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Top 5 Plumbing Mistakes Made by Homeowners

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Melbourne Plumber

If you are a homeowner you know that the buck stops with you on everything from décor to indoor plumbing. The decisions you make affect the house and household. If something breaks or goes terribly wrong, there is no landlord to call and bail you out. That is why it is important to make the right decisions when owning a home.

In this article we will list the top five plumbing mistakes made by homeowners. Most homeowners are first time homeowners and there are a plethora of mistakes and pitfalls to avoid. Our hope is that writing blogs like this can help better educate the new homeowner about their plumbing and help them avoid those costly mistakes.

5. Not Turning Off the Water Main

Many times a homeowner will be in such a rush to fix what is wrong they will begin work before shutting off the main valve. Really, anytime any plumbing work at all is being performed, the main should be shut.

4. Not Getting a Permit

It’s your home right? So you can do with it as you please, correct? Not so fast. Yes, regulations and codes seem like red tape meant to keep bureaucrats pockets full of cash but many codes and regulations do save people from property damage and even worse, death and injury. If you perform major work without pulling a permit, you may have to knock it all down and start over after the permit is granted.

3. Flushing Bad Things

Many of us already know the list of things we shouldn’t flush. But surprisingly, many people do not. Plumbers get calls all day long about items which shouldn’t have been flushed causing major plumbing problems. Some of those items are:  feminine hygiene products, q-tips, floss, facial tissues and baby wipes. Throw those things in the trash and avoid the drama.

2. Connecting Pipes Improperly

Many do-it-yourselfers think a pipe is a pipe and that you can simply connect any set of pipes together. But certain pipes are not to be connected. They all have different tolerances and microscopic grains which allow for a seal and a constant steady flow. Mismatching pipes and not having a proper seal is a recipe for disaster.

1.Chemical Drain Cleaner

WE have all done it. A stubborn drain clog presents itself and our first instinct is to pour something down there which will eat away the clog. But the reality is that an auger is a much better choice of tool. Harsh chemical drain cleaners erode your pipe and can even cause a dangerous backflow problem. Try to remove clogs mechanically before you ever think about abrasive chemicals.