Bad Habits That Cause Plumbing Issues

At All Hours Plumbing, Drain Cleaning, Heating & Cooling, we’re proud to be your go-to emergency plumbing service in Utah. We’re on call 24 hours a day to handle all your plumbing needs large and small, and there’s no issue we haven’t seen or dealt with.

Many of these issues are simply unavoidable, but there are many that fall into another class: Those caused by poor habits around the home. A few basic areas of avoidance can keep you away from costly plumbing repair calls, and save our services for the true accidents you can’t control. Here are a few tips for habits to avoid in the home.

Overusing Products

It’s great to keep your drains clean and free of gunk, but there’s a balance to strike here. Constantly overusing too many drain cleaning products can actually lead to worse results than a little blockage would have in the first place – it can cause corrosion in the drain and actually make clogs worse in many cases.

In addition, too many harsh chemicals in your drains can interfere with the waste-eating bacteria present in your septic tank. In worst cases, this can cause a sewage backup when your tank, which relies on these bacteria, doesn’t have enough to function properly.

Misuse of Sink and Garbage Disposal

The sink is another area where balance is vital. Food and other minor scraps shouldn’t just be poured down the drain and left to sit – with proper running water, they should be ground up in the garbage disposal. Certain items, such as oil and fat, should never be poured down any drain since they’ll cause hardening.

At the same time, using the disposal as a virtual trashcan for any item you can think of is absolutely not the correct approach. A blocked garbage disposal can be a large expense, so think about the load you’re placing on it.

Damaged Hidden Pipes

If you’re the type who likes to make home improvements, just be careful when drilling into walls or floors. You may damage pipes you can’t see and create an issue only a plumber can fix.

Incorrect Toilet Use

It’s one of the most common calls plumbers get – people hear the warnings about the kinds of material that should be flushed down the toilet, and they keep right on flushing down other stuff anyway. Things like feminine products, cotton balls or Q-tips are not meant to go down the toilet – they can block both the toilet itself and the rest of your system in some cases. If it’s not natural waste or specifically designed toilet paper, find another outlet to dispose of it.

Need to know more? Our experts at All Hours Plumbing, Drain Cleaning, Heating & Cooling are awaiting your call.