Preferred Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning Offers Tips to Avoid Causing Your Own Plumbing Problems

September 05, 2014 (PRLEAP.COM) Lifestyle News
September 5, 2014 - Do you feel like you have the same plumbing problems over and over? Is your drain constantly clogged or your garbage disposal often stops mid-grind? Your own bad habits may be causing these inconveniences.

People are often in a hurry or frankly are too lazy to take the little steps necessary to keep everything working properly. Without some minor diligence, these little issues can become bigger problems at the most inconvenient times, and cost a lot more money to fix. Bruce F. Smith, president and general manager at Preferred Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, shares some day-to-day tips to keep from causing your own plumbing problems.

Clogged Drain – this is one of those things that we all know how to avoid, but we can be a bit lazy or too rushed to do. Make it a habit to clean any hair or soap debris from bathroom drains and keep food pieces only on the garbage disposal side of the kitchen sink. The easiest solution to avoid clogged drains is to use a drain screen to keep all the debris out. These are at bed and bath stores, hardware stores and even some drug stores.

Incorrect use of the garbage disposal – again, it's usually when we are trying to do too much too fast that we get into trouble. Be sure not to overfill your garbage disposal. This can put too much pressure on the motor causing it to shut down or get caught and stop. Also keep in mind, not everything can go in the disposal. Corn husks and artichoke leaves can jam the blades, and potato peels and eggs shells may not fully break down and can clog your pipes.

In this area you definitely get what you pay for. There are builders' models that can barely take celery if you are lucky and there are models that will chew up a 2×4 and keep on going – very quietly and with a lifetime warranty. When it's time to replace, definitely consider your personal needs and habits to choose the right model. Big Box stores carry completely different lines than professional plumbers. It is wise to consult both for information to make a correct decision. Warranties and strength are the two main areas to consider.

Weighing down the shower fixture – shower caddies can be handy for holding all of your shampoos, conditioner, bath gel, shaving cream, body scrub, wash cloth…do you see the possible problem here? While most fixtures tend to be pretty strong, you still need to realize that they really weren't meant to be hooks. Make sure your shower caddy isn't putting so much weight on the fixture that it may be pulling out of the wall.

Bad flushing habits – many people think the toilet is just a "water trash can," but this couldn't be farther from the truth. It really was designed for just a few specific "things" that would flush and break down easily. Others that are also considered "bathroom" items such as sanitary items, baby wipes and diapers don't break down enough to go through the pipes. Even small things such as Q-Tips and even tissue should go in the real trash can instead.

Letting leaky faucets go too long – besides the annoyance of the "drip, drip, drip," a leaky faucet can cause other issues as well. The constant moisture in the dripping area can create mold, mildew and other stains that may be difficult to remove the longer they grow. And, the cause of the leaky faucet may be corrosion, mineral deposits or easily replaced parts. However, if you wait too long, the bit of corrosion or easily replaced parts can become bigger causing the whole system to need a more costly replacement.

A little routine diligence can go a long way to avoid common plumbing problems. However, if you have already allowed any of these little things to become a real issue, give us a call at Preferred Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning (760.863.0832) and we will help get everything running smoothly again.

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