Last month we shared with you some pretty hilarious plumbing fails, so this month we decided to take a slightly more serious approach to the plumbing problems that can end up really costing you money. Some of these mistakes can be made on the job (during a repair) and some might be caused by everyday bad habits.

Either way, if you hire Advantage Plumbing to take care of your plumbing services in Nashboro Village, Franklin, Mount Juliet and the other surrounding areas of Nashville, we’ll quickly be able to remedy any problems that come up, and you won’t have to worry about shoddy work that can lead to more problems.

Mistake 1: Using your toilet as a trash can. Yes it may seem convenient at the time, but trust us, you don’t want to throw anything down the toilet isn’t toilet paper or human waste. If you do, you’ll be left with a big, most likely smelly, headache when that toilet decides to overflow.

Mistake 2: Pouring stuff down the sink that shouldn’t be there. Just like with the above mistake, there are some things that just don’t belong in your pipes. One of these things is grease – this is clearly more common a problem in the kitchen. While grease seems liquid enough coming off a skillet, once it cools it can harden and then clog your drain. Some hardware store drain cleaners may work to fix this if it’s already a problem, but more often than not, you’ll have to call a plumber to clear it out.

Mistake 3: Forgetting about your pipes in the winter. This one is important to note since the temperatures will soon be dropping. While most of your pipes will be protected by your home’s heating system, it’s important to keep an eye on the ones that skip through those areas of your house – specifically any pipes that might be running outside. If your pipes freeze, they can burst, so make sure you drain any pipe that is susceptible to freezing temperatures is properly drained and insulated.

Mistake 4: Leaving water running during repairs. Now let’s say one of the previous issues has occurred and now you’re ready to fix it, remember there’s one fundamental rule most experts know to follow during any type of plumbing repair: it’s to turn off the water before beginning. This can be done by switching off the main shutoff valve or by closing a localized valve near the area (toilet, sink, etc.) being worked on. It’s a quick step but it’s necessary. If you (or the plumber you hire) forget to do so, you’ll have a very big, wet mess since water will come pouring out of the pipe you just opened.

Mistake 5: Not asking for help. With the advent of YouTube it seems like anyone can become an expert in anything. That’s awesome and all, but some things really should be left to the professionals. If you aren’t confident if you can handle the job yourself, or it just seems extremely overwhelming don’t hesitate to give the experts – like Advantage Plumbing – a call to take care of it for you.

Regardless of if it’s a big or small problem, you can give Advantage Plumbing a call at (615) 781-1239 or send us a message and we’ll quickly fix your hot water heater, commercial plumbing, residential plumbing or kitchen and bathroom remodeling problems without any mistakes.