Hey, no one is perfect and mistakes can get costly. This is especially true when it comes to plumbing mistakes. But the good news is that you can learn from others mistakes and avoid needing to call a plumber. Check out the most common plumbing mistakes and learn how you can avoid them.

plumber mistakes

Mistake Number One: Treating Your Toilet Like a Trash Can.

If you ask any plumber, they’ll have dozens of stories of items they retrieve from a clogged toilet. Save yourself the headache and avoid flushing any of the following items:

cotton balls
toys
paper towels
cigarette-butts
plastic items
band-aids
dental floss
diapers
facial tissue
etc.

Bottom line, if it’s not toilet paper, you shouldn’t try to flush it. This goes double for the so-called “flushable” wipes (which are horrible for your plumbing system).

Mistake Number Two: Misusing the Garbage Disposal.

When using the garbage disposal it is important not to overload it with too much food at one time. And most importantly, do not, I repeat do not put any of the following items down your disposal.

Potato peels, celery, artichokes, asparagus, lettuce, corn husks, carrots or onion skins. These items tend to wrap around the disposal blades.

Pasta, beans, potatoes or rice. These foods absorb water and turn into a paste like substance in your drain, which can cause a clog.

Chicken or turkey bones, large seed pits, fatty or greasy foods, coffee grounds or seeds.

Mistake Number Three: Ignoring Tiny Leaks.

Okay, this is one issue that will likely require a plumber in order to avoid a major plumbing mistake You definitely want to have a professional plumber repair leaky faucets promptly. Even a small leak wastes gallons of water in a short period of time. Plus, that leak will continue to grow larger and more expensive to fix the longer you ignore it.

Mistake Number Four: Weighing Down Your Plumbing Fixtures.

Plumbing fixtures are only designed to support so much weight at one time. Using your bathtub spout as a handle to pull yourself out of the tub or overloading a shower caddy can cause serious damage to the fixture. You’ll also risking your own safety!

Mistake Number Five: Being to Forceful When Turning a Faucet On and Off.

Being overly aggressive when using a faucet can cause some serious damage to the fixture. Additionally, pressing down really hard on a leaky faucet will not stop the water from dripping and will make the issue much worse.

Mistake Number Six: Failing to Properly Maintain Your Water Heater.

Your water heater requires yearly maintenance to ensure it’s functioning properly. Waking up on a cold morning without hot water for a shower is not anyone’s idea of a fun way to start the day. You can help avoid this by ensuring your water heater is well maintained.