A dripping faucet or slow drain might seem minor, but those drips can add up to a huge water bill and clogged pipes aren’t good for your home. With a little know-how, you can keep plumbing problems at bay.
For example, you can prevent clogged shower and sink drains by outfitting them with strainers to catch hair, earrings and other small objects. Also, don’t flush anything that won’t easily dissolve like grease and egg shells.
- Keep the Drains Clean
Clogged drains are expensive, messy, and a health risk for you and your family. Whether it’s a toilet that won’t flush, or the sink and tub drains are slowly filling, or the kitchen sink is backed up, these issues can cause a lot of damage quickly – and most of them are easily prevented with a little preventative maintenance.
Food scraps like flour, coffee grounds, egg shells, and vegetable peels are best thrown into the trash – not the disposal. Grease and cooking oil should also be discarded in the garbage, not the drain. Cigarette butts, tiny pieces of paper, and even clumps of hair can clog drains and pipes quickly. Run hot water down drains on a regular basis to keep them clean and clear of scum build up. It can be helpful to pour a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar down the drain once a week for an extra boost of cleaning power.
- Don’t Pour Grease Down the Drain
Plumbing problems are an inevitable part of owning a home. However, a little knowledge can help avoid these issues and save homeowners from expensive, frustrating damage.
Pouring grease down your drain is a sure way to cause a clog and can even damage the sewer line. Grease is solid at room temperature, so it can easily coat and clog pipes. Many people make the mistake of throwing leftover cooking oil, salad dressing or other liquids down the drain. This is not only dangerous for your pipes, but it is also illegal in many places.
Grease causes clogs because when it cools, it becomes thick and clumps together, blocking your drains. Trying to flush it away with hot water and dish soap only breaks down the grease temporarily. The best thing to do is collect your grease and store it in a sealed container until it can be disposed of properly. It is also a good idea to use strainers in your sink and bathtub drains to catch hair, jewelry and other small objects that could potentially block the drain.
- Don’t Flush Flushable Wipes
Putting any type of wipes down the drain other than toilet paper is a surefire way to get a plumbing problem. These clogs can lead to expensive plumbing repair. Wipes are also harmful to the environment and can wreak havoc on wildlife.
Many people assume that if a product is labeled “flushable,” it is safe to flush.
However, there are no mandatory tests for products to be labeled as such. Instead, the industry associations for non-woven cloths (INDA and EDANA) and wastewater utilities have produced voluntary test guidelines.
But, while these tests may be a good idea in the short run, they do not address the fact that many flushable wipes don’t break down easily or at all in sewer pipes and pumps. They also attract other materials like grease to them, resulting in what is known as fatbergs that can clog pipes and damage pumps. These issues cost water and wastewater utilities millions of dollars in repairs and operational costs.
- Don’t Wait to Call a Plumber
A leaking faucet or a slow drain isn’t necessarily a big deal, but it should be addressed as soon as possible. Otherwise, they could get worse and lead to costly repairs or even a flooded home. That’s why it is best to call a plumber in Adelaide straight away whenever there’s a problem with the plumbing system in your home.
The plumber can then inspect the situation and fix it accordingly before the problem gets any bigger. It’s also a good idea to point out where the main water valve is located, so that your plumber knows which pipes are in use and which ones are not.
Some homeowners try to fix the problem themselves by using chemical cleaners or boiling hot water, but this can damage their plumbing and lead to more serious problems down the line. It’s always better to leave it up to the professionals. In addition, the plumber can recommend solutions that prevent these issues from occurring in the future.