13 Plumbing Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make

If you believe in superstitions, Friday the 13th is considered one of the most unlucky days of the year. While you keep an eye out for black cats, avoid walking under ladders and making sure you don’t break any mirrors — you’ll want to also avoid making these plumbing mistakes (that we assure you, are more than just a superstition).

Don’t Make These 13 Plumbing Mistakes:

  1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes – They may say flushable on the package, but because “flushable” wipes do not break down, they can cause serious plumbing clogs in your drains if they get caught.
  2. Forgetting to Drain Your Water Heater – Water heater maintenance is essential to keeping your system running smoothly. Don’t forget to perform regular maintenance and flush your system annually.
  3. Delaying Fixing Leaky Faucets – A faucet drip may seem like a minor plumbing problem, but they can add up to significant water waste over time. Leaky faucets can also add wear and tear on your fixtures and your sink basin.
  4. Using Chemical Drain Cleaners – Slow draining sink? Think twice before reaching for a bottle of liquid drain cleaners. These harsh chemicals can damage your plumbing drains.
  5. Putting the Wrong Foods in Your Garbage Disposal – Be careful what you put down your garbage disposal while preparing your next family feast. Starchy vegetables, stringy foods, hard leftover bones from meat, and greasy foods can damage your garbage disposal blades and clog your kitchen sink.
  6. Pouring Grease Down the Drain – Although it may look like a liquid when hot, grease cools and hardens as it goes through your drains, sticking to the sides of your plumbing pipes. Avoid a clogged drain and dispose of grease in the trash, instead.
  7. Not Using a Drain Trap – Don’t let hair go down the shower drain! Make sure that you have a drain trap in place. Hair, food particles, and even soap can clog your drains.
  8. Putting a Shower Caddy on Your Bathroom Fixture – Although convenient, you’ll want to find another place for your shower caddy than hanging off of your shower head. The weight of the caddy can put a lot of strain on your plumbing fixture.
  9. Flushing Household Items Down the Toilet – Flushable wipes aren’t the only thing that you should be keeping out of your toilet. Make sure that you avoid flushing anything other than waste down your drains. This means no cotton balls, paper towels and toys, etc.
  10. Putting Leftovers from a DIY Project Down the Drain – Finished painting the bedroom? Don’t dump leftover paint down the drain! All construction materials should be disposed in the trash.
  11. Pulling Hard on the Faucet Handle – Your faucet water won’t turn off and you pull the handle really hard, expecting it to stop the drip — this is a common plumbing mistake. Pushing or pulling on your handle very hard can actually damage your faucet even more.
  12. Forgetting How Things Go Back Together – So you tried the DIY plumbing route and you took apart your kitchen faucet — don’t forget to write down how it all goes back together again! Taking apart the components is easy, but putting them back together without remembering the disassembly process isn’t.
  13. Not knowing where your main water valve is located – Every homeowner should know where their main water valve is located in the event of an emergency. When your basement starts to flood — knowing where your main water valve is located could save you from flooding damage.

If you do run into any plumbing problems today — or any day during this spooky Halloween season, do not hesitate to reach out to our professionals here at Barker & Sons Plumbing and Rooter. We are here to help you with all of your plumbing and drain cleaning needs!