Common Mistakes in Dallas Plumbing and Upkeep | Plumbing Service in Dallas
You know how it feels when in the urge to fix something, you actually end up making a complete mess; this is when you know you need emergency help. Well now you can call in your local Plumbing Service in Dallas, The Tioga Plumbing & Electric, to solve your plumbing problems, and provide you consultation for whatever job you have in mind.
Treating the Garbage Disposal Like a Trash Compactor
Despite the name, not all garbage belongs in the disposals. Most garbage doesn’t, yet some homeowners want to cram their waste down there until the blades stop turning. Watermelon rinds, potato peels, and pumpkin carvings are common items that plumbers and handymen have had to remove to free the blades.
Joseph Albergo, a professional plumber and an assistant to the executive director for the Plumbing Council of Chicagoland, said homeowners aren’t always the problem. If you’re having a house party, make sure your guests don’t dump everything down there.
Forgetting to Remove the Disposal Plug
Another common mistake with garbage disposals happens with the installation. The install doesn’t require advanced plumbing skills, but if the unit is to be connected to a dishwasher, a knockout plug in the disposal must be removed first. This is the little trick people fail to adhere by. If the leak valve is not treated properly, it will cause water to leak everywhere.
“We get calls from people saying they just installed the disposal and water is leaking all over,” says Terry Carter, from Tioga Plumbing & Electric, Texas. “You have to remove the plug in there.”
Placing Too Much Weight on Fixtures
Try not to put too much weight on plumbing fixtures. That means not hanging heavy shampoo racks from showerheads or using the bathtub spout as a footrest. They are not made to have weight on them; it’ll snap the showerhead right off. And will entail you calling your local plumbing repair service in Dallas, TX.
Joining Dissimilar Metals without the Proper Connector
Connecting different types of metals in plumbing pipes, such as steel and copper, requires the proper coupling to ensure the pipes do not expand at different temperatures causing a plumbing emergency. Without it the metals cannot ensure its purpose and can quickly corrode at the connection, which is called dielectric corrosion. The corrosion can build up and close the pipe making it seem like an amateur error.
Plumbers know that connecting two different metals requires the use of a special dielectric union, which costs about $6. Dielectric unions separate the two metals with a rubber washer and plastic sleeve so they don’t touch each other and do not disconnect with each other which is another key reason to use dielectric unions.
Flushing Household Items or Toys Down the Toilet
Every veteran plumber or handyman has at least once been involved in a story about getting called because the family flushed something inappropriate or bizarre down the toilet. “I’ve seen everything from matchbox cars to tweezers to golf balls in the toilet, the blame could funnily be placed on a certain Pixar movie from a few years back: “Kids who have seen Monsters, Inc., throw their toys in the toilet,” an employee of Plumbing Service in Dallas once said—he saw a rise in these kinds of calls following the film’s release.
If the items get stuck in the trap, then the toilet has to be disconnected to retrieve them. Plunging or using a plunger to get rid of the blockage can make the problem worse by pushing the toy into the waste line.
Dumping Construction Materials Down Drains
Doing a DIY at home on your wall by plugging in the holes or fixing the drywall with an improvisational technique sounds fun, but you could have a new project on your hands if you dump building materials, such as the joint compound used for repairing walls, down the drain.
Disposing of building materials can cause it to back up, because the materials used are adhesive in nature and so have a tendency to harden in the drain. This blocks it creating a massive problem for your local plumbing service in Dallas.
Cranking on a Faucet Handle
Repeat after me: Pushing or pulling really hard on a faucet handle when you turn it off is not going to stop a leak or a chronic drip. One of the most common things homeowners do is crank on it when it’s not working; pushing too hard can break the handle without solving the leak or drip problem. So, if you are going through something like that, the best thing to do is to contact your local plumber in Dallas and request a consultation on what to do next.
Stripping Threads
Here is more proof that good plumbing is not a test of strength. Like pushing too hard on faucet handles, over tightening plumbing components can cause them to leak or break.
Albergo advocates that any type of drain part, especially the common plastic and chrome materials, can have their threads stripped by too much tightening. It doesn’t take much to break open plastic or weak metals and so you should keep a lighter hand on them.
Turning on the Water Heater Before it’s Ready
Some homeowners are too eccentric about their new electric water heater and start to put it to work, as soon as possible. But just because the pipes are attached, doesn’t mean it’s immediately ready for use. If the water heater is turned on before it’s full of water, it can burn up. This can be another cause for calling in your local Dallas plumber to look into the matter. From the plumbers’ perspective that’s an entirely too expensive a mistake to make. You want to fill it up with water, take the air bubbles out by running water and then turn it on.”
Forgetting How Things Go Back Together
Taking apart your plumbing components is always the easier part of the job. Putting them back together here can become a real hassle. Some experts advise taking digital pictures of the disassembly process; to help when it’s time to put the item together again. Whether you’re working on your kitchen or your car, it’s a good idea to back up your own memory with some written records. If you are looking for tips and consultations we advise you get in touch with Tioga Plumbing & Electric, your Local Plumber in Dallas today.