10 Things Your Plumber Wants You to Discontinue Doing Right Away

Requiring a plumber in London can be unavoidable if you have a drippy or ruptured pipe. But many times, you can stop clogging your pipes or requiring repairs for your garbage disposal, both of which can be expensive to take care of.

Here are some of the most common problems our Experts get calls about at Roy Inch & Sons Home Services by Enercare and how you can prevent them.

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

Although they might be referred to as “flushable wipes,” the right spot for them is the garbage. 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 found they all failed a flushability test, according to Forbes. As flushable wipes don’t disintegrate like toilet paper, they can block your sewer line and cause your toilet to back up.

They can also cause problems with city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can conglomerate with other nasty things that shouldn’t be disposed of down the toilet, like cooking fat and hygienic products, to create a fatberg. Along with being unsanitary and just plain yucky, environmental nonprofit Green America says these masses are costly to get rid of. If you’re on a city sewer system, those are expenses that could get passed on to you down the road.

No matter what style of wipe you’re using—makeup remover, cleansing, baby or sanitizing—it should be tossed in the trash once you’re finished.

2. Flushing Other Things That Should Be Tossed in the Garbage

Other than flushable wipes, there are a couple other things that don’t belong in your toilet. These cover:

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

3. Using Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs

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

4. Buying Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is clogged, your initial reaction might be to buy a cheap liquid drain cleaner. However, there are some things you should be aware of when it involves these drain cleaners.

1. They’re toxic. Drain cleaners are a toxic blend of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also make strong fumes that can result in respiratory irritation. 
2. They can eat away at your pipes. If these cleaners can burn your skin, consider what they can do to your pipes: corrosion, cracks and even failure. 
3. They’re bad for the environment. As you can imagine, these formulas aren’t extremely good for the environment. 
4. They might not even unplug your drain. Despite all the chemicals they include, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a short time. That’s because they often move the clog further into your plumbing until it creates a huge problem.

If you do require a drain cleaner, we suggest using an enzymatic cleaner. These chemical-free cleaners rely on bacteria and enzymes to break up clogs and bad odors. While they could require more time than a chemical-based cleaner, they’re safer for you, your plumbing and the environment.

If you’re experiencing a difficult clog that just won’t break up, contacting a professional plumber like Roy Inch & Sons Home Services by Enercare is your best option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s simpler to have an Expert finish the job. That way, you’ll also skip breaking your pipes and a host of troublesome issues like leaks, nonworking seals and unpleasant odors.

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

5. Getting Rid of Grease Down Your Sink

It can seem like it’s not a problem to pour a small amount of oil down your pipes. But as time passes, that grease can build up and block your pipes. If the grease finds its way into the sewer system, it can cling to flushable wipes and create a yucky fatberg like we talked about prior.

To stop plumbing issues, drain the oil into a can. After it solidifies, you can dump it in the garbage.

6. Using Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a beneficial tool for getting rid of small food scraps. But it can’t break up everything. To prevent breakdowns or clogs, we recommend not putting these things 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 is smelly, you can freshen it with citrus peels or a blend of baking soda and vinegar.

7. Ignoring Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Much like your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also has to have annual tune-ups. This service can help us find minor issues before they lead to huge problems, like a damaging water leak. Some of the troubles we are on the lookout for involve:

If you do spot a problem, such as a leaking sink or pipe, it’s crucial to get it repaired immediately before it gets worse or results in damage.

8. Making an Attempt to Fix Your Plumbing Yourself

When you are dealing with a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, we recommend calling an Expert at Roy Inch & Sons Home Services by Enercare for leak repair before it gets bigger or causes damage.

Fixing plumbing is an in-depth job that’s best left to specialists. There’s a reason why plumbers go through extensive certification and licensing. Don’t try to do water pipe repair without help or get a handyman, because you could end up wasting time and creating a costlier expensive problem.

9. Trying to Maintain Your Water Heater Yourself

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

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

10. Not Knowing Where the Water Main Shutoff Is

When your residence has a major water leak, it’s essential to be aware of where the main water valve is and how to shut it off. This valve is usually situated in a mechanical room near your water heater.

If you’re are unsure about where the valve is located, Roy Inch & Sons Home Services by Enercare can help you find it.

It’s also a smart idea to install a water leak protection system that will turn on an alarm and turn off the water if there’s a problem. You can even have a smart system to watch water use and notify you through your phone if there’s trouble.

Whatever plumbing problem you’re experiencing, our Expert plumbers at Roy Inch & Sons Home Services by Enercare are here to assist you. And we’ll support our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year, so you’ll be sure that your repairs were done like they should. Reach us at 226-270-1164 to request your appointment now!