Although most Americans take it for granted, plumbing is one of modern society’s biggest accomplishments. Toilets, sewers and water treatment plants have given people a consistently clean source of water, not to mention a way to dispose of waste. While it’s a staple a modern life, plumbing isn’t cheap to replace. To keep your home’s plumbing system in good working order and avoid the necessity of replacing pipes sooner than expected, steer clear of the following common mistakes.
If It’s Not Human Waste Or Toilet Paper, Don’t Flush It
It’s quite common for people to flush feminine hygiene products, paper towels or “flushable” baby wipes, though it’s also a good way to mess up your home’s plumbing. These waste products, even those that claim to be septic-tank friendly or “flushable,” don’t belong in toilets. While you might get away with flushing these things for a while, the practice will undoubtedly catch up with you.
Grease Never Belongs In Drains
Although eating crispy bacon or juicy hamburgers might be enjoyable, grease isn’t fun to clean up. Many people pour excess grease down kitchen sinks as a convenient means of disposal. Even if you always run piping-hot water while disposing of grease, you’re putting your home plumbing system to the test. Eventually, that water reaches a cool temperature, causing the grease to coagulate.
Don’t Use Drain Cleaners As A First-Line Treatment
Liquid chemical drain cleaners may be cheap, quick fixes for clogged drains, but they’re proven to have a considerable long-term impact on plumbing and the environment, if not on you and your family. Drain cleaners might remove blockages from pipes, but they eat away at plumbing in the process, eventually creating holes in pipes. They’re also bad for the environment, not to mention humans. These products put off fumes that may cause permanent damage to sensitive organs like your eyes, nose or skin.
Instead of relying on short-term fixes like corrosive drain cleaners, call us at Drainworks Plumbing & Septic LLC in Columbia. We’re a trusted drain, sewer and septic system cleaning team that has been assisting clients in this area for more than 20 years. We offer a full line of plumbing and other services, including waterproofing basements, repairing sewage pumps, performing commercial hydro-jetting to clean out sewers and installing drains. Call us today to schedule a field visit from one of our bonded plumbers.