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Whether you rent or own a home, sometimes occasions arise when you've gotta call a plumber. It just happens!
These are just *some* of reasons you should call a plumber:
- Installing new sinks, pipes, tubs, etc.
- New construction that requires building permits
- Water heater problems like low water pressure, lack of hot water
- Pipe blockages that happen all the time, which may be something to do with your sewer line rather than regular hair clogs
- Septic tank leaks (!!)
- Sewer line breaks (!!!)
So by all means, PLEASE call your plumber if any of the above happens.
Now that's out of the way, there are SO MANY preventative measures you can take to avoid having to call one out for routine stuff or clogged drain snafus. That's what I cover in this story!
Most of these address clogs, but so many plumbing problems that turn into full-blown issues have a root in clogs!
Check out some ways to be kinder to your pipes and fixtures:
1. Keep your biggest appliances in working order with cleaning tablets — lest you call a plumber about subpar wash cycles when you just needed to clean your machines of detergent buildup for efficiency's sake.
2. Clean and deodorize your kitchen's smelliest appliance with some garbage disposer cleaning tablets that'll bring up all sorts of disgusting things to the surface (like food scraps) and keep them from funking up your kitchen. You've been wondering what that smell is post-holidays. Welp, I think these tabs will help.
3. Catch hair before it goes down the drain and causes a plumbing hassle with a TubShroom and SinkShroom for easy removal on the reg — even after you give the dog a bath! I have a MANE of hair and even though I live by myself, this catches a worryingly large amount of hair.
4. Have a pop-up drain? Invest in this drain protector that'll also prevent your luscious locks from becoming a plumbing sitch.
5. And if the prevention ship has sailed, use some drain snakes to pull out the mess. They'll be cheap enough to toss if you don't wanna *deal* with the mess. Just be prepared for the grotesque reveal.
6. Or wiggle in a millipede-like hair remover with more than 4k hooks and loops to ensnare all that hair down there. 'Tis time for it to (briefly) see the light of day again before you toss it in the trash.
7. Regurgitate all the disgusting stuff you DIDN'T EVEN KNOW was lurking in and clogging up your jetted tub's innards with a special jetted tub cleaner. First some pipe care and then some self-care!
8. Swap your old kitchen sink strainer for a ~flexible~ sink strainer that'll easily bend to your every food-removing whim. It'll also catch the non-food particles that end up in your sink!
9. Spell out what CAN NOT be flushed down the toilet to your family or anyone with whom you share a toilet.
10. Also set a rule for how many squares of TP are allowed per flush — and if you already have a rule, remind your family!
11. If you're the DIY type, you can stop a noisy toilet with this tutorial from an expert plumber and an affordable kit.
View this video on YouTube
Full disclosure: I used to work for ThisOldHouse.com and would trust the TOH crew with my life! Or at least the life of my plumbing fixtures. Richard Trethewey ^ has seen many toilets in his day, so he comes from a place with a TON of knowledge. If you're so inclined to tackle this DIY yourself (I believe in you!), replacements like the ones he used in the video are cheap and available on — you guessed it — Amazon! Also check out another tutorial from TOH on how to replace a flapper valve.
Get a highly reviewed kit from Amazon with the materials for $11.98.
12. Switch to super soluble toilet paper because that incredibly fluffy toilet paper you swear by could be contributing to clogs.
13. Cut down on your family's toilet paper habit (which could be part of the cause of your running toilet?) with a bidet attachment that'll use water instead of paper to help you get clean. Water is way easier to flush, obvi.
14. Perhaps designate a specific trash can (with odor-blocking bags) for disposing of traditional toilet paper instead of flushing it.
15. Consider giving the "family cloth" a try to avoid some toilet paper costs AND paper going down your toilet drain.
16. When toilet clogs DO happen, use a beehive-shaped plunger that conforms to even oddly shaped toilet bowls. You know how most plungers are just circles? Welp, this will be way more effective for your efforts.
17. Before you pour some chemical de-clogger down your drain — which is less than gentle on old pipes — try using some good ole white vinegar and baking soda to clear a path.
18. Or, TBH, you can just pour some boiling hot water straight from your kettle to help move things along.
19. And if all else fails, buy some highly rated chemical de-clogger to help clear a drainage path. (FYI, this is what I use when I'm at my wits' end.)
Looking for more great Amazon finds? Check out some of our favorite cheap things to buy on Amazon, some of the weirdest things on Amazon you might actually want, or read through all the rest of our incredible Amazon product recommendations.
Your friends who hear about your newfound plumbing knowledge:
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