Indoor plumbing is something that we often take for granted.
We go about our day-to-day tasks, turning a handle here or a faucet there and the muck and dirt is miraculously washed away, leaving our fixtures clean. Life goes on till one day, disaster strikes and the stuff you don’t ever want to see floods your bathroom floor.
Most experienced plumbers have horror stories about their jobs that they have found challenging. Any Guelph plumber will be more than willing to share some of these tales with you. Here are some plumbing disasters you want to avoid happening.
Disaster 1: Your garbage disposal that is clogged by mystery goo
A garbage disposal that has been properly maintained can run perfectly well for around 12 years. However, when the wrong types of foods are stuffed down the disposal drain, problems are going to blow up in your face. Blockages in the drain can cause the motor to burn out or increase the wear and tear of your machine. Avoid putting stuff like shells, bones and fruit pits in the disposal drain. Also, watch out for gum, peels and grease. It will be very gross to fix yourself.
Disaster 2: The phantom flusher
Have you had the fright of your life when your toilet flushes and empties on its own? Well, you are not alone. This is a common problem. This phenomenon is caused by a leak in the tank. As soon as there is a drop in the water level, the tank will automatically refill. Apart from scaring the daylights out of you, the water bills can put a serious dent in your monthly budget if not fixed in time. So reach for the phone and call your plumber as soon as possible.
Disaster 3: An overflowing toilet
There is nothing more disgusting than a toilet that backs up or overflows. Cleaning up the bathroom can become a nightmare after the overflow. So how do you avoid this disaster? The answer is simple; only flush toilet paper and human waste in the toilet. Once you put something else in the toilet; be it sanitary napkins or paper towels, there are all chances that the toilet can clog. To keep the toilet drain empty, flush a mixture of vinegar and baking soda down the toilet once in a while.
Disaster 4: Sudden faucet break
A faucet break can turn into an emergency situation very quickly; as there are all chances that the whole house can get flooded, leading to more damage. Steve Ferguson, owner of Mr Rooter Plumbing in Oakland, recalls, ‘we got an emergency call around 2 a.m. from an apartment owner that had a faucet break that then led to water flooding out everywhere. When we arrived, we found the tenant holding his hand over the water pipe of the wall mounted sink faucet, directing the flow into the sink. He had been doing that for about 2 hours to keep from flooding the apartment!’
The first thing you should do if your faucet breaks it to turn off your water valve. That way your place doesn’t flood while a plumber is on the way.
There are times when you tell yourself; ‘how hard can it be?’ While this may work for simple jobs, for the more complicated work, its best to call in a professional. This is the best way to avoid a disaster in the making.
