How to Avoid Major Plumbing Disasters

Some plumbing problems are inevitable, but some are very preventable. Take, for instance, clogged drain pipes, clogged toilets, sewer backups, and sediment-filled water lines.

You might not know it, but all of these plumbing problems are avoidable with a bit of simple maintenance.

Here’s how to sidestep these plumbing pitfalls.

Clogged Drain Pipes

There are several ways to ensure your pipes are flowing freely.

Pour baking soda and hot water down your drains: This mixture will clean your drains to help prevent sludge from building up.

Use a bowl for shaving: If you use a razor to shave, you likely fill the sink basin with hot water. Use a bowl instead to rinse off your razor instead. Pour it outside when you’re done. This will prevent beard trimmings and shaving cream from gumming up your pipes.

Be careful what you put down your drains: When cooking, put grease from animal products in a glass jar or old milk carton so that it doesn’t solidify in your pipes. Other foods that shouldn’t go down your drains are banana peels and coffee grounds.

Clogged Toilets

There’s always a chance that you can have a minor clog in your toilet, but to avoid larger clogs, there are a few items that you should never flush down the toilet. These include…

• Feminine sanitary products
• Floss
• So-called “flushable” wipes
• Cotton balls
• Q tips

Basically, if it’s not toilet paper, don’t flush it. You should also be careful about letting your children play near the toilet so that they don’t flush one of their toys down the drain.

Sewer Back-Ups

You can prevent sewage from entering your basement by installing a backwater valve. This device will prevent sewage from entering your home. If you have problems with roots invading the sewer line, consider having the tree cut down.

Sediment-Filled Water Lines

Rust and minerals that build up in your lines can cause problems with your water flow. If your pipes are prone to sediment buildup, you can backflush cold water through the hot pipes to get rid of sediment. Be careful about doing this. Consult with a professional plumber first. Do this on an annual basis to prevent buildup in the future.

Bottom line: It’s frustrating when you learn that you have a plumbing problem that you could have easily prevented. Audit your plumbing system a couple of times a year to determine if there are ways that you could be saving yourself the hassle of plumbing problems. To schedule an appointment with Beyond Wow, call today.