The Top 10 Things Your Plumber Doesnt Want You to Do

Having to have a plumber in Melbourne can be unavoidable if you have a leaky or broken pipe. But a lot of the time, you can stop clogging your pipes or requiring repairs for your garbage disposal, both of which can be costly to repair.

Here are some of the most common troubles our Experts field calls about at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning and how you can stop them.

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

Even though they might be referred to as “flushable wipes,” the best location for them is the trash. The only thing that should be flushed (other than the obvious) is toilet paper and septic treatments, if you have a septic system.

A Canadian study that examined 101 such wipes discovered none of them passed a flushability test, according to Forbes. Since flushable wipes don’t disintegrate like toilet paper, they can clog your sewer line and lead to your toilet backing up.

They can also wreak havoc on city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can conglomerate with other gross things that shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet, like cooking fat and hygienic products, to create a fatberg. In addition to being dirty and just plain nasty, environmental nonprofit Green America says these masses are expensive to get rid of. If you rely on a city sewer system, those are bills that could get passed on to you in the future.

Whichever style of wipe you’re using—makeup remover, cleansing, baby or sanitizing—it should go in the trash once you’re complete.

2. Flushing Other Things That Belong in the Garbage

In addition to flushable wipes, there are a couple other things that don’t belong in your toilet. These cover:

Like wipes, these things can block your sewer line and make your toilet run over, sticking you with a costly (and gross) mess.

3. Relying on Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs

Having drop-in toilet fresheners may seem like a great way to keep your toilet bowl sanitary, but they can cause more trouble than good. These tablets usually contain chemicals, like bleach, which can wreck rubber parts in the tank. And as the tablets dissolve, they can plug the toilet and keep it from flushing.

4. Using Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is clogged, your first answer might be to purchase a cheap liquid drain cleaner. However, there are a few things you should realize about these drain cleaners.

1. They’re harmful. Drain cleaners are a toxic combination of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also create strong fumes that can result in respiratory irritation. 
2. They can eat through your pipes. If these cleaners can burn your skin, consider what they can do to your pipes: corrosion, fractures and even failure. 
3. They’re bad for the environment. As you can imagine, these chemicals aren’t very good for the environment. 
4. They might not even work. Regardless of all the chemicals they include, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a short time. That’s since they often push the clog deeper into your plumbing until it creates a major problem.

If you do have to have a drain cleaner, we suggest using an enzymatic cleaner. These chemical-free cleaners use bacteria and enzymes to get rid of clogs and unpleasant odors. While they might work more slowly than a chemical-based cleaner, they’re healthier for you, your plumbing and the environment.

If you’re dealing with a tough clog that just won’t dissolve, getting in touch with a professional plumber like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is your smartest option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s simpler to have an Expert perform the job. That way, you’ll also skip breaking your pipes and many other bad issues such as leaks, damaged seals and troublesome odors.

After your drain is clear, keep it that way by using a screen to keep hair or food scraps from plugging it again.

5. Getting Rid of Grease Down Your Sink

It can seem like it’s not a problem to dump a small amount of oil down your sink. But over time, that grease can accumulate and plug your pipes. If the grease leaks into the sewer system, it can stick to flushable wipes and develop a gross fatberg like we talked about prior.

To skip plumbing woes, drain the oil into a bowl. After it hardens, you can throw it away in the waste can.

6. Turning to Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a useful tool for eliminating small food scraps. But it can’t get rid of everything. To prevent malfunctions or clogs, we recommend not putting these items down your garbage disposal:

• Coffee grounds 
• Pasta, oats, rice and bread 
• Bones, nuts, pits and seeds 
• Eggshells 
• Onions and potato peels 
• Fibrous fruits and vegetables 
• Grease

If your garbage disposal smells bad, you can freshen it with citrus peels or a blend of baking soda and vinegar.

7. Skipping Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Similar to your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also needs regular service. This service can help us spot small issues before they result in big problems, such as a damaging water leak. Some of the troubles we check for include:

If you do find trouble, like a dripping sink or pipe, it’s important to get it taken care of without delay before it gets worse or results in damage.

8. Trying to Fix Your Plumbing Yourself

When you have a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, we recommend calling an Expert at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for leak repair before it gets worse or leads to damage.

Repairing plumbing is a detailed job that’s best left to pros. There’s a reason why plumbers complete extensive certification and licensing. Don’t try water pipe repair on your own or call a handyman, as you could end up wasting time and making a pricier expensive problem.

9. Trying to Tune Up Your Water Heater Without Professional Help

When it comes to your water heater, service and tune-ups are best left to the professionals. This includes draining it or testing the temperature and pressure valve. If this isn’t performed properly, you could burn yourself with boiling water or flood your residence.

Pro water heater maintenance provides peace of mind that your water heater is running properly. It also offers you a heads-up when it’s time to start considering water heater replacement, because they typically only run for about 10 years.

10. Not Realizing Where the Water Main Shutoff Is

If your home has a major water leak, it’s critical to know where the main water valve is and how to switch it off. This valve is usually located in a mechanical room near your water heater.

If you’re still not sure where the valve is located, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help you find it.

It’s also a good idea to install a water leak protection system that will alert you and cut off the water if there’s an issue. You can even get a smart system to keep an eye on water use and notify you via your phone if there’s a leak.

Whatever plumbing trouble you’re faced with, our Expert plumbers at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning are here to provide support. And we’ll support our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year, so you’ll be sure that your repairs were done right. Contact us at 321-428-7635 to request your appointment right away!