As we move into the colder season, many of us in Sioux Falls, SD are going to be spending more time indoors. Some people are planning on hosting holiday gatherings, too. To make sure everything goes smoothly with your plumbing during the upcoming months, keep these tips in mind.
Remember That Toilets Aren’t Trash Cans
The toilet may seem like a magical kind of trash can, taking away anything you put into it. However, it doesn’t work that way. There’s only so much room in the pipes, and the system is not meant to handle anything other than toilet paper and human waste. Toilet paper has been made with short fibers, allowing it to decompose fairly quickly. Its fibers are shorter than those of paper towels and tissues, so it’s best that you dispose of those items, and anything else, in the garbage can. Otherwise, you could clog your toilet.
Protect Your Shower Drains
Shower drains also need to be treated with care. Hair and excessive soap scum can clog drains. If the water has no place to go, your shower can’t do its job properly. Consider getting a drain cover or a hair catcher to keep anything other than water from getting down the drain. A variety of covers are available, and hair catchers can either go on top of the drain or inside it.
Keep Food Out of Your Kitchen Sink’s Drain
Kitchen sinks need to be protected, too, and some would argue that you have to be even more careful about your kitchen sink because of all the food involved when washing dishes. Even if you have a garbage disposal, you shouldn’t put big chunks of food down the drain. A garbage disposal could start to break down prematurely if you overwork it. It can’t handle sticky substances that well, either. Oily substances should never go into the drain because when they cool, they coagulate. You’d be left with a chunky mess that will interfere with the drainage. A good habit is to scrape off your dishes into the trash can before you wash them.
Have Your Plumbing Checked Out
The last tip is to have a professional take a look at your plumbing. At Am Pm Plumbing, we can look for signs of leaks, proactively clean your drains so that you don’t get any unexpected surprises this winter, and tune up your water heater. It can be hard to know what’s going on with your plumbing if there’s not an obvious problem, but this doesn’t mean that everything is running as it should. We’ll use our skills and tools to make sure every component is working properly.
There are many helpful habits you can adopt to keep plumbing disasters at bay. For service in Sioux Falls or answers to your questions, contact us at Am Pm Plumbing.
