When it comes to taking care of things in your own home, plumbing is a big one. You might have a clogged toilet, a leaky sink, or a drain that refuses to cooperate. While some solutions are straightforward, others can result in expensive mistakes. Here are seven common mistakes to avoid in your home.

1. Using Drain Cleaner

You notice that your sink or bathtub is either taking forever to drain or it's stopped completely. You go to the local pharmacy and grab liquid drain cleaner and let it do its work, right? Wrong. According to Bob Vila, if you do that, you can wind up having cracks or corroded pipes! Also, the drain cleaner could splash back up, which is extremely dangerous. Instead, hire a plumbing professional to take care of your clogged drain before it gets messier.

2. Tightening Too Much

Do you have a leaky faucet? This issue wastes water! One viable way to fix it is to tighten it since it could be letting water out. However, if you tighten too much, you could cause a crack to form. The excessive force can cause a small crack to grow over time, which can lead to costly plumbing system damage or even water leakage that can cause a flood! Instead, it's best to get on the phone with a plumber so they can fix your faucet accurately.

3. Flushing "Flushable" Wipes

The packaging on wipes may say that it's okay to flush them down the toilet, but any plumbing professional will tell you otherwise. The truth is that sewer pipes and septic tanks weren't designed to deal with wipes. It can wind up causing quite a mess and requiring you to bring in a plumber to fix what happened. You can still use the wipe but chuck it in the garbage can after you finish. Otherwise, it's another expensive error.

4. Pouring Hot Grease Down the Drain

Pouring hot grease down the drain won't cause the pipes to clear up. Instead, the grease will go partly through and then cool down and solidify, which can cause a backup. Instead, throw it out in your garbage bags. This step will make disposal much easier for you!

5. Trying to Fix Plumbing Without the Right Equipment and Tools

Plumbers are known as experts for a reason. They have specialized equipment that helps them do their job. You, on the other hand, don't. The last thing you want to do is try to perform a DIY repair when you don't have a major piece of equipment or a crucial tool! Instead of leaning on your basic plumbing knowledge, hire experienced professionals who won't make a mistake that could severely damage your plumbing system.

6. Flushing Toiletries

Many toiletry items are often flushed, including tampons, sanitary pads, condoms, contact lenses, and dental floss. While it may not seem like a big deal to flush these items since they can go down the toilet easily, you're actually causing a major buildup in your pipes. This buildup can enable flooding and water damage, as a pipe can burst over time.

7. Overloading the Garbage Disposal

Many homeowners will put all their food waste down the garbage disposal, but it's actually meant for the remnants of food and liquids. Be sure to not let coffee grounds, bread, rice, pasta, nuts, shells, animal bones, seeds, pits, onion layers, eggshells, or fruit or vegetable peels get down the disposal, as these items can cause major damage over time.

Too much waste getting into the disposal can cause a jam and increase the possibility of overheating. Be sure to fish out large pieces of food that get down your disposal. If it gets out of control, then it's in your best interest to call a professional plumber so they can clear out the disposal for you.

As a homeowner, it isn't your job to know everything about your property's plumbing system. In fact, we recommend following the basic precautions and letting the professionals handle the rest. Our team here at Plumb Fit has years of experience with drains, re-piping water heaters, toilet repair services, and more. Contact us today to see what we can do for you! We look forward to assisting you.