The plumbing system in your home is a delicate piece of machinery. It can be easy to ignore since you don’t usually see all of the pipes. In fact, the only time you notice that is something is wrong, usually, is when the toilet starts to back up or the water doesn’t drain in your shower or sink. You may attempt to fix this yourself. Or you may be wise and call your boulder plumber. Whatever the problem may be with your plumbing, you can be sure that your plumber has a few things they wish you wouldn’t do. Here’s a list of five of those things.
1. Don’t Use Chemicals To Unclog
It may seem easy to just pour down a vat of chemicals through a pipe that has become clogged in the shower. For some people, hair is the most notorious culprit for clogging up shower drains. A chemical that promises to get the job done may seem too good to be true. It is. While it may seemingly get rid of the clog, it doesn’t get rid of it entirely. You’re going to have to buy more of the chemical later and do the job all over again. Worse, it can actually damage your pipes by eroding it over time. This might spell a big disaster later.
2. Stop Putting Garbage In The Toilet
It can be easy to just flush away whatever you want down the toilet. That doesn’t mean you should. Plumbers are sick and tired of people flushing down trash. Be it sanitary napkins, paper towels, cat litter, toilet scrubbers, and even pads for makeup removal, they don’t belong in the toilet. This can seriously clog up your pipes and cause big problems for your septic tank.
3. Don’t Fix It Yourself
YouTube may seem like a quick-course in plumbing, but it isn’t. Fixing plumbing problems requires an actual education and training. It also requires tools that you can’t typically find in your local store. Plumbers want you to stop trying to fix problems yourselves and just hire a professional. Not only will the job be done faster but it will also be safer for everyone involved.
4. Where’s The Main Water Valve Again?
When it comes to plumbing emergencies, you can seriously help yourself out by turning off the water. To do that, you need to know where the main water valve is located. Too many people don’t. Plumbers are, understandably, frustrated. You should be able to turn off the main water valve to prevent a plumbing disaster from occurring. This will not only limit the amount of water damage that you see but it will also make a plumber’s job a lot easier. Take the time to learn where your valve is located. Or, at the very least, have a plumber show you the next time they’re at your home.
5. Don’t Use Toilet Fresheners
While many people like the easy cleaning use and smell of toilet fresheners, they are not the greatest for your plumbing system. The chemicals inside of those fresheners can actually wear out the machinery. The tablets can even become stuck valve for flushing. This can completely break the toilet’s ability to flush. Just clean your toilet often instead.