9 big problems with plumbing and drainage and how to prevent them

Plumbing And Drainage

You are sick and tired of problems with your plumbing and have to call a plumber regularly. Even if you hire the best professional, they will just fix the problem but may or may not guide you on how to prevent them. Here are some things that you can do to prevent common plumbing issues and save.

1. Do not close leaking taps too tightly. Many people think that this is the best solution for the problem. The reality is that this can make damage greater. When you notice a leaking tap, you should call a plumber immediately. The problem will be easier and hence cheaper to fix. Furthermore, you will not waste precious water.
2. Inspect for toilet leaks on a regular basis before it becomes big and costly. In many cases, leaks are easy to spot as the water flow is great and noisy. However, this task is close to impossible when the leakage is small. Use a method for inspection that has been tested and proven to work. Put a little bit of food dye with a bright color in the concealed or open cistern tank and let it stay like this. Do not use the toilet for an hour or two. Then come back and inspect the bowl. If there is any leakage, there will be traces of dye on the surface of the bowl.
3. Do not drill holes on the floor and walls of your bathrooms, toilets and kitchen without first referring to the plumbing drawings or talking with your builder. This is the biggest reason for pipe damage. Once a concealed pipe is drilled, it is impossible to fix without breaking the floor or the wall.
4. Do not climb on the taps or hang heavy objects from your taps. The joints and fittings inside may not be able to take the load and may get damaged again requiring costly repairs.
5. Periodically check that the safety devices on your hot water heaters are working properly. Failure of these safety devices may cause water-heater malfunction and ultimately damage the pipes inside your walls. Water-heaters with multiple safety devices are preferable.
6. Do not pour boiling water into the toilet/kitchen drains. Either mix some cold water to it before pouring in the drain or let it cool first. Boiling water may damage the drain pipes and cause leaks. The same applies to pouring boiling water in the toilet. The bowl can crack and cause a huge dirty mess.
7. Do not throw anything inside your WC other than toilet paper. The toilet is not a disposal bin and items like diapers, sanitary towels etc should never be thrown inside. These can clog it easily and cause serious problems that only a professional plumber will be able to fix.
8. Do not pour any type of grease, including cooking fat and oil, into the kitchen sink’s drain. Otherwise, it may be even difficult for your plumber to clean the mess, as the grease sticks to the walls of the drain and is extremely hard to remove. It is best to pour them into empty plastic bottles and then dispose of them.
9. Long hair is also another reason for clogged drains in bathrooms. These do not flow out easily and will accumulate at certain places along the pipe line and subsequently cause clogging. Ensure that proper trap is used and long hair is removed and disposed off in dustbins rather than through the drains.