6 Bad Plumbing Habits You Need to Break in High Point, NC
Plumbers in High Point, NC, get calls all the time from homeowners who have major clogs and other plumbing problems. The sad thing is that most of these problems are totally preventable. Here are six bad plumbing habits that homeowners need to break to avoid expensive plumbing issues:
Relying on Chemical Drain Cleaners
One bad plumbing habit many people have is overusing store-bought liquid clog removers. While modestly effective in the short term, these products contain harsh chemicals that can damage your plumbing over time. And using them incorrectly or without proper safety equipment to protect your hands, arms and face can damage your sink, harm your skin and cause permanent eye damage.
It’s generally safer and more effective to rely on non-chemical drain cleaning solutions such as a plumber’s snake. In the hands of an experienced plumber, this device can reach stubborn clogs deep inside your home’s drain lines.
Flushing Trash Down the Toilet
Another bad habit that can mess up your home plumbing is flushing anything besides human waste and toilet paper down the toilet. Sometimes folks will flush down paper towels, facial tissue, cleaning wipes, hygiene products and other objects because they think that if it goes down when you flush, then it must be fine. But those items don’t easily dissolve in water like toilet paper does end up creating blockages farther down in your pipes.
Flush only toilet paper down the toilet. Dispose of all other objects and cleaning products in the trash to prevent clogs.
Dumping Food Scraps and Oil Into the Disposal
Scraping handfuls of food scraps off your plate and straight into the kitchen sink is another bad habit. When peeling potatoes, carrots and other vegetables, dump the scraps in the trash can, too. Even used cooking oil should go into a jar and into the trash.
Garbage disposals are great appliances to help loosen and prevent clogs right there inside your kitchen sink, but they shouldn’t replace your kitchen trash can. When oil cools and solidifies, it will stick to your pipes. Then all those vegetable peels and scraps will also get stuck in various parts of your drainpipes and create thick, sticky sludge that slows drainage and eventually creates clogs that require professional assistance.
Allowing Pipes to Freeze in Winter
Failing to winterize your water pipes is another bad habit to add to this list. North Carolina temperatures drop below freezing during a few months every year, and unprotected pipes can freeze and burst, causing massive damage to your home.
Wrap all outdoor pipes exposed to the cold with heat tape. Indoor water pipes and crawl spaces would benefit from having insulation to prevent freezing. Even keeping your central heater or furnace turned on when you go on vacation can prevent your pipes from freezing while you’re away.
Not Cleaning the Shower Drain
Shower drains are notorious for collecting hair and soap scum. Over time, your shower begins to drain slowly, and then it barely drains at all. Taking just a few seconds a day to wipe away hair and bits of dried soap from bathtub and shower drains can save you from having to deal with major clogs down the road.
Deferring Plumbing Maintenance and Repairs
Like your home’s central air conditioner or the car parked in your garage, your plumbing system works best when you maintain it properly. Having a plumber come out and do an inspection and drain cleaning once every year or two can potentially save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repairs for preventable plumbing issues.
Don’t let deferred maintenance or any of these other bad plumbing habits create headaches for your family or your wallet. Contact us at Johns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc whenever you need plumbing repairs in High Point, NC.
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