Bathroom Plumbing Do's And Don'ts!

In the plumbing World, there are many things that can go wrong that potentially lead to flooding and other messy catastrophes! But how can you know what is good for the plumbing, and what is bad? Well here is a simple list of "Do's and Don'ts"!

Do's

Remove and clean your aerator on any taps frequently. You can clean it by soaking it within a vinegar and water solution. Cleaning your aerator will help stop any low water pressure.

Turn off your hot water system when you are going on holiday, or when no one is going to be in the house for a long period of time. This not only saves energy, but helps to preserve your pipes.

Insulate water pipes outside your home during cold winter months. This will stop the water in your pipes from freezing, which could be problematic to not only your water supply, but in the functionality of certain appliances.

If you need to plunge your bath tub or bathroom sink, use a cloth to block your overflow. This will help to direct any blockages, and lessen any mess.

Clean your toilet tank at least twice a year. Bacteria can form in stagnant water if you haven't flushed your toilet for a certain period of time. The bacteria can stay within the tank even if you have flushed the toilet after the bacteria has formed.

Pour a few litres of hot water down your bath tub or shower drains at least once a month. This will help to prevent blockages.

Don'ts

Pour hot water into your toilet bowl. This may lead to the toilet bowl cracking, which will not only ruin the aesthetics of the toilet, but could lead to bacteria harvesting within the cracks, that could be hard to remove.

Put nappies, sanitary towels, tampons or anything other than tissue paper, human waste and wipes that are approved for flushing down the toilet. As nappies and other such materials expand, they will lead to a blockage if flushed down the toilet.

Put a brick within your toilet tank in an attempt to save water. Although this is often recommended by people, it could lead to your toilet malfunctioning.

Let your water valves rust. If your water vales are not in use for a certain amount of time, it is best to oil them, as they may end up rusting or seizing.

If your pipes have frozen, use open flames to thaw them out. This could potentially melt the pipe.

Have items hanging, or upon a shelf, above your toilet. They may easily fall in, which could not only ruin the items, but could also crack your toilet bowl, or lead to a blockage if the item gets flushed down the toilet.

Keep these do's and don'ts in mind, and hopefully these will prevent any plumbing problems! If a problem does occur and you are not 100% certain on how to fix it, always call in a professional. If you do need a professional, always make sure you know what they are doing before they take on the job.