The profession of plumbing, for most of us, is a mystery. There may be things we want to know from plumbers, but there are actually plenty of things that plumbers want us to know, too. I climbed into a shockingly deep pipe (plumber humor) of Ask-Me-Anything Reddit threads from plumbers.
Here are 10 things your plumber definitely wants you to know.
Don’t Flush Anything But Toilet Paper
The reason you’ve heard this so many times is that it’s important. Toilet paper is designed to disintegrate in the toilet. Nothing else is manufactured that way. Throwing any other kind of paper or other products can damage your pipes permanently.
Snake Your Drain Every Once in a While
Snaking your shower drain might be gross, but it prevents clogging in a major way, and the more often you do it, the less gross it will be.
You Can Make Good Money
Like all things, it depends on where you live, the demand in your area, and your level of employment. Union workers can earn about $100 an hour, while non-union workers can make about $60.
According to one Reddit user, “In the service side of the industry, there are plumbers making $100-$200k a year. If you own your own business, you can easily make $240k-$500k a year as an owner/operator. If you try to expand and hire employees, you’re talking hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on how big you can grow it.”
Don’t Overtighten
Usually, when you tighten things, the goal is to make them as tight as possible. When it comes to plumbing equipment, tightening things too hard can cause damage and cracks.
Check for Leaks
If you routinely check for leaks, your plumbing life will be a lot easier. Not only will you have more helpful information for your plumber when discussing the issue, but you may also discover that you can fix it yourself.
Not sure if your toilet is leaking? Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank, and check the bowl a few hours later. You’ll know.
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Know Where Your Main Shutoff Valve Is
Do you know where your main shutoff valve is? Many plumbers want you to know this, both for your benefit and to save them time in finding it. This is good to know for when you’re going on vacation or in case of an emergency.
Not All Plumbers Do Everything
According to one Reddit user, there are four types of plumbing: Ground works (using a shovel and digging trenches), Rough-in (installing drain waste vents and water supply lines in new houses), Trim (installing toilets, faucets, and other fixtures), and Service/Remodeling (fixing and replacing broken parts). Make sure you know what type of plumber you’re calling.
Dispose of Grease Properly
You already know not to pour bacon grease down the drain, right? I hope you do. When it solidifies, it can clog the pipes. Grab an empty tin can or a coffee cup, at the very least, and dispose of the grease properly by letting it cool and then throwing it away.
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There’s a Lot You Can Fix…
There are several issues you can fix, such as minor leaks, clogged toilets (which is what your plunger is for!), and clogged drains. No need to call in a professional for this, unless you really want to give that money of yours to somebody.
… And a Lot You Can’t
Most of it, though, you can’t fix, no matter how many YouTube videos you watch. So don’t try. Leave some stuff to the pros.
