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Tag Archive: plumbing tips

1. Caring for Your New Toilet

   April 11, 2015 5:58 am Leave a Comment

   Some simple straightforward suggestions to extend the life of your toilet and keeping it look like new for years to come.

   • Never use your toilet as a ladder.  This may cause damage not only to the toilet, but to the flange that the toilet sits on.  (To learn about the flange and other plumbing in your home, click on the i-House on the bottom right-hand side of our Home Page at plumbperfect.ca).  Also take care not to put any pressure on the tank by leaning on it as it may loosen the tank-to-bowl seal or crack the tank.
   • Don’t store heavy items above the toilet to minimize the risk of them falling and cracking the tank or bowl.  Smaller items falling into the toilet, such as hairbrushes, make-up and hygiene products, can get stuck inside the toilet and cannot be dislodged, which means the toilet may have to be replaced.
   • Do use natural cleaning products to keep your toilet looking like new.  Abrasive and caustic cleaners damage the glazing on the porcelain toilet leading to more frequent cleaning and, in most cases, even void toilet manufacturer warranties.  Nylon brushes can also damage the glazing.   Worn toilet brushes should be replaced before the metal is exposed causing scratches in the toilet bowl.
   • Never pour hot water or liquids into the tank or bowl as it may crack due to the cold water and porcelain.  Mixing different cleaning products together can have the same result and be harmful to your health. It can even be dangerous.
   • Avoid using your toilet as a garbage can. Toilet paper is designed in size and density to easily break down.  Paper towels, facial tissue and flushable wipes and tampons are more dense and may clog the toilet and even your sewer line.  Just because it says it’s flushable doesn’t mean it won’t clog!
   • Don’t flush waste such as fats, grease, wax and starch as they can clog the toilet and make water treatment more difficult.  Prescription medications are actually hazardous waste and municipal sewage treatment plants are not engineered for pharmaceutical removal.  Most pass through the system and are released into our lakes and rivers or end up in the treated wastewater ready to be sent back to our homes.  They also harm the beneficial bacteria needed to break down waste in septic systems.
   • Any components inside the toilet tank should be replaced with exact brand name parts to keep your toilet operating at peak efficiency.  For example, if your American Standard Cadet flapper was replaced with a universal flapper, you could actually be using up to three times more water with every flush!

   For Expert Plumbing Service Please Call Plumb Perfect Ltd.  1.888.458.1979

2. How to Care for Your Drains

   5:54 am Leave a Comment

   Next to a leak, a clogged drain is the most common plumbing problem a homeowner faces.  Most clogged drains can actually be avoided by following these simple steps:

   1. Don’t pour grease down the kitchen sink.  Most kitchen sink clogs are due to grease and food particles.  Always allow grease to cool and pour it into an old can or wipe it out with newspaper and throw it in the garbage.  Running hot water while you pour down the grease makes no difference as the grease will still solidify once it hits the cold pipe.  More grease and food particles will then get “caught” on it forming a blockage.  Grease and food particles may also cause terrible smells and encourage bacterial growth and even drain flies.We often hear, “I never pour grease down my sink, so why do I have this problem?”  That’s because soap is made from lye and vegetable oils or animal fats… in other words, grease.
   2. Use a mesh drain screen.  Your kitchen drain basket catches larger particles while the smaller ones slip by.  A mesh screen that sits in the drain will capture those smaller particles that are attempting to escape down your drain.  A stainless steel one will last for years.
   3. Regularly clean the hair out of your drains.  You may prevent clogging by removing the hair from your bathtub and shower drains on a regular basis.  Although most hair gets washed away, some hair gets stuck on the soap scum in the drain, eventually causing a blockage.  Use tweezers or a wire coat hanger unbent to remove the hair.   We recommend doing this at least once per month.   And don’t forget to clean your bathroom sink pop-up plugs.  Toothpaste and soap also builds up here.
   4. Don’t use chemical drain cleaners.   They are caustic and rarely work.  The acid may be able to burn a small hole through the clog by running along the bottom of the pipes, but this only temporarily restores partial flow.  If used on kitchen drains, these chemicals may even back up into your dishwasher.  Chemical drain cleaners damage and shorten the lifespan of your home’s piping as they are corrosive.  They also harm our water and the environment and are especially dangerous around children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions.

   5. DO use natural drain cleaners.   A plumber’s snake is an invaluable tool and can be purchased at most hardware stores.  We also strongly recommend using natural enzyme & bacterial cleaners as part of a monthly maintenance program.  These are very effective in preventing clogs on all types of drains as they break down all organic waste like grease, food particles, soap scum and hair.  (For more information on natural drain cleaners, please check Bio-Clean, BioOne and Maximizer DT Pro on our website.)

   For 5 warning signs that indicate you may already have a potential severe drain problem, click here .

   For Expert Plumbing Service Please Call Plumb Perfect Ltd. 1.888.458.1979