There’s never a good time to have a Pittsburgh plumbing disaster. Keep your drains clear and prevent plumbing problems with these do’s and don’ts.
Do:
- Run cold water while operating the garbage disposal. This flushes debris down the drain and helps prevent food from backing up the drain.
- Place strainers over shower and bathtub drains to catch hair and bits of soap. Clean these strainers regularly.
- Consider a thinner brand of toilet paper if you experience frequent toilet clogs.
- Clean bathroom sink “stoppers” regularly to prevent slow drains.
- Seek home plumbing system maintenance once or twice per year as a preventative measure.
- Use natural drain openers instead of corrosive chemicals. Natural drain openers introduce good bacteria that destroy bad, drain-clogging bacteria. Plan to use them at bedtime so they have time to work before water flushes good bacteria down the drain.
Don’t:
- Dispose of paper, plastic, metal, or any other non-food materials down the sink. Even garbage disposals can’t handle anything other than food products.
- Pour grease or oil down the drain. These substances don’t mix with water; in fact, grease hardens into a gelatinous glob that easily clogs your drains.
- Dispose of fibrous, stringy vegetable peelings and egg shells in the garbage disposal. These products can damage the blades.
- Flush anything except toilet paper and human waste. Facial tissues, paper towels, wet wipes, cotton balls, and feminine hygiene products don’t dissolve the way toilet paper does and can therefore cause clogs.
- Allow children to play around the toilet, since they could flush a toy or other foreign object and cause a clog.
For more tips on preventing Pittsburgh plumbing problems, please contact Stahl Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning today.