What Are the Best Ways to Prevent Plumbing Emergencies?

Closeup shot of a father helping his baby girl wash her hands at a tap

Almost all homeowner’s experience a plumbing emergency at least once, but we’re here to help you keep frequent issues to a minimum. Lots of people neglect to care for their plumbing system until problems have gone very far and they have a backed-up toilet or a burst pipe. Plumbing emergencies aren’t only inconvenient, they also are pretty expensive because they require urgency and often involve lots of water damage within a small time-frame. If you need a reliable emergency plumber in Andover, our team at Air Mechanical, Inc. is the right crew for the job. Our plumbing technicians have years of experience that allows them to work quickly and efficiently.

Problem Prevention

Watch What Goes Down Your Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal can’t process everything so be mindful of what you put in it. You should never put “FOG” down your drain. FOG stands for fats, oils, and greases, most people know not to put these down their drain. They’re notorious for causing sinister clogs because they enter your drain as a liquid but coagulate later on. There are also less commonly known items that quickly clog your drains like coffee grounds, potato peels, and fibrous vegetables. Keep in mind that bones and pits of fruit are too hard to go down your drain and easily damage a system. Knowing what helps your garbage disposal and what hurts it assists you in avoiding a clog.

Avoid Harsh Chemical “Solutions”

If you have a system that’s draining slowly, it’s very tempting to just buy an over-the-counter product that promises to remedy any ailment. These harsh chemical products that promise to alleviate drain troubles almost always worsen the issue—even if it temporarily alleviates your slow drain. These products are corrosive and are far too hard on your pipes. If you have a backup, you should always call a plumber to fix the issue instead of trying a quick fix. This also goes for toilet bowl cleaner. Getting down and scrubbing your toilet is a lot less appealing when you could seemingly just drop in a pod and have the work done for you, but your effort will save your pipes in the long run.

Don’t Use Your Pipes as Clothing Racks

Many of us here in Minnesota have basements and it’s common to see exposed pipes double as drying racks. Don’t hang your wet or dry clothes (or anything for that matter) from the exposed plumbing in your home. No matter how sturdy these pipes may look or seem, they just simply aren’t meant to support anything else. Just a few heavy pants or shirts can cause strain on your pipes leading to burst in the future.

How We Can Help

If you’re trying to prevent a plumbing emergency, it’s important to have an expert help. Our team of plumbing technicians is professional and efficient. We even offer video camera pipe inspections, a service where we enter a camera on a flexible rod into your home’s plumbing system to get the most comprehensive view of your pipes possible. Our top of the line plumbing maintenance will ensure that your home is running the way it should.