The Top 10 Things Your Plumber Doesnt Want You to Do

Having to have a plumber in Belleville can be necessary if you are experiencing a leaky or burst pipe. But many times, you can avoid plugging your pipes or breaking your garbage disposal, both of which can be expensive to fix.

Here are some of the most common troubles our professionals receive calls about at D&K Home Services by Enercare and how you can avoid them.

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

Even though they might be known as “flushable wipes,” the right place for them is the waste bin. The only thing that should be flushed (other than the obvious) is toilet paper and septic treatments, if you use a septic system.

A Canadian study that tested 101 such wipes discovered none of them passed a flushability test, according to Forbes. Because flushable wipes don’t disintegrate like toilet paper, they can clog your sewer line and cause your toilet to back up.

They can also cause problems with city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can attach to other nasty things that shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet, such as cooking oil and hygienic products, to create a fatberg. Besides being unhygienic and just plain yucky, environmental nonprofit Green America says these blobs are pricey to repair. If you use a city sewer system, those are bills that could get assigned to you in the future.

Whichever kind of wipe you’re using—makeup remover, cleansing, baby or sanitizing—it should go in the trash once you’re done.

2. Flushing Other Things That Should Go in the Garbage

In addition to flushable wipes, there are a few other things that don’t belong in your toilet. These involve:

In addition to wipes, these things can plug your sewer line and make your toilet run over, sticking you with a costly (and nasty) mess.

3. Dropping in Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs

Using drop-in toilet fresheners could seem like a great way to keep your toilet bowl fresh, but they might do more damage than good. These tablets often contain chemicals, including bleach, which can destroy rubber parts in the tank. And as the tablets melt, they can clog the toilet and stop it from flushing.

4. Dumping Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is plugged, your initial reaction might be to purchase a low-priced liquid drain cleaner. However, there are a few things you should know about 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 intense fumes that can cause 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 plumbing: corrosion, cracks and even failure. 
3. They’re harmful to the environment. As you can determine, these formulas aren’t very environmentally friendly. 
4. They might not even unplug your drain. Despite all the chemicals they have, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a short time. That’s because they often move the clog deeper into your plumbing until it leads to a major problem.

If you do need to use a drain cleaner, we recommend using an enzymatic cleaner. These chemical-free cleaners use bacteria and enzymes to eliminate clogs and bad odors. While they can require more time than a chemical-based cleaner, they’re better for you, your plumbing and the environment.

If you’re experiencing a tough clog that just won’t go away, contacting a professional plumber like D&K Home Services by Enercare is your smartest option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s simpler to have an Expert do the job. That way, you’ll also prevent harming your pipes and a host of bad issues such as leaks, damaged seals and troublesome odors.

After your drain is working like it should, 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 can seem like it’s not a problem to dump a small amount of oil down your sink. But as time passes, that grease can build up and plug your pipes. If the grease gets into the sewer system, it can build up with flushable wipes and develop a yucky fatberg like we talked about prior.

To avoid plumbing issues, drain the fat into a container. After it cools, you can dump it in the garbage.

6. Turning to Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a useful tool for getting rid of small food scraps. But it can’t break up everything. To stop problems or clogs, we recommend 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 is smelly, you can clean it with citrus peels or a blend of baking soda and vinegar.

7. Ignoring Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Much like your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also has to have annual service. This service can help us find small issues before they lead to huge problems, such as a damaging water leak. Some of the issues we check for include:

If you do see a problem, including a leaking sink or pipe, it’s crucial to get it fixed immediately before it gets worse or results in damage.

8. Attempting to Fix Your Plumbing Without Professional Help

When you are experiencing a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, we suggest calling an Expert at D&K Home Services by Enercare for leak repair before it gets worse or causes damage.

Repairing plumbing is a detailed job that’s best completed by specialists. There’s a reason why plumbers complete extensive certification and licensing. Don’t attempt water pipe repair on your own or get a handyman, because you could end up wasting time and creating a more expensive problem.

9. Trying to Service Your Water Heater Yourself

When it comes to your water heater, service and upkeep is best left to the pros. This includes draining it or testing the temperature and pressure valve. If this isn’t completed properly, you could burn yourself with scalding water or flood your house.

Experienced water heater maintenance offers peace of mind that your water heater is running like it should. It also offers you a heads-up when it’s time to start considering water heater replacement, since they often only last for about 10 years.

10. Not Realizing Where the Water Main Shutoff Is

In the event your residence has a large water leak, it’s important to be knowledgeable about where the main water valve is and how to shut it off. This valve is often located in a mechanical room near your water heater.

If you’re don’t know where the valve is located, D&K Home Services by Enercare can help you find it.

It’s also a smart idea to install a water leak protection system that will turn on an alarm and turn off the water if there’s an issue. You can even get a smart system to monitor water use and tell you on your phone if there’s trouble.

Whatever plumbing issue you’re experiencing, our Expert plumbers at D&K Home Services by Enercare are ready 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 completed right. Contact us at 613-707-2421 to schedule your appointment today!