Your home’s plumbing system has probably taken a beating this spring. With Long Island residents staying home more than ever before, the systems in their homes are seeing more use, too. But homeowners can take steps to make sure systems keep working and keep their families safe and healthy.
Here are some tips that can keep your plumbing in good working order.
CAN THE GREASE
If you’re doing a lot of cooking at home, you’re probably using more cooking oil and creating more grease than before, too. But pouring those substances down your drain can cause clogs and backups in your sewer system. That’s because these fats cool as they go through your pipes, eventually becoming solid and attaching to the walls of the pipe, narrowing it.
You should never pour cooking oil or grease down the drain. Pour it in a container and throw it away once it’s cool. You can also wipe pots and pans with a paper towel to remove grease before washing.
DON’T FLUSH WIPES
The only things that should go down the toilet are toilet paper and human waste, period. Anything else should go out with the trash. Baby wipes, paper towels or so-called “flushable” wipes can clog your pipes and cause a backup.
MAINTAIN YOUR DRAINS
No matter how vigilant you are about keeping your drains free of grease and wipes, there is going to be some buildup in the pipes. Soap, hair and other substances can congeal in the pipes and cause a clog. You can proactively prevent these clogs by slowly pouring a pot of boiling saltwater down each drain in your home, melting and dissolving the debris and moving it along.
But sometimes, despite our best efforts, plumbing problems still happen. At Pipe Doctor Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, we’re here to help our Nassau & Queens neighbors no matter what. If you encounter a problem and need service, just call us at 516-348-6300 or contact Pipe Doctor online.
