The Top 10 Things Your Plumber Doesnt Want You to Do

Having to have a plumber in Fort Wayne can be necessary if you are dealing with a leaky or burst pipe. But a lot of the time, you can avoid clogging your pipes or requiring repairs for your garbage disposal, both of which can be pricey to fix.

Here are some of the most common troubles our plumbers receive calls about at Rolf Griffin Service Experts and how you can stop them.

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

Even though they might be referred to as “flushable wipes,” the ideal location for them is the trash. The only thing that should be flushed (except for the obvious) is toilet paper and septic treatments, if you use a septic system.

A Canadian study that examined 101 such wipes discovered none of them passed a flushability test, according to Forbes. As flushable wipes don’t dissolve like toilet paper, they can block your sewer line and cause your toilet to back up.

They can also wreak havoc on city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can attach to other yucky things that shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet, including cooking oil and hygienic products, to result in a fatberg. In addition to being unhygienic and just plain nasty, environmental nonprofit Green America says these masses are expensive to repair. If you rely on a city sewer system, those are bills that could get shuffled to you in the future.

Whatever style of wipe you’re using—makeup remover, cleansing, baby or sanitizing—it should be tossed in the trash once you’re complete.

2. Flushing Other Things That Should Go in the Trash

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

Along with wipes, these things can plug your sewer line and back up your toilet, leaving you with an expensive (and nasty) mess.

3. Dropping in Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs

Relying on drop-in toilet fresheners might seem like a good way to keep your toilet bowl sanitary, 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 dissolve, they can clog the toilet and keep it from flushing.

4. Buying Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is clogged, your first reaction may be to buy a low-priced liquid drain cleaner. However, there are a few things you should realize about these drain cleaners.

1. They’re toxic. Drain cleaners are a toxic combination of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also create strong fumes that can result in 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 piping: corrosion, breaks and even failure. 
3. They’re not good for the environment. As you can figure out, these chemicals aren’t exactly good for the environment. 
4. They might not even unplug your drain. In spite of all the chemicals they include, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a short time. That’s since they often move the clog deeper into your plumbing until it creates a big problem.

If you do need to use a drain cleaner, we recommend using an enzymatic cleaner. These chemical-free cleaners use bacteria and enzymes to eliminate clogs and unpleasant odors. While they could take more time than a chemical-based cleaner, they’re safer for you, your plumbing and the environment.

If you’re experiencing a tough clog that just won’t dissolve, getting in touch with a professional plumber like Rolf Griffin Service Experts is your smartest option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s simpler to have an Expert finish the job. That way, you’ll also skip harming your pipes and a host of bad issues including leaks, damaged seals and troublesome odors.

After your drain is flowing freely, keep it that way by having 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 issue to pour a tiny bit of grease down your drain. But as the years go by, that grease can grow and clog your pipes. If the grease gets into the sewer system, it can stick to flushable wipes and create a gross fatberg like we talked about previously.

To prevent plumbing issues, drain the oil into a can. After it hardens, you can toss it in the waste can.

6. Relying on Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a helpful tool for eliminating small amounts of food waste. But it can’t get rid of everything. To stop breakdowns 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 smells bad, you can clean it with citrus peels or a combination of baking soda and vinegar.

7. Ignoring Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Just like your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also requires annual service. This service can help us discover little issues before they lead to huge problems, like a damaging water leak. Some of the issues we check for entail:

If you do find trouble, like a leaking sink or pipe, it’s crucial to get it taken care of without delay before it becomes bigger or leads to damage.

8. Attempting to Fix Your Plumbing Yourself

When you are dealing with a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, we suggest calling an Expert at Rolf Griffin Service Experts for leak repair before it gets bigger or causes damage.

Repairing plumbing is an in-depth job that’s best left to professionals. There’s a reason why plumbers finish extensive certification and licensing. Don’t try water pipe repair without help or hire a handyman, since you could end up wasting time and making a pricier expensive problem.

9. Trying to Tune Up Your Water Heater Without Professional Help

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

Experienced water heater maintenance provides peace of mind that your water heater is running like it should. It also gives you advance notice when it’s time to start planning for water heater replacement, since they often only operate for about 10 years.

10. Not Realizing Where the Water Main Shutoff Is

When your house has a large water leak, it’s important to be knowledgeable about where the main water valve is and how to shut it off. This valve is typically situated in a mechanical room near your water heater.

If you’re don’t know where the valve is located, Rolf Griffin Service Experts can help you find it.

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

Whatever plumbing trouble you’re faced with, our Expert plumbers at Rolf Griffin Service Experts are here to help you. And we’ll support our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year, so you’ll be sure that your repairs were completed right. Contact us at 260-557-1275 to schedule your appointment now!