Things Homeowners Do to Wreck Plumbing Systems

There are several things that can destroy a plumbing system. Many of those things are out of the control of homeowners. Unfortunately, there are also many things homeowners do all by themselves to wreak havoc on their expensive plumbing systems. These things are quite simple to avoid.

Take our advice and do not do these things to your plumbing system, especially if you want to save money and make your plumbing system last:

Only use vents for venting

Plumbing vents are designed for venting smells from gases that no one wants to smell. They should not be used for cables or anything other than air. They may not look attractive popping out of the roof, but they are better than smells that can come if you damage the vent.

Disconnect your hoses in the winter

In areas of the country where ice can form in cold weather, it is vital for homeowners to disconnect their outdoor houses from exterior faucets. Once the faucet freezes, the ice can expand farther up into the pipe and cause more trouble inside the house. Along with the faucet and interior pipes, hoses can also be damaged beyond repair.

Follow instructions when using drain cleaner

Drain cleaner is corrosive – this is how it cleans out clogs in the drain. When homeowners follow instructions, drain cleaner works and it is safe. However, if homeowners just pour it down the drain without measuring the correct amount, it can corrode pipes, garbage disposals, and other materials in the drain. The cleaner can also worsen the clog so a plumber has to be called.

Do not pour harmful chemicals in a septic system

Even if your septic system is just yours, it is good advice to avoid pouring anything with harmful chemicals into it. Paint, bleach, drain cleaner, and other commonly used substances can actually harm a septic tank. Since a septic tank actually relies on bacteria to destroy the natural human waste that flows into it, chemicals can damage the hard-working bacteria and create bad issues in the tank.

Avoid mixing metals with plumbing pipes

If you decide to do some of your own plumbing work, you might not even realize the problems that can happen when you join pipes that are made of different metals. Different metals can cause a reaction known as galvanic corrosion, which can create leaks. There are special fittings that need to happen when combining metals, and if you do not know how to do it, then do not mix metals.

Pour grease in the trash

There are two substances that clog drains faster than any other substances. The first is grease, the second is bath soap. Do not pour either of them in the drain.

Put trash in the garbage, not the sink

Even though garbage disposals seem like they can slice and dice, they cannot chop up everything. There are only two teeth on the disposal, so they cannot chop up little things, like rice or potato peels. Use the garbage can for garbage, not the drain and disposal.

Let water flow through the entire drain

Recycled water has become a popular choice for homeowners who want to use less water to take care of their grass and outdoor plants. Some have taken matters into their own hands by collecting grey water from their indoor pipes so they can bring it outside. This is not advised by any plumber. If you remove any of the drain to collect water, you will cause more than one problem. Of course, you will have a serious mess on your hands as water will go everywhere. What you might not expect is that along with the mess, you could also have a seriously bad smell that will come UP from the drain that no longer has water going down it. Leave the drains alone and collect rainwater instead.

Use the bathroom trash can for trash

All too often, people try to flush their trash down the toilet. This is bad. Bad. Bad. The only thing that should get flushed is your waste and toilet paper. Otherwise, the trash you flush could clog up your entire plumbing system and could result in slicing through your yard to get to the source of the problem.

If you have any questions about what to do and what not do with your plumbing, feel free to contact us as Scott English Plumbing at (714) 987-9801 or 714-987-9801.