10 Things Your Plumber Wants You to Stop Doing Now

Having to have a plumber in Winnipeg can be inevitable if you are experiencing a leaky or burst pipe. But a lot of the time, you can avoid plugging your pipes or needing repairs for your garbage disposal, both of which can be pricey to repair.

Here are some of the most common issues our plumbers get calls about at Winnipeg Supply Service Experts and how you can prevent them.

1. Flushing “Flushable” Wipes

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

A Canadian study that looked at 101 such wipes discovered they all didn’t pass a flushability test, according to Forbes. Because flushable wipes don’t break down like toilet paper, they can plug your sewer line and make your toilet back up.

They can also cause a lot of trouble to city sewer systems or your septic tank. These wipes can conglomerate with other yucky things that shouldn’t go down the toilet, like cooking fat and hygienic products, to create a fatberg. Along with being unhygienic and just plain gross, environmental nonprofit Green America says these masses are costly to fix. If you rely on a city sewer system, those are expenses that could get shuffled to you in the long run.

Whichever kind of wipe you’re using—makeup remover, cleansing, baby or sanitizing—it should go in the trash once you’re done.

2. Flushing Other Things That Belong in the Trash

Besides flushable wipes, there are a couple other things that don’t belong in your toilet. These cover:

Like wipes, these things can plug your sewer line and make your toilet run over, saddling you with an expensive (and icky) mess.

3. Relying on Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs

Using drop-in toilet fresheners might seem like a great way to keep your toilet bowl clean, but they might do more harm than good. These tablets usually contain chemicals, such as bleach, which can destroy rubber parts in the tank. And as the tablets dissolve, they can clog the toilet and prevent it from flushing.

4. Using Chemical Drain Cleaners

If your sink is plugged, your first answer might be to get a low-priced liquid drain cleaner. However, there are some things you should be aware of when it involves these drain cleaners.

1. They’re poisonous. Drain cleaners are a toxic mixture of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes. They also produce intense 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 bad for the environment. As you can imagine, these chemicals aren’t very environmentally friendly. 
4. They might not even unplug your drain. Despite all the chemicals they include, drain cleaners sometimes don’t even work or only work for a little while. That’s since they often move the clog deeper into your plumbing until it creates a big problem.

If you do require a drain cleaner, we advise using an enzymatic cleaner. These chemical-free cleaners rely on bacteria and enzymes to get rid of clogs and unpleasant odors. While they could require more time than a chemical-based cleaner, they’re healthier for you, your plumbing and the environment.

If you’re experiencing a difficult clog that just won’t go away, calling a professional plumber like Winnipeg Supply Service Experts is your best option for drain cleaning. While you can rent a drain auger or plumbing snake, it’s simpler to have an Expert perform the job. That way, you’ll also skip damaging your pipes and many other horrible issues such as leaks, damaged seals and unpleasant odors.

After your drain is working like it should, keep it that way by having a screen to keep hair or food scraps from blocking it again.

5. Dumping Grease Down Your Sink

It can seem like it’s not a big deal to dump a little bit of oil down your sink. But as time passes, that grease can build up and plug your pipes. If the grease leaks into the sewer system, it can cling to flushable wipes and lead to a nasty fatberg like we mentioned prior.

To avoid plumbing issues, drain the grease into a bowl. After it solidifies, you can dump it in the waste can.

6. Relying on Your Garbage Disposal for Everything

Your garbage disposal is a beneficial tool for breaking up tiny bits of food. But it can’t break up everything. To avoid 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 is smelly, you can revive it with citrus peels or a combination of baking soda and vinegar.

7. Avoiding Maintenance for Your Plumbing System

Much like your heating and cooling system, your plumbing also has to have regular maintenance. This service can help us find minor issues before they cause expensive problems, like a damaging water leak. Some of the troubles we check for involve:

If you do see trouble, such as a leaky sink or pipe, it’s crucial to get it repaired without delay before it becomes worse or causes damage.

8. Making an Attempt to Fix Your Plumbing Without Professional Help

When you have a dripping pipe or a leaking washing machine, we recommend calling an Expert at Winnipeg Supply Service Experts for leak repair before it gets worse or results in damage.

Repairing plumbing is an in-depth job that’s best done by professionals. There’s a reason why plumbers finish extensive certification and licensing. Don’t try water pipe repair on your own or call a handyman, because you could end up wasting time and having a pricier expensive problem.

9. Trying to Maintain Your Water Heater Without Professional Help

When it comes to your water heater, service and tune-ups are best left to the pros. This includes draining it or testing the temperature and pressure valve. If this isn’t done correctly, you could burn yourself with hot water or flood your home.

Experienced water heater maintenance offers peace of mind that your water heater is operating right. It also gives you notice ahead of time when it’s time to start thinking about water heater replacement, since they typically only operate for about 10 years.

10. Not Realizing Where the Water Main Shutoff Is

In the event your house has a major water leak, it’s critical to know where the main water valve is and how to shut it off. This valve is usually situated in a mechanical room near your water heater.

If you’re still not sure where the valve is located, Winnipeg Supply Service Experts can help you find it.

It’s also a wise idea to have a water leak protection system that will sound the alarm and cut off the water if there’s a problem. You can even get a smart system to watch water use and notify you via your phone if there’s trouble.

Whatever plumbing issue you’re experiencing, our Expert plumbers at Winnipeg Supply Service Experts are available to help you. And we’ll back our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year, so you’ll be sure that your repairs were completed like they should. Contact us at 204-800-0613 to schedule your appointment right away!