The Things People do to Their Plumbing Systems

People often sabotage the plumbing in their homes, and unfortunately don't realize it until they've done damage. In many cases, it's the drains and sewer lines that fall victim to the bad habits the home dwellers persist in; careless practices that lead to blockages and overflows. The following practices may seem innocent, in themselves, but if practiced over time, are the usual suspects in the need for a call to the plumber.

Shampooing Hair

Whether one washes her hair in the shower, tub, or kitchen sink, air gathers in the pop-up. Over time the hairs find their way into the drain where they gather and build up until completely blocking it. Danger signs include slow draining, gathered pooling in the tub or sink, and in a worse case scenario, overflows. To avoid this, everyone who lives in the dwelling needs to clean out the pop-up after each shampoo, or better yet, the homeowner should install a drain cover that lets water through, but traps hair. Although this too requires cleaning after each use, the process is less odious.

Food Scraps

People who fail to thoroughly scrape food scraps off dirty dishes and into the garbage before washing them, are looking for a drain problem. Even if they clean the sink after washing the dishes, food scraps have a way of slipping down the drain, and like hair, gathering there, waiting to accumulate in large enough numbers to cause a blockage. Meanwhile the food rots and causes noxious and unhealthy odors. Using a sink strainer in the drain will work towards alleviating the problem.

Oils and Grease

The oil and grease left over after frying should never be poured down the drain. eventually they will solidify and find their way into the sewer trap or main line where they will cause an overflow of sewage. Instead, grease and oil should be scraped or poured into a disposable container and thrown out with the garbage.

Flushing Absorbent Materials

A common mistake many people persist in, is flushing items designed to absorb liquids and moisture down the toilet. In other words they try to flush the unflushable; disposables like baby wipes, diapers, paper towels, and feminine hygiene products.These products may be marketed as disposable, but the intended receptacle of disposal is the trash bin, not the toilet. Whereas it takes a while for hair to accumulate and become a problem, problems stemming from flushing diapers and paper towels tend to manifest themselves right away, resulting in a need for emergency plumbing service in Cleveland.

Whether one rents or owns a home, avoiding these habits that may seem like a timesaving shortcut at the moment can avoid the disruption, expense, and unhealthy effects that come with a blockage or overflow.