If you own a home, chances are that you’ve experienced some sort of plumbing issue at some point in time. Regardless of the age of your house’s plumbing, clogs will eventually happen. The majority of plumbing problems are primarily self-inflicted, and avoidable.
More often than not, extensive plumbing repairs are the result of poor maintenance and careless use of the system. Most common mistakes homeowners make with their plumbing can be avoided with due diligence and thoughtful actions.
Ignorance Isn’t Always Bliss
As a homeowner, your plate is always full when it comes to home maintenance and repairs. However, we can be our own worst enemy in regards to plumbing. Oftentimes, homeowners are aware of the signs of a plumbing problem, but they put off dealing with the issue until it becomes too big to avoid. Ignoring clogs, slow draining, and other signs of plumbing problems will not make them go away. In fact, minor symptoms can snowball into major plumbing disasters if not remedied immediately.
Heavy Handed Chemical Use
Another common culprit of plumbing problems is the gratuitous use of chemicals to clean and dislodge drain clogs. While these products may alleviate minor clogging and grime buildup, they may actually be doing harm to your pipe if overused.
The chemical reactions that cleaning solutions make to perform their intended tasks also eat away at the inner pipe walls over time. Instead of using harsh chemicals to dislodge minor clogs and clean your pipes, natural vinegar solutions and baking soda or organic cleaners will protect your plumbing from damage.
Drain Misuse
Many plumbing problems arise due to misuse of drains. What we put into the drain travels through the pipes and eventually takes its toll on the system’s ability to drain properly. Grease, meat, oils, soaps, and other products build up in the pipes over time and become traps for clogs. Most severe issues with plumbing have humble beginnings as simple drain misuse.
DIY Plumbing Repairs
While dislodging minor clogs with natural cleansers may be something many homeowners can achieve without calling a professional plumber, taking on do-it-yourself plumbing repairs can lead to an expensive disaster. To correct plumbing problems effectively, the right tools and experience are needed.
A plumber can typically quickly work on resolving plumbing issues without causing further damage to the system or your home. Before you attempt to dive headfirst into your plumbing problems, call a professional plumber.