Plumbing plays a vital role in the house. But no matter how important they are, plumbing fixtures are often neglected simply because they are usually embedded into the walls. People only usually notice them when there are issues such as blockages or burst pipes. Oftentimes, these pipes have been so overlooked that it will take high amount of money to get the plumbing system back in shape.
Properly and routinely maintaining the pipes is essential. But on the other hand, there are certain things that you should never do when maintaining your pipes. Avoiding these will ensure that your drains and faucets will continue working properly. Here are the four things that you shouldn’t do to your pipes.
Pouring Bleach into your pipes
There are people who believe that regularly pouring bleach into the pipes or down the drains will help remove all the gunk that have accumulated in the system. While the reason behind this thought may be well-meaning, it is wrong.
Bleach needs to be used properly and with great precaution since it is a powerful and toxic solution. Pouring it down the drain is not good because it can cause a reaction with other substances within your pipes. These reactions can release fumes and end up clogging the system even more. Using bleach to clean out your drains and pipes can end up causing more harm than good. Instead, look for eco-friendly bleaches or make use of home drain cleaning solutions to clean your pipes.
Forcefully thawing the frozen pipe
Pipes freeze during the winter season, which is a big nightmare for homeowners. Dealing with a frozen pipe is not only dangerous but expensive as well. Nevertheless, trying to speed up the thawing process of the pipes is wrong.
There are some people who think that using a propane torch can forcefully release the water that’s stuck in a frozen pipe. While it is true that heat is the best way to deal with ice, using propane torch can end up melting the pipes. In addition, your pipes may contain combustible materials that can ignite due to the heat of the torch.
Disposing fats, oil and grease down the drain
Fats, oil, and grease are often dumped into kitchen drains either accidentally or intentionally. Nevertheless, doing so can be bad for your drain and pipes. At some point, you may have also been tempted to pour it down the drain. But unlike wastewater or soda, oil and fats do not get broken down easily. You may not be doing it frequently, but still, over time, they will build up and completely prevent the flow of liquid in your pipes. Regular soaps are unable to break down fats, oil, and grease. On the contrary, using soap will only hardens the FOG.
But let us just say that the oil and grease happen to make it all the way to the sewers. Such a situation is still not good. Grease alone is already bad for the environment. When combined with other chemicals and even soap, it can stick to pipes and cause sewer overflows. This is one of the main reasons why public utility companies and environmental organisations advice people to dispose fats, oil, and grease properly. And your sink is not a good place to dump these.
If there is no other way to dispose your grease, then instead of using hot water, flush it with cold water to solidify it. This will prevent grease from sticking to the sides of your pipes and allow it to flow freely all the way through the sewers. Using hot water will melt the grease and keep it in semi-liquid state. As it travels through the pipes, the grease will start to solidify and stick to the sides of the pipes, which will start to build up and form a blockage.
Disposing food down the drain
Leftover foods are one of the easiest things to get rid of. For most people, all they do is smash the food particles down the drain. But on the contrary, this is actually the worst way to dispose of leftover foods. Just like grease and oil, no matter how tiny you smash food particles down, they will still accumulate overtime and form a clog that will prevent water from forming freely into the pipes.
In case you are unaware, there are certain foods that the garbage disposal unit cannot shred. One example is beef, which often gets wrapped around blades. Small bones are also a problem for garbage disposal units. Throwing these into the drain will make the blades of the garbage disposal unit dull over time. Thus, the unit will fail to properly break down food.
Starchy foods such as pasta and rice will also make the garbage disposal blades slimy. Continuously disposing these starchy foods into the disposal unit will render its blades ineffective or clog the system entirely.
Instead of throwing food down your drain, it will be best to designate another trashcan for food scraps. This will ensure that your system is properly protected from clogging.
Remember, if you encountered any plumbing emergency such as blocked drains, toilets, sink, or if you need drain cleaning in Melbourne, contact us on 0412 738 874 or you can leave a message on our contact form.
