Well-maintained plumbing isn’t a job only for plumbers. Most of that effort should come from you. After all, you use your plumbing system every day. Some habits common among homeowners can damage your pipes and fixtures. Learn what these habits are so that you can take care to avoid them. 

Common Mistakes That Hurt Your Plumbing

1. Overusing Chemical Drain Cleaners

When a tub or sink starts to drain slowly, it’s tempting to pour a chemical drain cleaner down the drain to unclog it. While these cleaners may speed up a slow-moving drain temporarily, they do more harm than good in the long run. The harsh chemicals in these clog removers will eventually degrade the pipes even as they eat through clogs. And chemical drain cleaners rarely remove blockages completely in one application. 

2. Flushing Trash

Don’t use your toilet as a trash can. Use toilets to flush only moderate amounts of toilet paper and human waste. Never flush sanitary products, cotton swabs, paper towels, or facial or diaper wipes down the toilet even if advertised as “flushable.”

3. Disposing of Kitchen Scraps Improperly

A garbage disposal is a convenient kitchen appliance, but it is designed only to grind up certain types of organic waste. Avoid using the disposal to get rid of foods that will clog the sink or damage the disposal’s impellers. Egg shells, coffee grounds, expandable foods like pasta and rice, grease, and fibrous foods like potato skins should not go into a garbage disposal.

4. Allowing Hair Clogs

Don’t let hair and soap accumulate around the shower drain. To prevent clogging the drainpipe in your shower with hair, install a mesh catcher over the drain. Then dispose of the hair properly in the trash.

Small plumbing problems often get more serious if ignored. When you notice drips, leaks, slow drains, or clogs, call a plumbing repair expert immediately. Chugach Sewer and Drain is your one-stop shop for all your plumbing needs in Anchorage, AK. Locally owned and operated, Chugach Sewer and Drain offers a full range of services to keep your plumbing system running smoothly, from drain cleaning to sewer repair and septic pumping. Contact them online or call (907) 929-5072 to schedule an appointment.