Sometimes, homeowners make some mistakes unknowingly and end up facing the worst plumbing problems they have ever encountered. Others ignore warnings for some reason and later on regret their actions. Many plumbers will tell you that if you want to avoid mishaps, you better avoid making these mistakes:
FLUSHING THINGS DOWN THE TOILET
Ask any plumber about it and he will tell you a funny or nightmarish story about how people flush the most bizarre things down the toilet. There are still your usual culprits – tissues or wipes, cigarette butts, and every once in a while a candy wrapper. But there are some bizarre finds, too, like action figures, golf balls, perfume bottles, and more. If any of these or other items get stuck in the trap, your toilet should be removed to get them out. If you try to plunge, you can actually make the situation worse as you push the item into the waste line.
PULLING OR TURNING THE FAUCET HANDLE TOO HARD
Putting too much pressure on a faucet handle when you are trying to turn it off or when you’re trying to stop a chronic drip can make matters worse. A lot of homeowners crank on the handle when it is not properly working. However, doing this can actually break the handle, adding to your list of worries.
PUTTING TOO MUCH WEIGHT ON BATHROOM FIXTURES
We know that you’re just trying to make use of that wall space and it seems practical to simply hang a rack on the showerhead and place your shampoo and other bath essentials there. The problem is, your showerhead is not designed to carry that much weight! Doing so can snap your showerhead off at the threads. That’s going to be a bigger problem!
USING THE GARBAGE DISPOSAL LIKE A TRASH CAN
We know that this appliance’s name makes you think it’s the right place for all your garbage. But that’s not the case. In fact, most garbage does not belong in the disposal. The problem is a lot of homeowners cram their trash down there. Doing this often causes the blades to stop turning. Make sure that you let everyone in the house to know that they shouldn’t dump everything down the disposal, too.
These mistakes may seem pretty simple – and they are. Unfortunately, when you commit these mistakes over and over, the results could be disastrous. If you are guilty of any of these errors and you fear that you have compromised your home’s plumbing, it is best to have everything checked by a professional. Contact Hayes Plumbing today, and we’ll be there to help!
