Your plumbing is extremely important to your daily routine. Think of all those showers, baths, toilet runs, and wash cycles each and every day. Take away even one of those luxuries and you're left with an emergency that will cost you in both time, and money. However, no matter how much of a hurry you might be in to get your pipes back in business, taking the DIY route could actually cost you more in the long run.
According to a recent British survey, dodgy DIY can reduce the selling price of a property by 11%. Not only that, but undertaking a DIY project with little experience can prove to be dangerous. In Victoria, Australia, there are 2000 serious injuries per year due to DIY.
Prevention is the key to avoiding plumbing repairs.
Know Your Shut-Off Valve Location
This knowledge might very well save your home from a flood. Find out where you can turn off the water, just in case.
No Grease in the Sink
This should be common knowledge, but it needs to be repeated. Never pour oil, or grease down the kitchen-sink drain. Each time you do this, a new layer will form within the pipe until eventually it blocks completely.
If it's Not Toilet Paper, Don't Flush It
If it isn't toilet paper do not drop it into the toilet as a means of disposal. Q-tips can lodge in pipes, as can hair, paper towels and even baby wipes. These things will gradually block the pipes in your home.
Regularly Unclog Drains
Don't force food debris down the kitchen sink after washing the dishes, in fact, make it a habit to fish anything out of kitchen and bathroom drains before going to bed.
Chemical Damage
While chemicals can be a simple way of unclogging pipes, if you use the wrong one on the wrong pipe, you might only succeed in making the problem worse.
Maintenance Checks
As often as you can, perhaps even once a month, perform a routine maintenance check to ensure there is no serious wear and tear. Remember, even a small leak can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year, and even lead to further wear and tear issues.
Never attempt to carry out plumbing repairs yourself. Seek out emergency plumbing services to fix your problem. Otherwise, you may only make things worse. If your emergency requires swift attention, call a plumbing service.
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