10 Things Your Plumber Wants You to Quit Doing Now

Requiring a plumber in Nashville can be unavoidable if you are dealing with a dripping or ruptured pipe. But a lot of the time, you can avoid blocking your pipes or needing repairs for your garbage disposal, both of which can be expensive to repair.

Here are some of the most frequent issues our Experts field calls about at Donelson Air Service Experts and how you can prevent them.

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

Despite the fact they might be called “flushable wipes,” the right place for them is the garbage. The only thing that should be flushed (other than the obvious) is toilet paper and septic treatments, if you use a septic system.

A Canadian study that examined 101 such wipes discovered they all didn’t pass a flushability test, according to Forbes. As flushable wipes don’t break down like toilet paper, they can block 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 nasty things that shouldn’t go down the toilet, like cooking oil and hygienic products, to lead to a fatberg. As well as being unhygienic and just plain yucky, environmental nonprofit Green America says these blobs are expensive to repair. If you’re on a city sewer system, those are expenses that could get passed on to you in the future.

Whichever type of wipe you’re using—makeup remover, cleansing, baby or sanitizing—it should be thrown in the trash once you’re done.

2. Flushing Other Things That Belong in the Waste Bin

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

Together with wipes, these things can clog your sewer line and back up your toilet, saddling you with an expensive (and gross) mess.

3. Using Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs

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

4. Dumping Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is clogged, your immediate response might be to purchase a cheap liquid drain cleaner. However, there are a few things you should be aware of when it involves these drain cleaners.

1. They’re harmful. Drain cleaners are a toxic blend of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also produce severe fumes that can cause respiratory irritation. 
2. They can eat away at your pipes. If these cleaners can burn your skin, think about what they can do to your pipes: corrosion, fractures and even failure. 
3. They’re not good for the environment. As you can imagine, these formulas aren’t extremely helpful for the environment. 
4. They might not even unplug your drain. Despite all the chemicals they have, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a short time. That’s because they often force the clog more into your plumbing until it leads to a major problem.

If you do have to have a drain cleaner, we advise using an enzymatic cleaner. These chemical-free cleaners rely on bacteria and enzymes to eliminate clogs and foul odors. While they might take more time than a chemical-based cleaner, they’re better for you, your plumbing and the environment.

If you’re dealing with a difficult clog that just won’t break up, contacting a professional plumber like Donelson Air Service Experts is your smartest option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s easier to have a pro do the job. That way, you’ll also skip causing damage to your pipes and many other horrible issues like leaks, damaged seals and unpleasant odors.

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

5. Pouring Grease Down Your Sink

It might seem like it’s not a big deal to drain a small amount of oil down your drain. But as time passes, that grease can accumulate and block your pipes. If the grease leaks into the sewer system, it can stick to flushable wipes and lead to a gross fatberg like we mentioned previously.

To avoid plumbing issues, drain the fat into a can. After it cools, you can toss it in the trash.

6. Using Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a useful tool for getting rid of small amounts of food waste. But it can’t break up everything. To avoid issues or clogs, we advise not putting these things 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 has a bad smell, you can clean it with citrus peels or a blend of baking soda and vinegar.

7. Ignoring Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

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

If you do spot an issue, like a leaking sink or pipe, it’s important to get it taken care of without delay before it grows bigger or results in damage.

8. Trying to Fix Your Plumbing on Your Own

When you are experiencing a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, it’s important to call an Expert at Donelson Air Service Experts for leak repair before it gets worse or results in damage.

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

9. Trying to Tune Up Your Water Heater on Your Own

When it comes to your water heater, service and upkeep is best left to the specialists. This includes draining it or examining the temperature and pressure valve. If this isn’t done correctly, you could burn yourself with hot water or flood your residence.

Pro water heater maintenance provides peace of mind that your water heater is running like it should. It also gives you notice ahead of time when it’s time to start considering water heater replacement, since they usually only last for about 10 years.

10. Not Realizing Where the Water Main Shutoff Is

If your residence has a big water leak, it’s critical to be aware of where the main water valve is and how to turn it off. This valve is usually found in a mechanical room near your water heater.

If you’re are unsure about where the valve is located, Donelson Air Service Experts can help you find it.

It’s also a smart idea to get a water leak protection system that will turn on an alarm and cut off the water if there’s an issue. You can even have a smart system to watch water use and notify you on your phone if there’s a problem.

Whatever plumbing trouble you’re experiencing, our Expert plumbers at Donelson Air Service Experts are ready to help you. And we’ll support our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year, so you’ll have peace of mind that your repairs were done like they should. Give us a call at 615-953-9885 to request your appointment now!