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How to Increase the Lifespan of Your Plumbing System

Your plumbing system isn’t like the rest of your HVAC system. You don’t want to have to replace it every decade or so, this is a system you want to last. Luckily, it’s feasible for your plumbing system to last you a long time, there are many things you can do to increase the lifespan of your plumbing.

The biggest problems that homeowners face is user error. It’s common to put things down your drain that you shouldn’t, run your system in a way that isn’t beneficial, or neglect to have your system serviced by a professional. If you need a plumber in Ogden, UT then you need a member of our team. We’re always dependable, conscientious, and work hard to leave our customers satisfied.

What to Avoid

A lot of plumbing problems are very easily avoidable when it comes to your plumbing system. Here’s a few key items and practices to avoid to maintain a healthy plumbing system.

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds are one of the top causes of plumbing problems. You should avoid putting these down your drain system at all costs. A lot of homeowners are surprised by this; people think that because they’re ground down so finely that they’re small enough to slip through the pipes with ease. But that couldn’t be further from the case.

If you have coffee grounds make sure that you throw them in the trash, or if you’re trying to go eco-friendly, try composting. If you have a green thumb, coffee grounds will help your acid-loving plants (azaleas, hydrangeas, daffodils, etc.) bloom beautifully.

“Flushable” Items

Your kitty litter and those wet wipes might say they’re flushable, but this is seldom true. Flushable wipes and kitty litter admittedly aren’t the problem on their own; it’s a problem when they combine with the other sludge potentially sitting in your plumbing system. When they combine this way, it creates persistent clogs that are hard to relive because of their malleable consistency. Omit these items from your system—better safe than sorry!

FOG

FOG is your plumbing system’s worst nightmare. FOG is an acronym that stands for fat, oil, and grease. People put FOG down their drains when it’s in liquid form thinking that it won’t present a problem, but when FOG settles and cools, it hardens into a sticky substance that any of the items listed here can easily get caught in, causing a huge clog and a headache for you.

Eggshells

It’s common to hear that eggshells are actually good for your plumbing system because they sharpen your blades—this is a common misconception. Even if you think eggshells aren’t beneficial, they seem harmless, right? Wrong. When you send eggshells down your drain, the garbage disposal grinds these items down and they get stuck in FOG and create a thick, gloppy mess in your plumbing system.

If you want a healthy, long-lasting plumbing system, follow these tips and tricks. If you ever slip up and run into a problem with your system, don’t try to DIY your issues away, call a professional!

Contact Rentmeister Total Home Services for all your plumbing needs.

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