THE PIPELINE

5 Everyday Habits That Are Secretly Destroying Your Plumbing

You probably don’t think twice about what goes down your drains until something goes wrong. But many plumbing problems don’t happen overnight; they build up slowly from small, everyday habits. Here are five common ones that could be doing more damage than you realize:

1. Pouring grease down the drain

Even if it’s hot and liquid now, grease cools and hardens inside your pipes. Over time, it builds up and causes stubborn clogs. Always pour cooled grease into a container and toss it in the trash instead.

2. Using “flushable” wipes

Despite what the label says, most wipes don’t break down like toilet paper. They can block your pipes and even cause major sewer backups. If it’s not toilet paper, don’t flush it.

3. Ignoring slow drains

A slow drain is your plumbing’s way of saying “help me!” It often means a clog is forming deeper down. Fixing it early prevents a full blockage later.

4. Overusing drain cleaner chemical

Store bought cleaners are harsh. They can eat away at your pipes and cause leaks, especially in older homes. Try natural methods or call a professional instead.

5. Hanging things on shower heads or faucets

Seems harmless, but hanging caddies or wet towels adds weight and strain that can loosen fittings or cause leaks. Use wall hooks or shower organizers instead.

Your plumbing works hard every day, treat it kindly and it’ll keep working smoothly. And if you notice slow drains, weird noises, or rising water bills, it might be time to get a quick inspection before a small issue turns into a big one.

Your home deserves a plumber you can rely on and that’s us.

Call for an appointment:

303-562-9800.

Sewer Sagas: A Warning for Homeowners

We usually like to stay focused on doing things the right way, not calling out others. But sometimes a situation comes up that’s worth sharing to help homeowners avoid a costly mistake. Here are a couple recent issues we encountered.

We recently visited a home where the asphalt patch in the street from a previous repair had failed. The city was requiring that the patch be fixed, but the previous contractor was not responsive and had not pulled a permit. So the responsibility for the repair fell on the homeowner.

We assessed the sewer line and could see that the repair had also failed. When we excavated to make the correction, it was easy to see what had happened. The previous contractor used a combination of native soil and gravel to backfill the trench rather than flowfill, a more expensive product required by code that is intended to prevent shifting and sinkholes after excavating in roads.

This was a costly redo that could have been prevented simply by following the regulations.

In another situation, a real estate agent asked us to take a look at a sewer line that had just been repaired on a home for sale. At first glance, our tech could tell something wasn’t right. The repair looked sloppy, and a pipe liner had been installed even though this particularly the city rarely allows liners.

We reviewed the city inspection report with the agent and it turns out, the company that did the work pulled a permit for a small spot repair, then came back after hours to install the liner without city approval. The city ended up requiring the homeowner to have the job redone properly.

Both of these situations were real estate transaction where the buyer thought they were getting a new or repaired sewer line. We don’t know whether the sellers knew what was going on, but it’s a good reminder.

First, always have the sewer line inspected when buying a home. Just because the seller says it was recently repaired, does not mean that the repair was done correctly.

Secondly, before hiring anyone to work on your sewer or water lines, do your homework. The cheapest option isn’t always the best one. The wrong contractor can end up being the most expensive mistake you make.

Have questions. We’re happy to help.

303-562-9800.