why plumbers complete extensive certification and licensing. Don’t attempt water pipe repair without help or hire a handyman, since you could end up wasting time and creating a costlier expensive problem. 

9. Trying to Maintain Your Water Heater on Your Own

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

Pro water heater maintenance provides peace of mind that your water heater is working properly. It also offers you notice ahead of time when it’s time to start thinking about water heater replacement, as they typically only operate for about 10 years. 

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

If your house has a major water leak, it’s important to know where the main water valve is and how to turn it off. This valve is typically found in a mechanical room near your water heater. 

Here’s how to turn 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: rotate 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 wise idea to install a water leak protection system that will sound the alarm and cut off the water if there’s trouble. You can even use a smart system to watch water use and notify you through your phone if there’s a leak. 

Whatever plumbing trouble you’re dealing with, our Expert plumbers at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing are available to provide support. And we’ll stand behind our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year, so you’ll have peace of mind that your repairs were done like they should. Reach us at 866-397-3787 to request your appointment right away! 

Savings For You

See All Offers Here >
parts and labor icon

$50 OFF Any Repair

  • Save $50 on a Paid Service
  • Written 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
  • Plus, ask how to save an additional 15% and waive your trip charge!
print
plumbing services icon

Free Plumbing Inspection

  • Prevent costly damage from water leaks, drain clogs and tank damage
  • Written 100% Expert Service Guarantee
print

© 2024 Service Experts, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, and the Service Experts logo and design are registered trademarks of Service Experts LLC and used under license by SE Canada Inc. All Rights Reserved. *Not applicable to the Advantage Program. See your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is subject to certain restrictions and limitations as set forth in the applicable Terms and Conditions.