Clogged sinks, gurgling toilets, backed-up septic tanks, or leaky faucets — we bet you’ve encountered these plumbing issues at some point or the other.
What happens next? You keep ringing local plumbers to come and fix your malfunctioning plumbing fixtures, shelling out a few hundred dollars after every few months.
Besides being pricey, plumbing problems are annoying for every home and business owner. But only a few know that most plumbing problems they face result from their actions.
And since plumbing parts are interconnected, your one mistake can damage the entire system. So, what are the mistakes that can ruin your plumbing? Let’s dive into the deets and discuss the common mistakes that ruin plumbing.
What Can Ruin Your Plumbing Fixtures — Top 10 Mistakes
1. Using Liquid Drain Cleaners
Sure, liquid drain cleaners are a cost-effective option for unclogging drains, but do you know they can ruin the plumbing?
Liquid drain cleaners contain harsh chemicals that clear away clogs by creating a chemical reaction. Once the clog is cleared, these solutions generate heat inside the drain and start eating your pipes. In worst-case scenarios, they corrode plumbing pipes, meaning you’ll have to spend hundreds of dollars on replacing them.
2. Flushing Foreign Objects Down The Drain
Baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, dental floss, or cotton swabs — none of these items is meant to be flushed down the drain. But still, some people have the habit of disposing of these items by flushing them, resulting in slow emptying drains.
Anything that isn’t toilet paper mustn’t be flushed down the toilet bowl, or you must be prepared to deal with blocked drains.
3. Pouring Grease Down The Drain
Most homeowners pay little attention to what’s going down their kitchen drain. Among all the items that go down the kitchen sink, grease is the most dangerous because it causes buildups over time, eventually leading to clogs in both city-owned and home pipes. Blocked drains are often accompanied by a sinister gurgling noise from nearby drains whenever you flush the toilet, run water or empty a sink.
4. Tree Root Growth Can Destroy Your Plumbing
Having a lush lawn that your neighbours envy can add to the aesthetics of your home. But you’ll have to deal with plumbing woes if you don’t trim tree roots. If you open your water bill one quarter only to be left in a state of shock at the price, you might have a serious case of tree root damage to your pipes.
Gurgling noises, blocked drains, foul smell, and low water pressure are tell-tale signs of a severe tree root blockage. You can minimise the chances of root intrusion by limiting the number and types of plants near sewer lines. When planting large trees, consider locations carefully and place them where the roots can’t reach pipes.
Hiring a company offering tree root removal services will be the best bet to eliminate tree roots from pipes.
Professionals will remove tree roots from pipes using hydro jet drain cleaners and an electric drain snake. Not only pipes will also remove other debris and uproot tree roots growing in and around your home’s sewer lines. This is why you must contact a professional plumber skilled in using these tools to remove tree roots from pipes. That should solve the tree root problem.
5. Improper Usage Of Garbage Disposal
Do you often dispose of coffee grounds, starchy food, or eggshells down the garbage disposal? If yes, you must be prepared to deal with clogs and leaks, eventually ruining your plumbing fixtures.
Despite its name, garbage disposal isn’t meant for solid waste; you must avoid overloading it.
6. Not Paying Attention To Water Leaks
If you dismiss leaky faucets as a minor plumbing issue, let us tell you that water leaks can damage the property’s structural integrity.
Besides plumbing fixtures, they can damage carpets, wood floors, sub-floors, wood beams and drywalls. The longer a leak goes unnoticed, the more it will wreak havoc in your plumbing.
Here’s what you should look for if you suspect a leaky pipe or a faucet:
- Sudden hike in water bills
- Puddles of water beneath the sink
- Dripping, rushing or running water
- Low water pressure
- Signs of water damage like mould and mildew, water stains, swollen drywall, and nasty, humid smell
7. Letting Pets Near The Plumbing
Dogs are man’s best friends, but they are the biggest enemy of your plumbing! Yes, your furry friends’ hair can clog your pipes, because of which water may not be able to pass through them properly.
Therefore, keeping your dogs’ hair out of drains is important to prevent drains from getting blocked. Whoever owns a dog must invest in a drain screen if they don’t wish to deal with a blocked drain.
8. Not Maintaining Or Replacing Your Water Heater
Like other electronic devices, water heaters must be maintained regularly; only then will they perform efficiently. It would be best if you took care of many things, from draining the tank to inspecting the heating mechanism. If you don’t regularly maintain your water heater, sediment build-up will tamper with the system’s efficiency.
Also, if your water heater is eight to twelve years old, you need to replace it immediately as it’s susceptible to corrosion. Always call a professional plumber to inspect or replace water heaters because DIYers can pull off only some tasks.
9. Ignoring Excess Water Pressure
Like low pressure, excess water pressure could also damage your plumbing. Water gushing at high speed from your faucet can cause your pipes to crack or break, especially if they are as old as the hills.
10. Hanging Toilet Bowl Cleaners To The Rim Of Your Toilet
Toilet bowl cleaners are one of the easiest ways to keep your toilet clean and fresh, but you must know that they could be detrimental to your plumbing.
At times, the hanging arm of the toilet bowl cleaners can flush down the toilet bowl, which isn’t easy to retrieve. And if it gets pushed down the line, it could cause much damage.
Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Plumbing
The plumbing system is one of the most ignored aspects of any establishment — until it starts acting up!
From pouring grease, tree roots, and burst pipes to flushing toilet paper down the toilet bowl to tree roots, countless things can result in a blocked drain or sewer line. While preventing some plumbing woes are in our control, most of them are not.
And since plumbing systems are sensitive, you shouldn’t take the DIY route to fix any issue. If you can identify with any of the above signs, it’s time to seek the help of a professional plumber. Always call for an experienced plumber because they know their way around the plumbing system and will resolve the problem most efficiently.
On that note, we shall conclude our guide on the topic. Take care, folks!
