10 Things Your Plumber Wishes You Wouldn't Do

At Alligator Plumbing Inc, we strive to deliver the best customer service experience from start to finish.  So when we saw this article on Today.com we knew we had to share it.  Hope you enjoy the read as much as we did. 

Your toilet’s clogged again, and this time it’s all your fault. (Who knew flushable kitty litter wasn’t flushable?) To help you avoid any future clogs, floods or breakdowns, we asked plumbers across the country to share their customers’ biggest mistakes — and how they can be avoided.

Photo by MichaelNivelet/iStock / Getty Images

1. You reach for the Drano.

Forget using chemicals to open or clear drains — they rarely get the job all the way done, says Steve Reckon, fourth generation owner of Southern California’s Reckon Plumbing. Plus, not only are the chemicals very harsh and dangerous for you to handle, they can also ruin drain pipes and the equipment used to clear the stoppage.

Hint: To prevent blockages in the first place, keep notorious cloggers like grease and hair out of drains.

2. You treat the toilet like a garbage can.

Even if they’re labeled “flushable,” don’t toss feminine hygiene products, personal-cleaning wipes, toilet scrubbers, makeup remover pads or cat litter into the toilet, says Reckon. The fact is, they don’t disintegrate quickly enough and can ultimately block the drain pipe.

3. You try to tackle the plumbing problems yourself.

Don’t try to diagnose and fix a plumbing problem yourself, or hire a handyman to do plumbing work, says Jim Jennette, a plumber for 25 years and Mr. Rooter franchise consultant. Plumbers can find and correct a problem faster than an amateur can, which will save you money in the long run.

4. You have no idea where the main water valve is.

Don’t be in the dark when it comes to knowing the location of the main water valve and every emergency shut-off valve in your house, says Mark Dawson, president and CEO of Arizona’s bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. And while you’re at it, learn how to turn off these valves. It’s easy but if you’d prefer to have pro show you how, many plumbers will check emergency shut-off valves at no charge.

5. You use drop in toilet fresheners.

Ditch the drop-in tank toilet fresheners. You may love the blue water it makes in your toilet bowl, but these tablets often contain chemicals that wear out working parts inside the tank, Reckon explains. Plus, as these tablets disintegrate, they can get stuck in the flush valve and prevent the toilet from flushing.

6. You forget to replace the hoses.

Water hoses don’t give any warning before they burst, so avoid a potential flood by changing out rubber hoses on washing machines and dishwashers every five years, says Dan Runkel, licensed journeyman plumber and head of Washington Energy Service’s plumbing division in Seattle. When you do replace them, use stainless steel on all water lines, if possible.

7. You don’t have a leak protection system.

Don’t skimp on water leak protection, cautions Runkel. It only costs a few hundred dollars to get a water leak protection system that offers both an alarm and a main water shut-off should a leak occur in your water heater, dishwasher, sinks and more.

8. Your hot water heater is outdated.

Don’t think your tank water heater will last forever — the average lifespan is 8-12 years. Just like toast tends to fall butter-side down on the floor, your 20-year-old tank will inevitably fail and flood while you are on vacation, warns Runkel.

9. You overload the garbage disposal.

Be kind to your garbage disposal: Don’t pour grease into it (the goopy stuff will eventually solidify and clog the drain), and don’t put in fibrous food like celery and artichokes. Also avoid pushing through large amounts of garbage at once, Reckon says. Instead, feed garbage slowly into the disposal with cold running water.

10. You fiddle with the water heater’s pressure valve.

Don’t try to drain your water heater or test the temperature and pressure valve yourself. These need to be done professionally, says Dawson. If the valve is not properly removed, the pressure from the tank can disperse scalding hot water that could cause serious burns as well as property damage.

Bay Area residents and business owners, Alligator Plumbing offers free on site estimates with hassle free fixed pricing so you know what you will pay before work ever begins. We will never try to up sale or sell you something you do not need. Our main goal and focus are your individual needs.  Drop us an email or give us a call to schedule your appointment.