Big Plumbing Mistakes that will Cost You

Calling a plumber is usually an inconvenience, plus, the problems that result around clogged drains, jammed disposals, and backed up toilets are less than pleasant to deal with. Here at the Omaha local movers, we want to help you avoid plumbing problems by remembering a few rules.

Do not treat your garbage disposal as a trash compactor. Not all garbage belongs down the disposal, such as potato peels, watermelon rinds, and pumpkin carvings. These items will stick and cause the disposal to jam. Additionally, you want to be sure to remove the disposal plug so that you will avoid water leaks due to poor connection issues.

Be careful how much weight is on fixtures. Hanging shampoo racks and other items from the plumbing fixtures can cause the showerhead to snap right off. These faucets are not designed to have weight on them. Opt for a hanging rack that has suction cups so that it will put less weight on the actual faucet, creating less likelihood for a showerhead falling out of the wall.

Joining mismatched metals. Connecting steel and copper in plumbing pipes can cause corrosion, which will build up and eventually close the pipe off. Connecting these metals is possible with the help of a tool calls a dielectric union that will act as a rubber barrier between the metals s that they don’t actually touch each other.

Flushing household items down the toilet. Whether it is kids dropping their toys down there or some other household item that ends up in the wrong place, it can mean a serious clog for your toilet. If items get stuck in the trap, the toilet has to be physically removed to get the items out/ Plunging these items can make the situation worse because it can push them down more and lock them into place.

Stripping threads. Over-tightening plumbing parts can cause them to break and leak. Plastic and chrome pieces should be treated carefully because screwing them too tight can cause them to be stripped and ultimately less reliable, leading to plumbing problems.

Using a water heater prematurely. Turning on the water heater before it is ready can be a costly mistake. You want to fill it up with water first and let the air bubbles dissipate before you turn it on.

Not reassembling things correctly. If you take something apart, you need to remember how to put it back together to avoid problems. You can cover your tracks by taking photos of the disassembly process so you can work it in reverse to put the faucet or other item back together again.