These Are The Things Plumbing Companies Wants You To Stop Doing
Contrary to popular belief, plumbing companies are not out to get you. Not all of them are after your money. Many prefer quality over quantity and want their customers to be genuinely happy. So there are many things that they want you to avoid doing.
Plumbers are also humans. By doing things that are entirely unavoidable, we create problems for ourselves and make their job difficult. Hence, we have prepared a list of things that your plumbing company wants you to stop doing right now.
Pouring Down The Grease Into The Sink:
Many people throw the grease into the sink after cooking. However, that is something that should clearly not be done. This is because grease can stick to the walls of the drain of the kitchen sink. Over time, enough grease will accumulate, clogging the whole drain, causing the slow drain or overflow of water. Instead, you should put the grease in a disposable container and allow it to cool off. After that, throw it away in the trash. Simple as that.
Throwing Orbeez In Your Sink Or Bathtub:
You might have heard of some adventurous teenagers attempting to do just that. Sure, playing with the absorbent polymer beads is fun, but keep in mind that they grow in size. So when you try to flush an obscene amount of the colorful balls down your drain, all you are doing is making your life difficult. And everyone else's. This is a plumbing nightmare in the making. The balls will continue to absorb every liquid you flush and will continue to grow.
Consequently, the clogging in your pipes will keep getting worse and worse. If you want to dispose of them, just throw them in the trash. Alternatively, you can just bury them in your garden because they are biodegradable.
Flushing Down Unwanted Things:
Many plumbing companies have horror stories about what they have found in the toilet flush of their customers. Their complaining is justified because the toilet is not your garbage disposal. Want to throw something away? Throw it in the trash. That includes diapers, feminine hygiene products, dental floss, and every other thing that is not biodegradable. Also, keep your children's toys away from there. It doesn't take much effort to do so.
Throwing Dental Floss In The Sink:
Dental floss is sharp. It can not only clog your grain, but it can also cut the pipes, wearing them out over time. The best way to dispose of dental floss is to throw it in the dustbin after use.
Using Liquid/ Chemical Drain Cleaners:
No matter how desperate you are, never use any chemical drain cleaners. To summarize the whole thing, those liquids are capable of eating your pipes from the inside. Soon enough, your pipes will not be able to be used anymore. If you want to clean your drain yourself, invest in a snake. Or use a coat hanger with rounded edges to poke through the clogging. For toilets, use a plunger. Plumbers often use the same solution.
You can also use one cup vinegar and half cup baking soda, followed by four cups of boiling water. That is much better than any harsh drain cleaners.
Putting Your Hand And Fingers In Garbage Disposal:
Just why would anyone want to do that? But unfortunately, many plumbing companies have confirmed that this has happened. Remember, sticking your fingers in the garbage disposal can severely damage your hand. So if by mistake, something important falls, don't stick your fingers to retrieve it. You can buy a replacement but never get a new hand. If you want to retrieve that thing, make sure the disposal is turned off.
Abusing Garbage Disposal:
Yeah, sure, the garbage disposal is there to handle your trash. But have you ever thought about being a little bit considerable? You don't need to throw everything in there. A scrap of all the leftovers and either dispose of them in the trash or store them. Also, throw away the ground coffee beans in the trash. It will work wonders.
Believing In Flushable Label:
Unfortunately, every item labeled as flushable is not, well, flushable. In other words, that tag can't be trusted. For instance, the only place the flushable wipes are supposed to go is the trash, not the toilet.
Not Cleaning The Drains:
Blocked drains are one of the most common plumbing-related problems. But that can be prevented easily by following simple precautions. All you need to do here is use a filter or a mesh over the drain that could catch all the hair and soap suds from going down.
Testing Pressure Valves Of Water Heater:
We applaud your efforts in trying to run the necessary repairs yourself. However, it would help if you kept in mind that you can't and shouldn't do everything yourself. And one of those things is checking anything related to the water heater. The thing is, you can easily get scalded or severe burns if you are not careful as you don't have the necessary experience, the chances of that happening increase significantly.
Attempting Repairs Yourself:
You are not a plumber, no matter how many articles you read or tutorials you watch. Therefore, you should not be handling complex plumbing jobs yourself. You have neither the experience nor the proper qualification to do. By trying to save a few bucks, you are just making more and more reasons to spend money. On the other hand, professional plumbers have the necessary qualification, knowledge, and tools to do everything. It's best if you leave it to them.
Paying By the Hour:
Not all plumbing jobs are identical. You can't just pay someone just for the time they had spent fixing your sink. You should pay for the job. Some jobs are accessible, so charges aren't high. But not all of them are the same, so pay according to the complexity of the job. In this way, not only the plumbing service provider will be happy, but you will also get a loyal and reliable plumber out of the deal.
Using Pipes As Hanging Places:
It may sound silly, but some people do that. Well, don't. Never hang any wet clothes or laundry or such from the pipes. Even if they are string, they are not built to take that extra weight. Hence, avoid using them as a clothesline for laundry. Otherwise, the pipe could burst. Similarly, you should also not apply heavyweight on the faucets, as they can't take it.
Avoiding Expensive Plumbing Companies:
The heavy price tag does not always mean that the service provider is overcharging. Often enough, the high price is an indicator of the high-quality service given by the plumbers. If they are the best of the best in the field, they deserve to charge accordingly.
Asking Irrelevant Questions:
Contrary to your expectations, plumbers don't know everything. Also, they are not obliged to answer every little question you might ask. You are only wasting the time of all parties involved by doing so. So, ask thee relevant questions, and don't loom over them while working.
Delaying Repairs:
If you have a leakage in the pipes or somewhere else, get it repaired immediately. If you wait, there will be a large amount of water wasted by the time you get it repaired. Also, if a situation warrants a call to emergency plumbers, then don't hesitate. Time is money, so don't waste it.
Ignoring Necessary Maintenance:
The plumbing system, like everything else, needs proper regular maintenance to work correctly. Especially the pipes connecting the heating system need as much care as possible. Otherwise, the damage could be significant.
Being Stingy:
You can find many plumbing companies online that are charging the lowest of the low. However, do ask yourself a question: is money more important here? Again, good, reliable companies with qualified plumbers deserve to charge more because they provide on that front. They will also use high-quality materials in replacing your existing plumbing fixtures and components. So stop being stingy. Spend a little bit more to get the best service possible.
Asking To Do More:
Plumbing companies will only send plumbers to your home. They are not responsible for anything other than that. Please don't ask them to look at your air conditioner or insulation when they come to your home. They are plumbers, not electricians or construction workers. They are only paid to do the job you called them for, so don't expect and ask for more than that, even when it plumbing related.
