A clogged drain is every homeowner’s nightmare. Whether you know what caused the problem, or water started bubbling up out of your drain for seemingly no reason, you’ll want to call an experienced rooter service to clear your drains. While anyway can experience an emergency, they often happen more frequently due to bad plumbing habits. Here are a few things your professional rooter service wishes you wouldn’t do to your home’s plumbing.

4 Things You Need to Stop Doing to Your Home’s Plumbing

1. Using Your Garbage Disposal Like a Trash Can

Garbage disposals are useful tools, but most homeowners inadvertently abuse them, pushing the little machines beyond their limits. Instead of using your disposal like a trash can, placing all sorts of food waste down the chute, use it sparingly and correctly. Keep fibrous fruits and veggies like bananas and celery out of the disposal as the strings can gum up your system. Toss used cooking grease in the trash, and always feed waste into your disposal slowly to reduce the risk of clogs.

2. Flushing the Wrong Things

Everyone knows that toilet paper is safe to flush, but many homeowners make the mistake of assuming the toilet can handle larger items. Keep cotton swabs, cotton balls, and baby wipes out of the toilet, and toss them in the trash at all times. Remember, even if an item says it’s flushable, it can still damage your plumbing. When in doubt, call your plumber if you have questions.  

3. Attempting to Fix Problems Yourself

DIY plumbing repair may seem simple, but unless you have the right training and know-how, you’ll likely make the problem worse. Instead, let a professional rooter service clear those blocked drains. Plumbers know what to look for when assessing damage and will be able to find the true cause of the clog, even if it’s deep in your sewer line.

4. Relying on Commercial Drain Cleaners

Sure, drain cleaners will work, but they do so because they’re made of incredibly caustic chemicals that eat through the clog. These same chemicals can actually eat through your metal pipes, leading to surprise leaks down the road. If you have a clog, call a plumber rather than reaching for a bottle of drain cleaner.

Got a clogged drain or need a professional to assess the health of your plumbing system? The team at All Star Rooter, Sewer and Drain Cleaning is proud to be Connecticut’s trusted rooter service for New Haven and Fairfield counties. Their dedicated team can help with everything from drain cleaning to video sewer inspections, whether you have an active clog or need preventative maintenance. Learn more online and call (203) 286-4498 to schedule an appointment.