Bad Habits That Can Ruin Your Plumbing System

Your plumbing system is a complex network of pipes, valves, and fixtures that work together to bring clean water into your home and remove wastewater. While your plumbing system is designed to handle everyday use, it can be easily damaged by bad habits. These habits can lead to clogs, leaks, and other plumbing problems that can be expensive and inconvenient to repair. Here are some of those habits. 

Treating the Toilet as a Trash Can

One of the most common bad habits that can ruin your plumbing system is to flush non-flushable objects down your toilet. This includes paper towels, feminine hygiene products, wipes, diapers, and dental floss. These items do not break down easily and can clog your pipes, leading to sewage backups and overflows.

Overusing Cleaning Products

Harsh cleaning products can damage your pipes and fittings. Over time, the chemicals in these products can corrode the metal and plastic in your plumbing system, causing leaks and other problems. It is important to use cleaning products sparingly and to choose products that are specifically designed for use on plumbing fixtures.

Rinsing Hair Down Drains

Hair can easily catch on the rough surfaces inside your pipes and build up over time, leading to clogs. To prevent hair clogs, it is best to brush or comb your hair out before showering or bathing. You should also use a drain catcher to catch any loose hair before it goes down the drain.

Neglecting Plumbing Maintenance

Many homeowners neglect to have their plumbing systems inspected and maintained regularly. This can lead to several problems, including clogged pipes, leaks, and water pressure problems. It is important to have your plumbing system inspected at least once a year to identify and fix any potential problems.

Rinsing Food and Grease Down Your Kitchen Sink

Grease and food particles can solidify and build up inside your pipes, leading to clogs. To prevent grease clogs, it is best to let grease cool and solidify before scraping it into the trash. You should also avoid pouring hot grease down the drain.

Ignoring Leaks

Even small leaks can cause major damage to your home if they are not repaired promptly. Leaks can lead to water damage, mold growth, and even structural damage. If you notice a leak, it is important to have it repaired immediately.

Abusing the Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are not meant to handle everything. You should avoid putting hard items, such as bones, fruit pits, and large chunks of food, down the disposal. These items can damage the blades and clog the pipes.

Ignoring Warning Signs

Your plumbing system will often give you warning signs that there is a problem. These signs can include slow-draining drains, gurgling sounds from pipes, and leaks. If you notice any of these signs, it is important to have your plumbing system inspected by a qualified plumber.

Attempting DIY Plumbing

While DIY projects can be a great way to save money and learn new skills, some tasks are best left to the professionals. Plumbing is one such task. While some minor plumbing repairs may be within the realm of possibility for DIYers, attempting to tackle more complex repairs without the proper knowledge and experience can lead to serious damage to your plumbing system.

Plumbing systems are complex and difficult for those not trained in plumbing. Attempting to repair a plumbing problem without the proper knowledge and experience can lead to mistakes that can damage your pipes, fixtures, and other system components.

By avoiding these bad habits, you can help to protect your plumbing system and prevent costly repairs. If you have a plumbing problem, call J&S Plumbing Inc. to fix it right the first time.