6 Plumbing Don’ts – and 4 Plumbing Dos – for Your Home

If you’re like most people, you take your home plumbing system for granted – until it backs up and you need plumbing repairs.

To help prevent these painful experiences – and the hundreds of dollars in expensive plumbing repairs that come with them – here is a short list of plumbing dos and don’ts to keep things flowing in your home.

The Don’ts:

1. Don’t put everything down your garbage disposal. Garbage disposals are a little like us – the more care you take in what you put in them, the longer they’ll live. Avoid putting fibrous foods like celery, onions, and cornhusks in your disposal – their “strings” can cause real problems. No gummy rice or pasta, either.
2. Don’t use chemical drain cleaners. Chemical drain cleaners can do a number on your pipes – and most don’t work. Better to use a plunger – or better yet, call us.
3. Don’t delay cleaning out your shower and bathtub drains. When hair and soap scum builds up, it can block your drain – turning your morning shower into an unexpected bath. If the drain is already blocked, clean out the hair from the trap using a snake; a plunger won’t work. If that doesn’t help, call us.
4. Don’t treat your toilet like a garbage pail. That means no cotton balls, paper towels, or feminine hygiene products. Ever.
5. Don’t pour grease down the drain. Yes, it’s liquid when it’s hot. But grease solidifies as it cools, narrowing your pipe and trapping more debris as it hardens. Instead, pour the grease into a can or a jar and throw it away.
6. Don’t ignore small problems. Leaks and clogs almost always become bigger problems over time. It’s not worth the wait ¬– deal with the problem when you first see it.

The Dos:

1. DO pour 2-3 gallons of boiling water down bathtub drains once a month. It prevents excess build-up of hair and grease.
2. DO open drain on water heater twice a year to remove sediment. You’ll gain efficiency and save money. If you don’t know how, call us.
3. DO grind ice in your disposer. This helps to keep the blades sharp.
4. DO occasionally remove and clean aerators. You’ll get more even spray, increased flow, and better-tasting water.

If you take all these precautions and STILL have plumbing problems (it happens, unfortunately), you can rest assured knowing that Black Bear is just a phone call away.