Plumbing is essential in every home. Seriously, who wants to go back to the days before the convenience of indoor plumbing. But plumbing is also one of the most expensive things for a homeowner to maintain.
People often ask us for our best advice for homeowners. After all, many of the issues we are called on to repair were caused by the homeowner in the first place. Homeowners often make plumbing mistakes that end up costing them tens of thousands of dollars sooner or later. In this article, we will share our top ten tips to avoid making these same costly mistakes.
10 Plumbing No-No's
1. Not knowing where the main shut-off valve is located.
Here's a little secret from a plumber. When a plumber moves his family into a new home, one of the first things he does is drag his children down to the basement to show them where the cut-off valve is.
Why? Because plumbing problems have a nasty way of turning up when the least prepared person in the house is home. Letting everybody in the house know where the main cut-off value is located comes in handy if you ever have a plumbing emergency and need to turn off the water quickly.
Not sure this matters? We recently had a call from a mom whose 8-year-old son came home from school to find a puddle on the kitchen floor. He immediately went down to the cut-off valve and turned it off. Then he called his mom. When we got there, we found a major leak under the dishwasher. Because of this kid's quick thinking, the leak was confined to the kitchen and had not yet leaked down to the basement.
2. DIY Plumbing
We love those DIY shows and we have several customers who have built some beautiful things in their homes. But we absolutely believe that unless you are a certified professional, you should not ever try to do your own plumbing.
Many plumbing problems are complex and require special training and skills to fix properly. Even the ones that seem simple like reinstalling a toilet, you took out so you could paint a room, can be far more complicated than you thought.
For instance, did you know that if you take some pipes out of your home and replace them, you may have interrupted the grounding? Really. Homeowners have been shocked in the shower because of this very thing.
Leave plumbing to the professionals. We are happy to help you with projects that require plumbing. We actually enjoy seeing the new bathroom you are putting in and are happy to help with just the plumbing.
3. Stop Clogging Your Drains
Slow drains are often caused by grease and oil being disposed of down the drain. This is a no-no for sure. They can build up in your pipes and cause clogs.
4. Ignoring Leaks
In a recent article, we wrote about the importance of addressing leaks immediately. Leaks should never be ignored, no matter how small they may seem. Even a tiny leak can waste a lot of water and increase your water bill.
Worse still, a leak that is left for too long can lead to mold and mildew in your home. Mold and mildew can cause serious health issues and mold remediation can be incredibly expensive. We have seen a simple leak left unreported cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
Don't ignore your leaks.
5. Using The Toilet As A Garbage Can
The toilet is not a garbage can. Only human waste and toilet paper should be flushed down the toilet.
In an earlier article, we wrote about the danger of flushable wipes. Many of the wipes that are labeled flushable actually aren't. Don't fall into this trap. It can be very expensive.
6. Overloading The Garbage Disposal
Your garbage disposal can handle some food scraps, but it shouldn't be overloaded. Avoid putting hard-to-grind items, such as bones or fruit seeds, down the disposal. And even when the food is soft and disposable, avoid overloading it. This can cause damage to the motor.
7. Trying To Clear A Drain
Homeowners can definitely clear a drain a good portion of the time. The problem is when the efforts go to the extreme. Caustic drain cleaners should be used sparingly, if at all. They are harsh chemicals that can damage your pipes and plumbing fixtures. We see homeowners with the attitude of if a little doesn't work let's try the whole thing. This can be extremely dangerous for your plumbing.
8. Not Maintaining Your Plumbing
Unlike your HVAC system, plumbing is pretty easy to maintain. You should have your plumbing system checked by a professional every few years. This will help identify any potential problems before they become serious and help you budget for repairs that might be on the horizon.
9. Insulate Your Pipes
If you live in an area with cold winters, be sure to insulate any exposed pipes. This will prevent them from freezing and bursting. This is such a simple solution to what can be a terribly expensive problem but homeowners ignore it over and over again.
10. Overwhelming Yourself And The Plumber
One of the mistakes we see by first-time homebuyers is trying to do too many plumbing repairs at once. This can be overwhelming and can lead to mistakes being made. It's best to take things one step at a time. Let us help guide you on the best projects to take on this year.
For all your plumbing needs and to assist with those “plumbing mistakes”, our team at Linthicum Plumbing is ready to help. Call today to schedule an appointment - (410) 768-5350