How to Keep a Toilet Clean

Toilet bowls, according to most plumbing experts, have an infinite lifespan. However, the length of a toilet’s service life, like that of any other plumbing or bathroom fixture, is totally dependent on how it’s used and how well it’s maintained by the homeowner. Toilet bowls, like septic tanks, are more expensive than other plumbing fixtures and require far more upkeep and cleaning than any other bathroom item or equipment.

Why not add toilet maintenance into your plumbing ritual and clean-up list to make your bathroom cleaner and the appliances operate better? For busy people who don’t have enough time to tinker and clean the bathroom properly every day, here are four crucial strategies to try to make upkeep a painless task:

1. Cleaning (of course)

Make sure you’re cleaning every bathroom and plumbing fixture on a regular basis. While using chemical-based cleaners is enticing because all you have to do is pour them down the drain and wait a few minutes, it is actually detrimental to your plumbing system. In reality, the chemical cleansers that you drop inside your toilet tanks in the form of huge tablets that work as cleaning agents are so strong that they harm the flapper at the bottom of the tank.

Chemical cleansers, in addition to causing damage to the flapper, also harm other tank fixtures. It can unintentionally loosen nuts and bolts, as well as corrode metal.

2. Adjust Water Levels

One of the few things that most homeowners are unaware of when it comes to brand-new toilet units is that they require a few changes following installation. The water level inside the tank must be adjusted within the first 30 days due to excessive stretching of the rubber diaphragm and ballcock mechanism. At least an inch below the overflow tube is a suitable water level. This water level should be monitored and maintained every three months.

3. Proper Use of Toilets

When a toilet bowl is misused, it might break and split. When this happens, the only solution is to replace the bowl because a cracked or broken bowl cannot be repaired. To maintain its health, avoid using a bat or hammer on the toilet, climbing on top of the bowl, hammering any part of the bowl or toilet to loosen a fitting, and other actions that require you to fully rest your weight on the bowl or apply pressure or rapid impact to any surface of it.

4. Important Toilet Tips!

Here are options and tips to follow:

• Do not apply any force to the tank’s lid.
• Avoid leaning the toilet against a vertical surface during installation.
• Lift the toilet tank lid and support the underside if you wish to take it off.
• With dry hands, handle the lid. Carefully remove it off the sofa or bed and set it on top of a soft area.

Floor Drain Blockage: 4 Common Causes

Most of us unwind after a long day with a hot bath or a warm shower. However, it is extremely inconvenient when water pools at your feet after a shower. The last thing you need after a long day at the job is to think about having to address another problem. After being on their toes for nearly the whole day, no one wants to tackle another task, no matter how tiny. Everyone needs a relaxing dip in the tub before retiring to a comfy bed for the day. Here are some of the most typical reasons why floor drains become clogged, in order to avoid unpleasant situations like this. When you know what’s causing the problem, you can figure out the best method to remedy it. So, here are the factors to assist you in resolving the issue at its source:

1. Hair Fall

Every time you take a bath, you will unavoidably lose hair strands as they fall off and get flushed down the shower drain. Even if the bulk of the strands get caught in the strainer, the majority of them will still end up in the drain pipes. The strands can tangle and interweave inside the pipe, causing them to collect and finally clog the pipe. If the strands are not removed from the drain, the water flow will be restricted. This problem will cause the shower drain to get completely blocked. Fortunately, there are a variety of plumbing products available to clear the obstruction.

2. Soap and Shampoo Scum

Soap and shampoo scum do not completely clog the drains. They reduce the diameter of the passageways of unclean water used during a bath or shower, but unlike hair tangles, they do not cause a hard and full-coverage blockage. However, if the scum in the sidewalls of the pipe and drainage channels is not removed, it will harden with time, causing the water to drain slower than usual. As a result, dirty water collects on the floor or in the restroom. Furthermore, due to accumulated soap and shampoo scum, the pipes may have rough textures on the inside walls, trapping or hindering all other objects passing through the pipe.

