5 Plumbing Mistakes Plumbers Beg You to Stop Doing

Plumbers NC Charlotte

Plumbers in Charlotte, NC, Beg You to Avoid These 5 Plumbing Mistakes!

As a master plumber and owner of a Charlotte, NC, plumbing company, Dave Parker has seen a lot of things in his 30 years of plumbing. He's got stories to tell. The following are 5 plumbing mistakes he wishes you wouldn't make:

1. Don't use Drano on that clogged drain!

Don't bother with chemical drain cleaners. Not only are they ineffective, but they put you and our plumbing technicians at risk of chemical burns and even blindness.

I know you have been told by decades of commercials that these chemical drain cleaners work, but they don't. At best, they might burn a tiny hole in the clog blocking your drain, giving you temporary (and dangerous) relief. They also can damage your pipes (corroding them), causing a bigger problem later on, and they are rough on our plumbing equipment.

Instead, try the following:

  • Hot water
  • Dish soap (de-greaser)
  • Plunger (yes, on the drain)
  • Snake (auger)

If you still can't unclog the drain, give us a call, and we'll use professional-grade hydro-jetters and augers to clear the drain without hurting your pipes. To prevent clogged pipes, use a disposable plastic Zip-It to clean out hair and other gunk from drains on a regular basis, and use an environmentally-friendly drain cleaner like BioClean once a month. The bacteria in a cleaner like BioClean eats the bad bacteria, cleaning your drains and pipes for real. That's what we like to see!

2. Stop throwing things away in the toilet!

We know a lot of things are labeled "flushable," but things like cat litter, feminine products, wipes, makeup remover pads, and even toilet scrubbers are not made to go down the toilet. If it's not human waste or toilet paper, throw it into a garbage can, not the toilet.

3. Don't abuse your garbage disposal.

Most people seem to think the garbage disposal is a catch-all system intended to handle anything and everything, but the truth is it's really supposed to just be a protective system for things that accidentally fall down the kitchen drain. Most garbage disposals can't handle grease, chicken skin, bones, vegetable peels, or pots of starch like pasta or rice. Many of these things coat the blades and the sides of the garbage disposal, setting you up for pretty stinky garbage disposal.

Throw most food scraps into the trash can, and then run your garbage disposal for the small things that are left behind. Run ice cubes and cold water down your disposal at least once a month to keep the blades sharp.

4. Skip the drop-in toilet fresheners.

We know how pretty that blue water is, and we understand that you want the assurance that your toilet bowl is continuously being disinfected. However, drop-in toilet fresheners have more negatives than positives. They erode toilet tank parts, they get stuck in the valve when they've disintegrated partially, and they can make your pets and young children sick if they drink from the toilet or play in the toilet.

The truth is, they don't truly keep your toilets disinfected, either; much of the problem areas (germ-wise) are toilet seats and around the rim of the toilet, places the water doesn't hit anyway.

Stick to cleaning your toilet once a week (inexpensive and only takes a couple of minutes), and stop using the drop-in fresheners. Your toilet parts will last longer, and your pets (and young children) will be safer.

5. Don't test the water heater pressure valve on your own.

We're all about do-it-yourself projects (see our blog posts giving advice on how to safely perform plumbing projects), but this is one you'll want to leave to the professionals. Why? Because that pressure valve can release some pretty hot steam, and you'll likely scald yourself. If it breaks while you're testing it, you can end up with a huge mess (and a terrible burn), resulting in costly plumbing repairs and time spent in the emergency room.

We do recommend that you drain and flush your water heater annually (click here for instructions) to extend the life of your water heater, but we recommend you don't try fixing the pressure valve or replacing the anode rod by yourself. If you aren't handy, consider having a plumber out to flush your water heater, test the pressure valve and replace the anode rod every three years. This low-cost investment can extend the life of your water heater by years and will keep you safe.

Need an Emergency Plumber in Charlotte?

Already got a plumbing problem on your hands? Give us a call at 704-269-1066 or use our online contact form to get plumbers in Charlotte, NC, at your service!

We are committed to solving your plumbing problems or preventing future problems in an affordable and reliable manner. Our motto is "Serviced Once, Client for Life!" That means we'll do what it takes to make sure you get the service you need on your schedule and in a way that leaves you completely satisfied. We're more concerned about your long-term satisfaction than making a quick sale. We look forward to meeting you!

Plumbers NC Charlotte

Article Summary

Quick question & answer: What are the most common plumbing mistakes?

Here are 5 plumbing mistakes Charlotte, NC plumbers urge you not to make! Don’t use Drano to unclog a drain. Stop throwing things away in your toilet. Don’t abuse your garbage disposal. Skip the drop-in toilet fresheners. Don’t test the water heater pressure valve on your own.

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