Tips on Avoiding Common Plumbing Problems

I don’t think there’s anyone who likes calling the plumber for repairs. When there’s an emergency or things go wrong unexpectedly, the thought of related costs can even make for a bad day (or week) gone even worse. I’ve asked experienced plumbers in Lincoln Park, Michigan about their experience with plumbing emergencies. Although not all situations can be avoided, some of them can undoubtedly be prevented. For that reason, I’ve listed some of the most common plumbing problem areas and tips on keeping them from happening to you.

Clogged Kitchen Sink – Hamburger grease, cooking oil and other fats should never be poured down the kitchen drain. As the fats and oils become cool, they solidify and stick to the pipes. After a while, that causes a severe blockage only plumber could eliminate. So, what can you do instead of pouring grease down your kitchen drain? Drain cooking oils and fats into a separate container and dispose of it in the trash can. It’s a good idea to use a strainer in the sink in order to keep jewelry, food waste and other things from washing down the drain and becoming stuck there. Flush the kitchen sink with boiling water on a regular basis to help loosen any food matter or grease inside the kitchen pipes.

Clogged Toilet – Similar to the kitchen sink, clogs in the toilet are commonly result of foreign objects. Although the packaging on many products we use in toilets or kitchens can be rather misleading, the only things you should flush down the toilet is – toilet paper. Cotton balls, cleansing pads, cigarette butts, sanitary napkins and cleaning wipes won’t be broken down adequately and therefore has to be thrown in a garbage can. In case of an overflow, the best thing you can do is to shut off the water supply to the toilet (make sure you know how to do this) and wait until the plumber arrives.

Clogged Bathroom and Shower Sink Drain. Well, soap & hair residues are the enemy number one when it comes to the bathroom drains. A severe blockage is a result of a negligence with these drains. To avoid that, use a strainer to trap soap, hair and other debris before they go down the drain. In case of a clogged drain, try store-bought drain cleaning supplies and, if they don’t have effect, you’ll need to call a plumber.

Washing Machine Floods – We all love our washing machines, don’t we? However, they come with rubber connections hoses which can get dried out, burst and, if you don’t react immediately, flood your home. To avoid this unpleasant washing machine flood, you could replace the rubber hoses with a steel braided ones. You can also contact a plumber to install a water shutoff valve for your washing machine.

Water Heater Quits – Although water heaters usually last a long time, you need to maintain them properly. Homes with hard water need to have water heaters drained to remove the sediment collected at the bottom of the tank. Not only could this buildup clog the water lines, but it can also reduce the efficiency of your water heater.

These cautionary measures, if combined with regular plumbing inspections, can significantly reduce your chances of being faced with an unexpected plumbing emergency cases and the unexpected costs.