Your Plumber Wants You to Stop Doing These 10 Things Now

Requiring a plumber in Wheeling can be inevitable if you are experiencing a drippy or ruptured pipe. But many times, you can prevent plugging your pipes or breaking your garbage disposal, both of which can be expensive to repair.

Here are some of the most regular issues our professionals get calls about at Comfort Masters Service Experts and how you can prevent them.

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

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

A Canadian study that looked at 101 such wipes discovered none of them passed a flushability test, according to Forbes. As flushable wipes don’t break down like toilet paper, they can plug your sewer line and lead to your toilet backing up.

They can also wreak havoc on city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can combine with other yucky things that shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet, such as cooking fat and hygienic products, to lead to a fatberg. In addition to being unhygienic and just plain gross, environmental nonprofit Green America says these blobs are costly to repair. If you’re on a city sewer system, those are bills that could get shuffled to you in the long run.

No matter what kind of wipe you’re using—makeup remover, cleansing, baby or sanitizing—it should go in the trash once you’re complete.

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

Besides 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 back up your toilet, saddling you with a pricey (and icky) mess.

3. Dropping in Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs

Using drop-in toilet fresheners may seem like a smart way to keep your toilet bowl sanitary, but they can cause more trouble than good. These tablets often contain chemicals, including bleach, which can destroy rubber parts in the tank. And as the tablets break down, they can plug the toilet and keep it from flushing.

4. Buying Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is clogged, your first answer might be to purchase a low-priced liquid drain cleaner. However, there are some things you should be aware of when it involves these drain cleaners.

1. They’re harmful. Drain cleaners are a toxic mixture of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also create severe fumes that can result in respiratory irritation. 
2. They can eat away at your pipes. If these cleaners can burn your skin, think about what they can do to your pipes: corrosion, cracks and even failure. 
3. They’re bad for the environment. As you can figure out, these chemicals aren’t very helpful for the environment. 
4. They might not even unclog your drain. Regardless of all the chemicals they include, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a limited time. That’s due to the fact they often force the clog further into your plumbing until it leads to a big problem.

If you do have to have a drain cleaner, we advise using an enzymatic cleaner. These chemical-free cleaners have bacteria and enzymes to get rid of clogs and foul odors. While they could take more time than a chemical-based cleaner, they’re healthier for you, your plumbing and the environment.

If you’re dealing with a tough clog that just won’t break up, getting in touch with a professional plumber like Comfort Masters Service Experts is your wisest option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s simpler to have a professional complete the job. That way, you’ll also skip damaging your pipes and many other troublesome issues such as leaks, broken seals and unpleasant odors.

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

5. Getting Rid of Grease Down Your Sink

It might seem like it’s not a big deal to drain a little bit of grease down your sink. But over time, that grease can accumulate and block your pipes. If the grease leaks into the sewer system, it can cling to flushable wipes and create a gross fatberg like we talked about previously.

To prevent plumbing woes, drain the grease into a bowl. After it solidifies, you can throw it away in the garbage.

6. Using Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a useful tool for breaking up small food scraps. But it can’t get rid of everything. To stop malfunctions or clogs, we advise 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 has a bad smell, you can revive it with citrus peels or a combination of baking soda and vinegar.

7. Ignoring Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Just like your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also needs regular service. This service can help us spot minor issues before they cause big problems, like a damaging water leak. Some of the troubles we check for include:

If you do spot trouble, including a dripping sink or pipe, it’s crucial to get it fixed without delay before it gets bigger or results in damage.

8. Attempting to Fix Your Plumbing Yourself

When you have a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, we suggest calling an Expert at Comfort Masters Service Experts for leak repair before it gets bigger or results in damage.

Repairing plumbing is a detailed job that’s best completed by pros. There’s a reason why plumbers finish extensive certification and licensing. Don’t try to do water pipe repair without help or get a handyman, since you could end up wasting time and having a pricier expensive problem.

9. Trying to Service Your Water Heater Yourself

When it comes to your water heater, service and tune-ups are best left to the pros. 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.

Professional water heater maintenance provides peace of mind that your water heater is operating right. It also offers you notice ahead of time when it’s time to start planning for water heater replacement, since they typically only last for about 10 years.

10. Not Realizing Where the Water Main Shutoff Is

In the event your home has a large water leak, it’s important to know where the main water valve is and how to turn it off. This valve is often found in a mechanical room near your water heater.

If you’re are unsure about where the valve is located, Comfort Masters Service Experts can help you find it.

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

Whatever plumbing issue you’re experiencing, our Expert plumbers at Comfort Masters Service Experts are here to provide support. And we’ll support our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year, so you’ll know that your repairs were finished right. Give us a call at 847-250-6729 to request your appointment now!