Your Plumber Wants You to Quit Doing These 10 Things Immediately

Requiring a plumber in Denver can be inevitable if you have a drippy or burst pipe. But many times, you can prevent plugging your pipes or needing repairs for your garbage disposal, both of which can be costly to repair.

Here are some of the most regular problems our Experts field calls about at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning and how you can prevent them.

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

Although they might be called “flushable wipes,” the best location for them is the trash. The only thing that should be flushed (except for the obvious) is toilet paper and septic treatments, if you have a septic system.

A Canadian study that tested 101 such wipes discovered none of them passed a flushability test, according to Forbes. Because flushable wipes don’t dissolve like toilet paper, they can plug your sewer line and cause your toilet to back up.

They can also wreak havoc on city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can attach to other yucky things that shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet, including cooking grease and hygienic products, to result in a fatberg. Besides being unsanitary and just plain gross, environmental nonprofit Green America says these masses are expensive to get rid of. If you use a city sewer system, those are bills that could get passed on to you down the road.

Whichever kind of wipe you’re using—makeup remover, cleansing, baby or sanitizing—it should be tossed in the trash once you’re complete.

2. Flushing Other Things That Belong in the Trash

In addition to flushable wipes, there are several other things that don’t belong in your toilet. These include:

Along with wipes, these things can clog your sewer line and back up your toilet, saddling you with a costly (and gross) mess.

3. Dropping in Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs

Using drop-in toilet fresheners might seem like a great way to keep your toilet bowl sanitary, but they might do more harm than good. These tablets typically contain chemicals, such as bleach, which can destroy rubber parts in the tank. And as the tablets break down, they can plug the toilet and stop it from flushing.

4. Buying Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is blocked, your immediate answer could be to purchase a cheap liquid drain cleaner. However, there are a few things you should realize about these drain cleaners.

1. They’re toxic. Drain cleaners are a toxic combination of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also make intense fumes that can cause respiratory irritation. 
2. They can eat through your pipes. If these cleaners can burn your skin, consider what they can do to your piping: corrosion, breaks and even failure. 
3. They’re bad for the environment. As you can determine, these formulas aren’t extremely helpful for the environment. 
4. They might not even work. Despite all the chemicals they pack, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a short time. That’s due to the fact they often push the clog more into your plumbing until it results in a major problem.

If you do need to use a drain cleaner, we suggest using an enzymatic cleaner. These chemical-free cleaners have bacteria and enzymes to break up clogs and foul odors. While they might require more time than a chemical-based cleaner, they’re better for you, your plumbing and the environment.

If you’re experiencing a strong clog that just won’t dissolve, contacting a professional plumber like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is your wisest option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s easier to have a pro finish the job. That way, you’ll also avoid harming your pipes and many other bad issues such as leaks, broken seals and troublesome odors.

After your drain is clear, keep it that way by using a screen to keep hair or food scraps from clogging it again.

5. Dumping Grease Down Your Sink

It may seem like it’s not a big deal to pour a tiny bit of grease down your sink. But as the years go by, that grease can build up and clog your pipes. If the grease leaks into the sewer system, it can cling to flushable wipes and lead to a nasty fatberg like we discussed prior.

To stop plumbing troubles, drain the grease into a can. After it solidifies, you can dump it in the trash.

6. Using Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a useful tool for breaking up small amounts of food waste. But it can’t eliminate everything. To avoid problems or clogs, we suggest not putting these items down your garbage disposal:

• Coffee grounds 
• Pasta, oats, rice and bread 
• Bones, nuts, pits and seeds 
• Eggshells 
• Onions and potato peels 
• Fibrous fruits and vegetables 
• Grease

If your garbage disposal smells bad, you can revive it with citrus peels or a blend of baking soda and vinegar.

7. Skipping Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Much like your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also needs routine maintenance. This service can help us find minor issues before they result in major problems, such as a damaging water leak. Some of the issues we check for include:

If you do find a problem, such as a dripping sink or pipe, it’s crucial to get it repaired without delay before it grows worse or results in damage.

8. Trying to Fix Your Plumbing Yourself

When you have a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, we recommend calling an Expert at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for leak repair before it grows or results in damage.

Mending plumbing is a complex job that’s best completed by specialists. There’s a reason why plumbers finish extensive certification and licensing. Don’t attempt water pipe repair without help or call a handyman, as you could end up wasting time and creating a costlier expensive problem.

9. Trying to Tune Up Your Water Heater Yourself

When it comes to your water heater, service and maintenance is best left to the professionals. This includes draining it or examining the temperature and pressure valve. If this isn’t performed right, you could burn yourself with hot water or flood your residence.

Pro water heater maintenance gives peace of mind that your water heater is operating right. It also offers you a heads-up when it’s time to start thinking about water heater replacement, since they typically only operate for about 10 years.

10. Not Being Aware of Where the Water Main Shutoff Is

In the event your residence has a major water leak, it’s critical to be knowledgeable about where the main water valve is and how to shut it off. This valve is often found in a mechanical room near your water heater.

If you’re still not sure where the valve is located, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help you find it.

It’s also a good idea to have a water leak protection system that will sound the alarm and shut off the water if there’s a problem. You can even use a smart system to watch water use and tell you on your phone if there’s trouble.

Whatever plumbing issue you’re experiencing, our Expert plumbers at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning are here to help you. And we’ll stand behind our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year, so you’ll know that your repairs were done correctly. Reach us at 303-647-5853 to schedule your appointment now!