Your Plumber Wants You to Discontinue Doing These 10 Things Now

Having to have a plumber in Concord can be necessary if you are experiencing a leaky or broken pipe. But a lot of the time, you can prevent blocking your pipes or needing repairs for your garbage disposal, both of which can be costly to repair.

Here are some of the most frequent issues our professionals receive calls about at Freschi Service Experts and how you can stop them.

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

Although they might be referred to as “flushable wipes,” the ideal location for them is the garbage. The only thing that should be flushed (other than the obvious) is toilet paper and septic treatments, if you rely on a septic system.

A Canadian study that looked at 101 such wipes learned they all didn’t pass a flushability test, according to Forbes. Because flushable wipes don’t dissolve like toilet paper, they can clog your sewer line and lead to your toilet backing up.

They can also cause a lot of trouble to city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can combine with other gross things that shouldn’t be disposed of down the toilet, such as cooking fat and hygienic products, to create a fatberg. Besides being unsanitary and just plain gross, environmental nonprofit Green America says these buildups are expensive to fix. If you use a city sewer system, those are bills that could get passed on to you down the road.

Whatever type of wipe you’re using—makeup remover, cleansing, baby or sanitizing—it should go in the trash once you’re finished.

2. Flushing Other Things That Belong in the Waste Bin

Other than flushable wipes, there are several other things that don’t belong in your toilet. These involve:

In addition to wipes, these things can plug your sewer line and back up your toilet, leaving you with a pricey (and gross) mess.

3. Dropping in Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs

Relying on drop-in toilet fresheners may seem like a smart way to keep your toilet bowl clean, but they may do more harm than good. These tablets often contain chemicals, such as bleach, which can destroy rubber parts in the tank. And as the tablets break down, they can plug the toilet and stop it from flushing.

4. Using Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is blocked, your initial response might be to get a cheap liquid drain cleaner. However, there are several things you should be aware of when it involves these drain cleaners.

1. They’re toxic. Drain cleaners are a toxic blend 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 plumbing: corrosion, fractures and even failure. 
3. They’re not good for the environment. As you can figure out, these formulas aren’t very environmentally friendly. 
4. They might not even unclog your drain. Despite all the chemicals they pack, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a short time. That’s because they often move the clog further into your plumbing until it results in a huge problem.

If you do need to use a drain cleaner, we recommend using an enzymatic cleaner. These chemical-free cleaners rely on bacteria and enzymes to break up clogs and bad odors. While they can take more time than a chemical-based cleaner, they’re healthier for you, your plumbing and the environment.

If you have a strong clog that just won’t go away, calling a professional plumber like Freschi Service Experts is your wisest option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s easier to have a pro complete the job. That way, you’ll also avoid breaking your pipes and a wide variety of horrible issues like leaks, nonworking seals and unpleasant odors.

After your drain is working like it should, keep it that way by installing a screen to keep hair or food scraps from clogging it again.

5. Getting Rid of Grease Down Your Sink

It could seem like it’s not a issue to dump a little bit of oil down your pipes. But as time passes, that grease can accumulate and block your pipes. If the grease leaks into the sewer system, it can cling to flushable wipes and lead to a yucky fatberg like we talked about previously.

To avoid plumbing woes, drain the oil into a container. After it solidifies, you can toss it in the waste can.

6. Relying on Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a useful tool for breaking up little food scraps. But it can’t eliminate everything. To stop malfunctions or clogs, we recommend not putting these foods 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 revive it with citrus peels or a blend of baking soda and vinegar.

7. Avoiding Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Much like your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also has to have annual tune-ups. This service can help us spot small issues before they result in big problems, including a damaging water leak. Some of the troubles we watch for include:

If you do see an issue, like a dripping sink or pipe, it’s important to get it fixed immediately before it grows larger or leads to damage.

8. Trying to Fix Your Plumbing Yourself

When you are experiencing a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, we suggest calling an Expert at Freschi Service Experts for leak repair before it grows or causes damage.

Repairing plumbing is a detailed job that’s best done by specialists. There’s a reason why plumbers finish extensive certification and licensing. Don’t try to do water pipe repair without help or call a handyman, because you could end up wasting time and having a costlier expensive problem.

9. Trying to Maintain Your Water Heater on Your Own

When it comes to your water heater, service and tune-ups are best left to the pros. This includes draining it or checking the temperature and pressure valve. If this isn’t done properly, you could burn yourself with scalding water or flood your home.

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

10. Not Being Aware of Where the Water Main Shutoff Is

In the event your residence has a big water leak, it’s critical to be aware of 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 don’t know where the valve is located, Freschi Service Experts can help you find it.

It’s also a smart idea to get a water leak protection system that will sound the alarm and turn off the water if there’s trouble. You can even use a smart system to keep an eye on water use and notify you through your phone if there’s a leak.

Whatever plumbing issue you’re dealing with, our Expert plumbers at Freschi Service Experts are available to assist you. And we’ll back our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year, so you’ll have peace of mind that your repairs were completed like they should. Contact us at 925-384-1303 to request your appointment right away!