Your plumbing fixtures are essential in ensuring that water doesn't back up or leak in your home. However, the only way to ensure that such issues don't arise in your home is by learning how to mitigate them. You may think that a dripping faucet is an inexpensive undertaking, but if it's not addressed on time, it can cause significant structural damage. In addition, you're going to notice a significant rise in your water bill. This guide shares some of the things that may end up causing plumbing problems in your home.

Not Insulating Your Pipes

It's important to insulate your pipes during the cold season. If this task isn't performed by an experienced plumber, then you will have major plumbing problems down the road. Without insulation, water may freeze inside pipes during the cold season. Ultimately, this can cause your pipe to burst, causing damage to electronics and walls of your building. Addressing this issue can be more costly than taking preventative measures.

Using Harsh Chemicals to Unclog Drains

If your kitchen or bathroom drain has a clog, there are different simple approaches you can use to ensure that you clear them. Some of the most common include hydro jetting and using a plunger. While these are safe methods, you should avoid using chemical drain cleaners. The manufacturers of these products claim that they're fast acting against clogs. This may be true, but over time they can cause significant damage to your pipe. Note that continued use of chemical drain cleaners will slowly corrode the pipes and ultimately become damaged.  

Disposing Food Waste in Your Drain

As a way to cut down on time to clean dishes, some homeowners prefer to rinse the food left over on the plates down the drain. This is something you should avoid, as food waste can lead to significant plumbing problems down the road. The other option for disposing of leftover food may be a garbage disposal. While using it, ensure that you don't have large food pieces or waste, such as tea leaves, among other fibrous foods that hardly break down. Consider throwing such waste in the trash.

Know What To Flush Down The Toilet

To avoid drainage issues in your toilet, knowing what you should and shouldn't flush down the drain is crucial. As a rule of thumb, you should only flush pee, poop, and toilet paper. Avoid flushing feminine products, baby wipes, or paper towels, as they can cause your drain to clog.

It's important to ensure that avoid plumbing issues by taking into account the possible causes highlighted above. However, when you have plumbing issues, ensure that you seek the assistance of a local 24-hour plumbing service such as Affordable Rooter Service.