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When you shower, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about your McHenry plumbing. But the way in which you shower could have a significant impact on your home’s plumbing. Several shower habits are detrimental to your drains and pipes. Find out more about the bad habits that could be ruining your plumbing, and you may be able to prevent calling a plumber in Red Oak.
Bad Habit 1: A Hot, Long Shower
Do you wake up every morning with a long and hot shower? Although you might enjoy the lengthy routine maintenance, it could be damaging to your plumbing. Every once in a while, a long and hot shower is fine. But, on a daily basis, your shower schedule is harmful to your plumbing.
Long showers create the ideal environment for mold. If you don’t remove the mold as soon as possible, you will have issues with your home as well as your plumbing. It’s also worth mentioning that long and hot showers aren’t great for your body. You may develop dry and itchy skin. Furthermore, you can expect a high water bill.
To limit mold growth in your bathroom, make sure your room has ventilation. You might need to install a vent fan or keep your window open. Whenever possible, keep your maximum shower time to ten minutes. Avoid running your water at the hottest temperature, and instead, keep the water warm.
Bad Habit 2: Leaving a Loofah in the Shower
Most homeowners leave their loofah and sponges in the shower. After all, it’s a convenient place for it and doesn’t seem to do any harm. However, leaving your loofah in the shower could result in you needing licensed plumbers in Red Oak.
This is due to the fact that your loofah is a prime location for mold and mildew. Because your loofah remains wet long after you shower, it allows mold to thrive. The mold could take over your bathroom and affect your plumbing as well as your walls.
If you think about it, using a moldy sponge to clean your body isn’t the most hygienic thing to do. Do you really want to wash your body with a sponge covered in bacteria? Rather than washing with a dirty loofah, you can store the loofah somewhere else. Wring your loofah every time you finish with it and wash it with antibacterial soap before you use it.
Bad Habit 3: Putting Hair Down the Drain
All of the pipes in your home are susceptible to blockages. However, your bathroom plumbing is one of the most vulnerable areas. The soap scum and hair that goes down your shower and sink drains wreak havoc on your plumbing system.
When you’re in the shower, you might notice some clumps of hair coming out. Letting the hair go directly into your drain will result in a major clog. Even if the clog doesn’t form immediately, it will eventually block your pipe and prevent water from draining.
You can prevent hair from going down the drain by using a drain cover. After you shower, remove the cover and dispose of the hair. Reinsert the cover, and you won’t need to worry about hair blocking up your plumbing system. If you suspect a blockage, it might be too late. You can sweep your finger in the drain to try and remove hair. For a deeper clog, you need to consult with a plumber.
Bad Habit 4: Leaving a Trail of Water on the Floor
How much water do you get on the floor after you shower? Typically, people drip on their floors quite a bit. They leave the puddles to dry up on their own. However, you should never leave water on your bathroom floor. It does damage to your floor and encourages mold to grow.
Another issue is the risk of a slip and fall accident. If someone goes into the bathroom after you, they could slip on the water and experience a serious injury. It’s best to wipe up water from outside the shower and anywhere else on the bathroom floor. If you notice water pooling up in your shower, you may want to find out why it’s not draining well.
To make your life easier, use a mat outside of your shower and in front of your sinks. You still don’t want the mats to get too wet, but they can cut down on some of the water.
Bad Habit 5: Ignoring Hard Water
If you have hard water, you should expect plumbing problems. Hard water occurs when water contains extra calcium and minerals. Over time, the minerals deposit in your shower nozzles and in other places. The residue usually has a dry and flaky appearance.
If you see residue on your shower head or sink nozzles, you should clean them off. A mixture of vinegar and water can remove the residue and restore the flow of water. You might also want to consult with a plumber about your hard water issue. If you don’t soften your water, your washing machine and water heater could be in trouble.
Bad Habit 6: Using Drain Cleaner
During a shower, you might notice your drain is slow to get to work. To speed up the process, you may opt to reach for a chemical drain cleaner. This is one of the worst things you can do for your bathroom plumbing, even though you have good intentions.
Your plumbing isn’t indestructible, and store products contain harsh chemicals. If you make it a habit to pour chemicals down your drains, your pipes could weaken. Eventually, they may leak or break. Instead of using a store-bought product, call a plumber.
Do You Need a Plumber in Red Oak?
Whether you have plumbing issues or you just want to know who to call when you have trouble, reach out to us at Combat Plumbing. When you need a plumber in Red Oak, we’re here for you. Our years of experience and highly trained staff makes us the right choice for your plumbing needs.