3. Hard Water Residues

Mineral buildups on the sides of the pipe, the drain, and even on the walls of your bathroom stall and tub are the result of hard or untreated water carrying sediments and minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals bind to anything they touch and can build up, causing blockages that are difficult to remove, especially if they have been present for a long period. The clog thickens and hardens as the lime scales build, eventually forming a blockage. This is frequently to blame for the dullness of your garments’ colors, the wetness of your hair, and the clogging of your plumbing fixtures.

4. Chemical Accumulations

If you have a problem with recurring shower drain clogs, you may find that utilizing chemical-based cleansers is more effective and faster. This belief, however, is absolutely incorrect. In reality, due to the potency of the chemicals employed in these cleansers, you will aggravate rather than resolve your problem. Chemicals in the water can weaken pipes, exacerbate damage, and promote corrosion.

The Importance of CCTV Drain Surveys

3 Common Mistakes That Put Your Drains at Risk

We’ve all had drain troubles as a result of different particles draining into the kitchen sink, bathroom drains, and shower drains. And, depending on the extent of the damage, most homeowners employ a variety of quick restoration measures. The assistance of a specialist would be critical for extreme clogging circumstances such as the eccentric, colourful, and garish enormous clogs. However, for minor concerns, most homeowners would rather repair the problem themselves rather than pay a plumber’s service fee and waste time waiting for him to arrive. However, with the use of some simple equipment and drain cleaners, they may effectively restore them.

However, there are numerous myths and fallacies that surround the various methods of DIY drain cleaning. Take a look at the list below and avoid doing them if your drainage system is clogged or obstructed.

1. The usage of inapt tools

Most homeowners have a misdirected inventive streak that leads them to employ products that they thought would be useful but are actually improper for the situation. Here are some examples of this occurrence:

• Some homeowners are inspired by the effectiveness of hydro jetters and prefer to use a garden hose to clear jams and impediments. This, however, is a futile attempt to solve the situation. It would not only waste water, but it would also cause the water from the garden hose to back up and pool around the drain. This is because, even if the tap handle is turned all the way to its maximum capacity, the pressure emitted by the garden hose will not meet the pressure created by a jetter, rendering them useless for water jetter work.
• Others, particularly those without access to drain snakes, resort to using coat hangers and broom handles as a substitute. They are also incapable of resolving the issue and instead cause damage to your pipes. Because these materials are rigid, they are unable to follow the flow of water through bends and changes in direction. You might think that when they get to this section, it’ll be the stumbling block that makes you work harder. The pipes would be broken and pulverized, and would deteriorate as a result.

2. The ill-advised reliance on professional cleaning equipment

Homeowners are eager to purchase advanced drain cleaning instruments after seeing how professional plumbers use them effectively. They believe they are superior to the fundamentals. They are, however when they are used incorrectly and mismanaged due to the operator’s lack of understanding and experience with the tool, they have the potential to harm your pipe linings, joints, and walls. To safeguard the safety of your plumbing system, your health, and the health of your family, settle down with the simple and easy-to-handle drain cleaning instruments.

3. Use of chemical-based drain cleaners

Liquid chemical drain cleansers and gels are frequently used since they are convenient and simple to obtain. They are also helpful in some cases, but they come with a slew of drawbacks that result in a slew of drain issues. Aside from the health and environmental risks they pose, they can cause your pipes to corrode and decay, necessitating expensive and budget-busting repairs.

6 Techniques for Keeping Your Drain Unclogged

A clogged drainage system is one of the most aggravating plumbing problems you can have in your home. This plumbing issue could take a long time and cost a lot of money to resolve. Its strong odor may be hazardous to your family’s health. Here are some ways to assist you keep your drains clear of any obstructions and avoid this plumbing issue in your plumbing system.

1. Regular inspections of the plumbing system are recommended.

Having your drainage system inspected on a regular basis is one way to maintain it clear of clogs. Have it checked every few months to prevent small damages or issues from becoming more serious. Your drain will be totally unblocked as a result of this, since you will be able to clear clogs as quickly as feasible. It would be less expensive to check drains than to have it repaired.

