Don’t take your plumbing system for granted. While reliable plumbing starts with good installation, it ends with proper maintenance on your part. To avoid mishaps, such as clogging, backups, and leaks, learn what you should and shouldn’t do to prolong the working life of your home plumbing system.

4 Home Plumbing Maintenance Tips

1. Don’t Pour Oil & Grease Down the Drain

Cooking oils, animal fats, butter, and other greasy products should never go down the drain. Oily substances congeal as they cool and will end up forming massive grease balls. Grease balls can clog both private septic and public systems, so do your part in curbing their formation by keeping them out of your pipes.

2. Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners

They might be convenient when you’re in a pinch, but chemical drain cleaners are extremely bad for plumbing and the environment. What they ultimately end up doing is eroding your pipes faster than normal, while only partially breaking up clogs. For a permanent drain cleaning solution, have a plumber snake your clogged pipes.

3. Don’t Flush Anything but Toilet Paper

Avoid backing up your toilet by only flushing toilet paper and waste. Do not flush anything else. Products like wet wipes, diapers, cat litter, and feminine hygiene products might be tempting to flush, but they do not biodegrade fast enough and will quickly clog a wastewater system.

4. Save Tough Peels for the Trash or Compost Pile

Even if you have a garbage disposal, avoid putting food scraps down the drain. Some examples of what doesn’t belong in your disposal include fruit or vegetable peels, celery stalks, husks, and other fibrous materials. These will clog your pipes and should be composted or thrown in the trash instead.

 

If you’re experiencing plumbing problems in Levelland, TX, the experts at Drain Doctor want to help get your life back to normal. Specializing in drain cleaning, water line repairs, and hot water heater services, the local plumbing company can help. Call (806) 894-3796 to schedule an appointment, or visit them online to learn more about their services.