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Plumbing goes beyond just the equipment or installation. It’s vital that you practice good habits to protect your plumbing for the long-run, too. Here are some of the biggest mistakes we see average homeowners make when it comes to their plumbing.
#1: Using Toxic Drain Cleaners
Clogs are some of the most common plumbing problems. It’s a normal occurrence, and you might think that a commercial drain cleaner is a simple solution to the problem. Unfortunately, drain cleaners aren’t effective in tackling clogs.
There are a few reasons why this is the case. Firstly, these chemical reactions have no precision. They work by starting an intense caustic reaction. It will try to burn away anything in its sight. This can cause damage to your pipes, especially older metal ones. Even modern PVC can be warped from these high-heat chemical reactions.
Secondly, these super-strong cleaning materials are extremely toxic and are a poison risk for your household. Cleaning products are one of the most common causes of incidental poisoning. The often colorful packaging of these products makes them a particular risk for children. Even just a splash on your skin or eyes can cause health problems.
Lastly, our sewage treatment systems throughout our country are not equipped to handle every cleaning chemical. The only solution is to dilute the chemical as much as possible before it enters the water supply. We don’t know the cumulative effects these chemicals can have on our shared environment.
Your local licensed plumber can clear your clog with precision and in an eco-conscious way.
#2: DIY Installation and Replacements
So many people think they can install plumbing equipment by themselves. Unfortunately, we see failed DIY installation cause significant problems for homeowners down the road. Just because water comes out of your faucet doesn’t mean your system is properly set up. Trust your local plumber on this one.
If you do decide to do some DIY repairs, we recommend you pay attention to materials when replacing your pipes. Even if they fit together, a difference in the material can affect how the system is pressurized, and you’re more likely to see a rupture in the future.
#3: Forgetting the Most Important Plumbing Rule
Some small leaks can be fixed by homeowners that know a bit about plumbing. While we don’t necessarily recommend this for everyone, for those with a basic knowledge base, it can work. However, some folks get ahead of themselves and forget the #1 rule of plumbing. Before you mess with anything, turn the water supply off. Without switching that off, you’re asking for a more serious leak to spring up, and suddenly you have a plumbing disaster on your hands.
#4: Garbage Disposal Misuse
You don’t have to be a DIY enthusiast to cause problems for your plumbing. It can be as simple as misusing the installations you already have. Your garbage disposal is an effective tool, but it can be a problem if not utilized properly.
The biggest thing you can do to ensure that the disposal lasts a long time is to avoid these problematic foods going down the drain.
Never put these in your garbage disposal:
Celery and other stringy vegetables
Eggshells
Coffee grounds
Banana peels
Potato peels
Grease that is solid at room temperature
Complex starches like rice and pasta
Bones
These either hurt the garbage disposal motor or cause clogs when they get through to the drain. You can compost some of these products and toss the rest into the garbage.
Call Meyer’s Companies at (219) 240-0610 or fill out an online contact form to schedule HVAC or plumbing repairs or installations.