2. Avoid using chemical-based cleansers on a regular basis.

Chemical-based cleansers and solutions are not recommended as a drain unclogging treatment. Because chemical drain cleaning can’t entirely eradicate clogs, you’ll have to repeat the technique every now and then. The internal walls of your pipes may corrode and wear out quickly if you use these solutions often. Your pipes could possibly develop leaks. Chemical solutions are also to blame for the growth of harmful germs, which can lead to obstructions.

3. Use a stainless strainer

To prevent unwanted debris from entering your water system, stainless strainers must be installed in your drains. Soap, shampoo, and hair froth for bathroom drains, and food wastes for kitchen sink drains are among these materials.

4. Check your bathtub stoppers on a regular basis.

Every time you take a bath, you will undoubtedly lose a few strands of your hair. Hair can also cause drain blockages as a result of this. Hair tangles and obstructs the flow of water in your pipes. As a result, it’s a good idea to inspect your bathtub after each bath so that soap residue and hair build-ups can be readily removed. With the help of a bent wire hanger, you may simply remove these build-ups.

5. be mindful of what goes down your kitchen sinks

Certain materials are permitted to be washed down your kitchen sinks. These materials dissolve easily in water and do not clog pipes. Food wastes like coffee grinds, greasy substances, and big particles can clog your drains. As a result, the amount of water flowing through the pipes will be lowered. To remedy this problem, you must be cautious about what you wash down your kitchen sink. If you don’t have a garbage disposal in your kitchen sink, you might as well toss food wastes in a trash can.

6. Run hot water into drains

Installing stainless strainers in your kitchen sink will only prevent large particles from entering your drains, not small or liquid particles. Fatty substances, hair, soap, and shampoo residues are just a few of the particles that can pass through the sieve with ease. Flush your drains with hot water every few days to dissolve any build-ups.

These 3 Simple Tips Can Help You Avoid a Clogged Drain

With the correct plumbing tools and a few drain cleaners, you can unclog clogged drains on your own. When the clog becomes too much for you to manage, you may simply hire a plumber to clear it for you. If you don’t want to go to the bother of cleaning time-consuming blockages, or if you want to avoid a significant clog, you’ll need to undertake some maintenance. Here’s a list of simple ways to avoid a clogged drain disaster.

1. Put a strainer, plugs, and other stoppers in your drains

This is one of the most basic things you can do to avoid a blockage. A strainer is perfect for your kitchen sink because it can trap food strips, tiny bones, meat chunks, and other solid food remains. A lot of food residue gets caught in the drain pipe, especially if you drain solid foods into your kitchen sink on a regular basis. Because the openings in the strainer become clogged by little grains of food, it requires some maintenance and cleaning. Another thing to remember is that fats, oils, and grease (FOG) must be disposed of in a biodegradable trash can. This is because these condiments and residue might solidify and adhere to the drain pipe lining. When it’s in liquid form, FOGs can be readily drained, but once it’s in your drain, it’ll likely harden and cause a blockage. To prevent soap residue and scum from running down the drains in your bathroom sink, put a stopper. Finally, place a hair catcher on the bathroom floor to facilitate hair collection.

2. After you’ve used it, pour or run hot water into the sink.

Oils and grease that have gotten into your kitchen drain sink can be broken up with hot water. You should be aware that if you have a waste disposal unit, you should not use hot water because it can severely damage and overheat it. Use cold water instead of hot water if you have a garbage disposal, as the blades will readily pulverize the solidified FOGs. Aside from kitchen sink drains, bathroom drains can also be used to spill hot water. Soap, scum, and other clog-causing debris can be removed from your bathroom drains by running hot water through them.

3. Cleaning with baking soda and vinegar is a good idea.

When paired with good and frequent cleaning maintenance, the above preventative techniques can become even more effective. Drains can be unclogged and sanitized with a homemade mixture of baking soda and vinegar. To make a powerful DIY cleaning agent, combine one cup of baking soda with one cup of vinegar. You can either mix the baking soda and vinegar right away or pour one at a time into the drain and let it mingle. Just make sure that when it fizzles, it’s already poured down the drains because this reaction means the solution is already functioning.