If you are like so many other homeowners you often want to try being the perfect do it yourselfer. Typically, you would seek out helpful tips on how to perform a specific home improvement project online. When it comes to your plumbing system, it is important that the data you are relying upon will help you to avoid accidentally damaging your home plumbing fixtures. With that said, the team here at Steve Mull Plumbing wants to point out a couple of obvious ways that homeowners can easily cause harm to their plumbing systems and fixtures without any intention at all.
SIMPLE MISTAKES TO AVOID AND SIMPLE SOLUTIONS
- Putting drain cleaner and boiling water down your drains – One of the most common DIY fix it solutions for clogged drains is to pour boiling water down the drain. However, what many homeowners are unaware of is that many plumbing fixtures are often times equipped with plastic pipes. When you pour boiling water down these drains the extreme temperature can loosen the seals causing a leak. Further, if you have a ceramic fixture the boiling water could actually cause the entire ceramic sink to crack and cause excessive leaking.
- The best solution here is to simply be extra careful about what you allow to fall into your drain so as to avoid a clog. However, if you do find yourself faced with a clogged drain or a slow-moving drain it is best to reach out to a professional plumber to provide assistance since they are able to identify the source of the problem and provide effective solutions.
- Often times people rely upon drain cleaners that are strong and quite corrosive. However, these can actually put you and your family in harms way and can be a risk to your health and safety. In addition, commercial drain cleaners can corrode your pipes and cause outward damage to your plumbing fixtures which can then turn into a more costly repair than simply having your clogged drain remedied.
- Toilet bowl and tank cleaners – We all love using cleaning tablets in our toilet tanks and our toilet bowls. However, these tablets can actually minimize the lifespan of your toilet’s parts, such as the flapper and the flush valve since they are typically made of plastic and the chemicals can also destroy the finish on your toilet fixtures. The chemicals and bleach in these cleaning tablets cause the plastic moving parts of your toilet tank to become damaged often times requiring full replacement. People tend to use the same cleaners for their bathtubs and sinks as well. However, using inappropriate chemicals can easily destroy the finishes of your other bathroom fixtures. Be sure to read the instructions on your cleaners and only use them for the appropriate fixtures they are designed to treat otherwise you may find yourself faced with not only costly repairs but safety issues as well.
- Suction bathtub foot mats – Most people don’t realize that using suction mats on the floor of your bathtub can, over time, damage the finish. If a slippery bathtub surface is an ongoing issue for you and your family, then we recommend you have your bathtub refinished with one of the many non-slip textures that are available today. This will help to maintain the finish and appearance of your bathtub.
These are certainly some of the more common ways that homeowners accidentally cause damage to their plumbing fixtures. By avoiding these simple mistakes and practicing some of the solutions we have offered here, you are sure to enjoy a longer lifespan of your fixtures and avoid incurring additional replacement or repair costs.
PROFESSIONALS YOU CAN TRUST
Here at Steve Mull Plumbing we want to remind our valued clients that proper maintenance of your plumbing system is an important element of your overall home maintenance programs. To learn more about proper home plumbing maintenance and how to protect your plumbing fixtures be sure to reach out to the dedicated team of professionals here at Steve Mull Plumbing today. We look forward to serving you and to providing you with only the highest quality indoor and outdoor plumbing products and services.
