5 Household Plumbing Tips from the Best Plumbers Around

1.  Toilet Plumbing Tips: What Not to Flush

Many toilet clogs come from items that shouldn’t have been flushed in the first place. Despite what packaging claims, the only item safe to flush is toilet paper. Products like:

• “Flushable” wipes
• Feminine hygiene items
• Cotton balls or swabs
• Facial cleansing pads
• Cigarette butts

…do not break down in water and can cause serious drain blockages.

Pro tip: If your toilet overflows, locate and shut off the water valve behind the toilet tank immediately to prevent flooding.

2. Kitchen Sink Plumbing Tips: Keep Grease Out

Grease is your kitchen sink’s worst enemy. Pouring hamburger fat, bacon grease, or cooking oil down your drain leads to a sticky, solid buildup that clogs your pipes over time.

Do This Instead:

• Pour cooled grease into a jar or disposable container.
• Use sink strainers to catch food particles and prevent jewelry or utensils from falling down the drain.
• Run hot (not boiling) water through your kitchen sink weekly to flush out soft buildup.

Garbage Disposal Advice
While garbage disposals help break up food waste, avoid putting bones, celery, stringy vegetables, or egg shells down the disposal. Always run cold water while the disposal is on to help solidify fats so they can be chopped up more efficiently.

3. Bathroom Drain Tips: Tame the Hair & Soap Scum

Bathtub and sink drains commonly clog from hair, soap residue, and toothpaste buildup.

Prevent Slow Drains by:

• Installing drain screens to catch hair and debris.
• Brushing your hair before showers to reduce loose hair going down the drain.
• Using a DIY cleaner: pour ½ cup baking soda + ½ cup white vinegar, let it sit for 10 minutes, then flush with hot water.

If your drain remains slow after using a natural cleaner, avoid chemical products and call a professional. Chemical drain cleaners can damage pipes and harm the environment.

4. Garbage Disposal Tips: Clean, Sharpen, and Deodorize

Your garbage disposal works hard. Keep it running efficiently by giving it some regular maintenance.

Best Practices:

• Run cold water before, during, and after use.
• Avoid grease, poultry skin, and fibrous scraps.
• Grind ice cubes once a week to clean and sharpen blades.

Bonus Tip: Eliminate Odors
Freeze vinegar in ice cube trays and run the vinegar cubes through your disposal. This not only cleans the blades and scrubs the interior, but also neutralizes foul smells and bacteria buildup.

5. Washing Machine Plumbing Tips: Prevent a Flood

Standard washing machine hoses are prone to bursting, especially the cheaper rubber ones.

Here’s How to Avoid Water Damage:

• Replace old rubber hoses with stainless steel braided hoses.
• Make sure your washer sits in a drainage or overflow pan, especially in second-floor laundry rooms.
• Check that the washer drain hose is secure and properly connected to the standpipe.

Have a plumber inspect your shut-off valves and drain setup to make sure everything is working correctly and up to code.