Three Things That Can Damage Your Home's Plumbing System

If you want to keep your property's plumbing system in good condition, it's important to be aware of the things that can damage it. Read on to find out what these things are.

Putting anything other than liquids down the drains

A house's drains are not designed to be used for anything other than the removal of liquids. However, many people make the mistake of allowing things such as hair, soap scum, solidified fats and scraps of food to enter their homes' drains. This then leads to obstructions forming inside them.

Blocked drains can cause a whole host of problems. In addition to preventing water in your sinks and showers from flowing into your home's plumbing system, a blockage can also place pressure on the section of pipe in which it is located. If you do not have the blockage removed quickly enough, it could cause the pipe to burst open. This could leave you with a huge mess to clean up and a very expensive plumbing bill.

Using harsh chemicals to prevent or remove blockages

In an attempt to dissolve blockages before they completely block up a drain, or to prevent them from forming in the first place, a lot of homeowners routinely pour harsh chemicals down their drains.

Whilst these chemicals can be effective in preventing and removing blockages, they can also cause a great deal of damage to your plumbing system. Their abrasiveness can weaken the pipe into which they are poured and potentially lead to a hole forming, if the pipe in question is already quite old and in poor condition.

As such, it is best to avoid using these chemicals entirely. Instead, if a blockage forms in one of your system's pipes, you should call a plumber and have them manually remove it.

Failing to insulate exposed water pipes before winter arrives

If you fail to insulate the exposed pipes in your home's basement, attic and garage, the water inside them may freeze when the temperatures drop during the winter months.

This can lead to two issues. Firstly, it can prevent the water from reaching the rest of your home; this means that you may not be able to shower, use your washing machine or get water from your bathroom and kitchen taps until the frozen water inside the affected pipe melts.

Secondly, because water expands when it freezes, the frozen pipe could potentially burst open (as a result of the strain placed on it by the expansion) and flood your home.

Given this, it is crucial to insulate any exposed pipes in your house. This can be done simply and cheaply, with some tape and insulation foam.


Share