10 Things Your Plumber Wants You to Discontinue Doing Immediately

Requiring a plumber in Fort Worth can be inevitable if you are experiencing a drippy or ruptured pipe. But many times, you can prevent plugging your pipes or requiring repairs for your garbage disposal, both of which can be costly to repair. 

Here are some of the most frequent issues our Experts get calls about at Calverley Service Experts and how you can prevent them. 

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

Although they might be called “flushable wipes,” the ideal spot for them is the garbage. The only thing that should be flushed (apart from the obvious) is toilet paper and septic treatments, if you use a septic system. 

A Canadian study that examined 101 such wipes discovered they all failed a flushability test, according to Forbes. Since flushable wipes don’t break down like toilet paper, they can plug your sewer line and make your toilet back up. 

They can also cause a lot of trouble to city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can conglomerate with other gross things that shouldn’t go down the toilet, such as cooking grease and hygienic products, to result in a fatberg. In addition to being unhygienic and just plain yucky, environmental nonprofit Green America says these masses are expensive to repair. If you use a city sewer system, those are expenses that could get shuffled to you down the road. 

Whichever type of wipe you’re using—makeup remover, cleansing, baby or sanitizing—it should be thrown in the trash once you’re done. 

2. Flushing Other Things That Should Go in the Garbage

Other than flushable wipes, there are a few other things that don’t belong in your toilet. These involve: 

  • Feminine hygiene products 
  • Makeup remover pads 
  • Cat litter 

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

3. Dropping in Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs 

Using drop-in toilet fresheners may seem like a smart way to keep your toilet bowl fresh, but they may do more damage than good. These tablets typically contain chemicals, such as bleach, which can eat through rubber parts in the tank. And as the tablets melt, they can plug the toilet and stop it from flushing. 

4. Buying Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is plugged, your first response may 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 mixture of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also create intense fumes that can lead to respiratory irritation.  
  1. They can eat through your pipes. If these cleaners can burn your skin, think about what they can do to your plumbing: corrosion, fractures and even failure.  
  1. They’re bad for the environment. As you can figure out, these substances aren’t very helpful for the environment.  
  1. They might not even work. Regardless of all the chemicals they have, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a short time. That’s since they often move the clog more into your plumbing until it creates a big problem. 

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

If you’re experiencing a strong clog that just won’t go away, contacting a professional plumber like Calverley Service Experts is your best option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s easier to have a pro complete the job. That way, you’ll also skip breaking your pipes and many other troublesome issues like leaks, broken seals and troublesome odors. 

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

5. Pouring Grease Down Your Sink

It may seem like it’s not a problem to pour a little bit of fat down your sink. But as the years go by, that grease can build up and plug your pipes. If the grease finds its way into the sewer system, it can cling to flushable wipes and lead to a gross fatberg like we talked about previously. 

To skip plumbing troubles, drain the fat into a bowl. After it hardens, you can dump it in the trash. 

6. Relying on Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a helpful tool for eliminating tiny bits of food. But it can’t eliminate everything. To prevent breakdowns or clogs, we suggest 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 revive it with citrus peels or a blend of baking soda and vinegar. 

7. Skipping Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Similar to your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also requires regular service. This service can help us spot small issues before they result in big problems, such as a damaging water leak. Some of the problems we check for involve: 

  • Proper water pressure  
  • Dripping or blocked pipes  
  • Correctly functioning supply lines and plumbing fixtures such as sinks, tubs, showers and toilets 

If you do notice an issue, such as a leaky sink or pipe, it’s crucial to get it repaired without delay before it becomes larger or results in damage. 

8. Making an Attempt to Fix Your Plumbing on Your Own

When you are dealing with a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, we recommend calling an Expert at Calverley Service Experts for leak repair before it grows or leads to damage. 

Repairing plumbing is a detailed job that’s best completed by specialists. There’s a reason why plumbers complete extensive certification and licensing. Don’t attempt water pipe repair yourself or call a handyman, as you could end up wasting time and making a costlier expensive problem. 

9. Trying to Tune Up Your Water Heater on Your Own

When it comes to your water heater, service and upkeep is best left to the specialists. This includes draining it or checking the temperature and pressure valve. If this isn’t done correctly, you could burn yourself with scalding water or flood your house. 

Professional water heater maintenance gives peace of mind that your water heater is running right. It also provides you advance notice when it’s time to start considering water heater replacement, as they usually only work for about 10 years. 

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

If your house has a big water leak, it’s essential to know where the main water valve is and how to turn it off. This valve is usually located 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: circle it clockwise until you can’t anymore.  
  • If it has a lever: rotate it about a quarter of the way. 

If you’re don’t know where the valve is located, Calverley Service Experts can help you find it. 

It’s also a smart idea to install a water leak protection system that will sound the alarm and turn off the water if there’s an issue. You can even use a smart system to watch water use and tell you via your phone if there’s a problem. 

Whatever plumbing issue you’re dealing with, our Expert plumbers at Calverley Service Experts are ready to assist you. And we’ll support our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year, so you’ll know that your repairs were finished correctly. Reach us at 817-380-5647 to book your appointment now! 

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