Plumbing problems are – let’s be honest here – inevitable. Most problems come from aging fixtures and the usual wear or tear of equipment. Since Plumbing systems are crucial aspects of the house’s infrastructure, damages can cause many inconveniences and significantly lower one’s quality of life. To make things easier for people, we compiled a list of behaviours that may lead to plumbing damages.
1- DIY fixes:
We could all do with some extra cash, and many people would be ready to do a surprising type and amount of work to keep their hard-earned wealth in their pocket. So, it’s common for people to want to save money by fixing many maintenance problems themselves. Many a time, we end up relying on internet tutorial videos or articles. Sometimes, the strategy works, but often, the result is that the situation becomes even worse than before. People also try to ignore their problems by coming up with a straightforward solution for a potentially big problem. For instance, when people just put a bucket underneath a leaky pipe. It’s a solution for mould and damaged floors, but the real issue is still there.
2- Strong home products:
Often, when people can’t unclog the gutter manually, they opt for throwing a drain cleaner down the sink or trap. It may be a quick fix that rids you of the problem for the time being, but it will make things worse in the long run. Harsh chemicals in home products can eat away at the pipes and severely damage them. Though some people do opt for all-natural clog-removing recipes, it doesn’t solve much. It’s useless if the problem is not a clogged drain and something much more sinister instead.
Toilet refreshers can be similarly damaging to the pipes. Despite their durability, sometimes a piece can break off and get stuck in the lines. A clog because of a toilet refresher can be extremely challenging to remove.
3- Roots:
Roots deep in the ground can reach and wrap around pipes, often breaking through the tubes. This hazard leads to leakage and backed-up sewers. Especially if you have clay pipes, be careful where you grow your plants, and regularly get a “rooter” to check upon them.
4- Septic tank chemicals:
People tend to casually dump any substance down the drain without realising that bleach, paint, acid, and other household chemicals can cause a build-up of corrosive materials that could end up damaging your pipes and tank critically. Not to mention how these chemicals can also hinder the septic tank in cleaning the water. It’s better to find the correct path of disposal for these substances.
5- Grease:
Despite how often it ends up down the drain, it isn’t supposed to. You see, as grease cools, it hardens and forms a clogged “artery” in the piping. The resultant clog is sticky and difficult to move and can potentially block the whole pipe.
6- Disposing of trash through the plumbing system:
Garbage disposals can digest many things, but we often throw refuse into it that we really shouldn’t be. For example, as mentioned before, grease and harsh substances are detrimental to the drainage system, and garbage disposal can’t do much about them. Among other things, bones that we throw so nonchalantly down the drain can also block it up – even if they got shredded to smaller bits.
Flushing the wrong items down the toilet also commonly cause a block in the system. Just because it left your site doesn’t mean it got to the septic tank. Too much tissue paper, plastic, a large amount of chewing gum, sanitary products, etc., are some things that people make the mistake of flushing down the toilet, which later clog up and cause problems.
7- Old water heaters:
Water heaters usually have a ten-year duration, and home owners should get them replaced after this period. A defective water heater can cause back-ups, leakages, and all manner of other problems in your home. The owners should also get the heaters inspected regularly. If a problem occurs, you should leave it up to the professionals rather than dealing with it on your own.
8- Old hoses:
Most people do not even think about the hoses attached to their washing machines or dishwashers, which is a mistake. These pipes do degrade over time resulting in leaks and other problems. Not to mention the fact that hoses tend to get clogged up as well. You should regularly clean up and check on these hoses, even the ones under your bathroom sink.
