Emergency!
It’s not a word people usually want to hear. Emergency rarely means something wonderful has happened out of the blue. When you encounter a plumbing emergency, it’s because you have a clogged drain, busted pipe, total loss of freshwater from the taps, or other problem that needs fixing immediately.
Fortunately, for emergency plumbing repair in Orlando, FL and elsewhere in Central Florida, you can rely on our plumbers to come to your rescue—24 hours a day.
But we know you would rather not have to deal with emergencies of any kind, and we’re happy to help with 5 tips for avoiding these problems. Some you can handle on your own, others are services you can entrust to us.
ONE: Don’t pour F.O.G. down the sink
What’s F.O.G. stand for? It’s fats, oils, and grease, and this is the Terrible Trio when it comes to drainpipes. F.O.G. is one of the main causes of sink clogs. These cooking oils look harmless when their hot because they’re in liquid form. But have you seen what they look like when they cool? They become a sticky, waxy substance. Imagine that residue clinging to the interior of your drainpipes, slowly building up until clogs are inevitable, and no amount of plunging will fix it. Pour F.O.G. out into another receptacle and put it in the trash.
TWO: Arrange for regular drain cleaning
This ties into the trouble with F.O.G.—because some will go down your drains no matter what. Plus, there’s soap scum and other debris that enter the drains. The best way to avoid drainpipe trouble is to schedule preventive drain cleaning with professionals once a year. We’ll scour out the drains and make them as good as new. You’ll rarely have clogs of any kind.
THREE: Don’t flush wipes
Pre-moistened wet wipes are more common now than ever, but they aren’t flushable—no matter what the label may say. These wipes tend to stick together and can congeal into a solid emulsion, which means a difficult clog to remove.
FOUR: Be nice to the disposal
This is an important piece of advice to remember as the holidays approach, since you’ll probably manage a great deal more cooking and cleaning in the kitchen. The disposal can’t handle anything tossed into it, however. It’s not for actual garbage, despite the name garbage disposal. Don’t put any organic items down it that are too hard for human teeth to chew (fruit pits, meat bones, unpopped popcorn kernels) or stringy foods like asparagus and onion skins. Pasta and rice are also troublesome because they absorb water.
FIVE: Install a water softener
Hard water deposits can be disastrous for plumbing and plumbing appliances, especially the water heater. If you suspect you have hard water, arrange for water testing with us. If your home’s water does have a high level of hard water minerals, we’ll arrange for the installation of a water softener that will extend the life of your plumbing.