6 Smart Tips to Prevent Plumbing Disasters
I have always been a big fan of prevention to avoid any type of potential problems. To be able to do this, we must pack ourselves with the right information and practice mindfulness once fully equipped with the right know-how. This also applies to preventing plumbing disasters.
Properly caring for our plumbing is probably one of the most taken-for-granted must-do tasks. We probably don’t even realize the importance of it or have given so much thought to how having properly working plumbing systems makes our lives easier and more comfortable.
Believe me, having a clogged sink or clogged shower drain will certainly hinder your daily routine. And once plumbing issues hit, not only will it be very stressful, possibly messy, and smelly but it could also be really expensive.
To avoid the stress and the expenses, I am sharing with you 6 smart tips to prevent plumbing disasters (My mantra: stop it before it even happens!)
1. Know what to flush in your toilet — as a general rule, only your bodily waste should go down your toilet. Your toilet is not a trash can, unfortunately, a lot of people treat it like that. Diapers, baby wipes, dental floss, feminine hygiene products, even cat litter are regularly flushed on toilets without second thoughts. These items/products are usual reasons for clogged drains.
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2. Strains/ mesh or drain screens in your drains go a long way — strains are inexpensive but absolutely effective in catching food chunks and debris in your kitchen, while drain screens prevent hair from entering your pipes. In your laundry room, don’t forget to also install lint catchers so that the lint won’t have a chance of entering your drains. Easy steps to make and inexpensive.
3. Dumping grease, oil, and fats in your sink is a big no-no — once they cool down, they will start to congeal and coat your pipes. Once these materials gunk in your pipes, serious problems will follow. It doesn’t only stop with oils and grease; other seemingly innocent food can cause build-ups in your drains. Examples are coffee grounds, rice, starchy food, and more. Do your research and be smart with your waste disposal.
4. Old pipes? Replace them — if you have old pipes, possible rusting, internal buildups, and damages follow. Don’t wait for an issue to happen, replace them. We bought and move into a not-so-new house, part of our to-do list is to have the house be thoroughly inspected by professionals. From electricity down to plumbing system. I am lucky to have a contact with the plumbers near me, so they were able to give in their assessment and carry out necessary repairs and replacements as preventive measures to bigger plumbing issues.
5. Flush your drains regularly — my grandpa actually taught me this. So it is part of my routine to flush hot water + vinegar down the drains. It helps in breaking down things stuck in the pipes and clear out potential clogs.
6. Know when to call in the pros — at the first sign of plumbing issues, just call them in to save yourself time and effort. But just like what I am campaigning for, prevention is better than cure, meaning, even before there is a problem, it is best to call in professional plumbers once or twice a year to check your plumbing system.
Being mindful and doing these precautionary measures will tremendously help you avoid plumbing disasters. Though at some point and despite your best efforts, some uncontrollable variables (like your toddler throwing in a small object in the toilet and many more), will cause a plumbing issue, you should have a go-to contact to help you out. Good luck!
