The seven sins of plumbing
Careless homeowners might mean more work for plumbers, but they’d rather save yourself the hassle and cost of calling them by avoiding these sins:
Flushing everything down the loo
False teeth, retainers and a knitted beanie are some of the things Sarah Bowie, business owner at Laser Plumbing, says her plumbers have encountered. But the most common problem? ‘‘Flushable wipes. We constantly find them blocking the pipes. They just don’t break down.’’
Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace says only ‘‘the three Ps’’ – pee, poo and (toilet) paper – should be flushed. ‘‘Anything else can cause you an entirely avoidable problem.’’
Putting fat down the sink
Ever heard of a fatberg? It’s a hard lump of fat that’s solidified in the drains. Fat might be liquid when it’s warm, but when it cools it sets hard.
‘‘Grease needs to be flushed down the sink with boiling hot water and detergent,’’ says Bowie. ‘‘Otherwise it will build up.’’
Not using a garbage disposal properly
Your waste disposal is not designed to crunch up bones, onion skins and banana peels, so read the instructions carefully before putting anything down it. ‘‘Lots of people have coffee machines at home now but only the really good quality waste disposals can handle the coffee grounds, and they need heaps of water,’’ says Wallace. ‘‘Coffee is good for the garden anyway, so it’s best to put them out there.’’
Other things to be wary of include fruit seeds or pips, fibrous vegetable matter such as celery and corn husks, and anything that will congeal, such as potato skins and pasta.
Not clearing gutters
Spouting and downpipes should be kept clear, particularly at this time of the year when the leaves are falling. ‘‘Before winter hits you should clear your gutters and downpipes,’’ says Wallace. ‘‘If they’re blocked that’s when water can enter buildings and cause problems.’’
Putting food waste down the sink
Just because it fits, doesn’t mean it belongs. Some foods expand and/or congeal in water, including cereals, rice, pasta, some diced vege, coffee grounds and tea leaves. Keep them out of the pipes and you’ll be ringing the plumber far less frequently.
Ignoring small problems
People should take notice if sinks are draining slowly or the toilet water level is changing after a flush as it could mean a slight blockage that could be easily dealt with. Leaving blockages can cause major problems, especially if your home was built before the 1970s as it’s likely to have earthenware pipes that can crack.
Improper DIY work
‘‘People don’t realise there is very little work you can actually do by law,’’ says Wallace.
‘‘It should be left to the professionals.’’
Even putting caustic chemicals down a blocked drain is something he’d advise against. ‘‘People need to realise that all drains go somewhere, and councils spend a fortune on maintaining the wider drainage systems.
‘‘The fewer chemicals going down there the better.’’