Author: Boelcke Heating & AC

You might not think about it very often, but your home’s bathroom is a busy place. Between the sink, tub, shower, and toilet, there’s a lot of water flowing into your bathroom every day, and wastewater flowing out. That’s why it’s so important to keep your bathroom plumbing in good shape.

Nobody wants to think about clogged pipes, plugged toilets, or leaky faucets. Fortunately, there are many things you can do as a homeowner to help keep your bathroom plumbing flowing freely. In this article, we’ll share some tips on what you as a homeowner can do, as well as how Boelcke can help.

7 Tips to Keep Your Bathroom Plumbing Working Properly

While you should always call your plumber for serious clogs or leaky pipes and faucets, there are a few things you can do to help keep your bathroom plumbing in good working order, including:

1. Maintain your bathroom sink. Toothpaste, hair care products, lotions, and soap chips can build up in your bathroom sink’s drain, especially if hair has collected there, too. Using a mesh drain cover in your sink can help keep any hair out. Run hot water down the sink weekly to help break up any residue.
2. Put a mesh drain cover in your shower drain. This can help catch things like hair and lint, which can end up clogging your shower drain. Avoid pouring chemicals or greasy substances down your shower drain, too.
3. Don’t flush unflushable items down your toilet. Ideally, you will only want to flush waste and toilet paper. Paper towels, baby wipes, cotton swabs, and sanitary products should never go down the toilet.
4. Check for toilet tank leaks. If you’re concerned that your toilet tank is leaking into the bowl, you can test it by putting some red food coloring into the toilet tank and waiting an hour or so. If it leaks into the bowl in that time, you’ll want to call your plumber as the tank ball will likely need to be replaced.
5. Clean the showerhead with vinegar. Mineral buildup, especially in areas where the water is hard, can stop the water from flowing freely from your showerhead over time. To clear mineral deposits, simply unscrew your showerhead and soak it in vinegar for 24 hours. This should help remove the deposits, allowing the water to flow freely again.
6. Be cautious of what household chemicals you use. Some chemicals are very caustic and can corrode your plumbing over time. While approved for cleaning surfaces in your home, they can do a number on your plumbing. Some cleaners can become especially corrosive when combined.
7. Clean tub and faucet aerators. The aerator is just the cap on your faucet with tiny holes in it. Unfortunately, hard water can cause those holes to clog up with mineral deposits. Carefully unscrew your aerator and gently brush vinegar on the aerator to remove any sediment.

Rely on Boelcke for the bathroom plumbing services you need.

Whether you need new bathroom plumbing installed, your drains cleaned, or repairs on pipes or water mains, Boelcke is ready to help meet the plumbing needs of your home. We also offer products that help improve your home’s water quality, including water softeners and water filters. And, if you need a hot water heater replacement, we provide installation of both tank and tankless water heaters. Simply give us a call at (269) 429-9261, and we will be more than happy to assist you.

The holiday season means it’s that time of the year to enjoy family, friends, food, and festivities. And that also means a steady stream of guests visiting – and using your home’s restrooms. Unfortunately, that can sometimes lead to some plumbing concerns.

While nobody wants to have a conversation with family and friends about what they can flush and what they can’t, it’s important to make sure some items are discarded in the wastebasket instead of down the toilet.

In this article, we’re sharing a list of items that should never be flushed, and how they can harm your plumbing. We’ll also tell you how Boelcke can help keep your bathroom plumbing working smoothly all year long – keep reading to learn more!

7 Items That Should Never Be Flushed

Toilets are designed to handle waste and toilet paper, but not much else. Flushing other items can cause clogs, damage, and environmental problems. Here are seven items you should never flush down the toilet, no matter how tempting it may be.

1. Wet wipes: Wet wipes, such as baby wipes or facial cleansing wipes, should never be flushed down the toilet, even if they’re labeled as flushable. The material they’re made of does not break down easily in water like toilet paper does. Because of this, they can clog your pipes and can harm your septic system.
2. Cotton balls and cotton swabs: Even though they’re small, cotton balls and swabs will clump together in your pipes, forming clogs.
3. Feminine hygiene products and diapers: These items are made to absorb liquid and expand, which, if flushed, can cause them to swell and block pipes. This can cause your toilet to back up and overflow – something nobody wants to happen. It’s best to wrap these items in toilet paper and dispose of them in the garbage.
4. Cat litter: Cat litter is made of material that does not dissolve in water. Clumping litter is made to absorb moisture, so you can imagine the harm it can do to your pipes. The best way to get rid of cat litter of any kind is to scoop it into a plastic bag and dispose of it in the trash.
5. Plastic items: Plastic items such as wrappers, applicators, and bottle tops should never go down the toilet. Plastic does not biodegrade and can cause major blockages in your plumbing and damage to your septic system.
6. Grease, oil, or fat: Flushing grease, oil, or fat down the toilet is just as bad as putting them down your sink. They can solidify as they cool and can coat your pipes. Not to mention, anything that’s okay to flush, like toilet paper, can cling to the solidified grease and form a nasty clog. Dispose of grease by letting it cool, pouring it into a container, and disposing of it in the garbage.
7. Hair: While it might not seem damaging, flushing hair down your toilet can cause clogs, blockages, and other damage. Hair does not decompose in the water and can get tangled and form knots in your pipes. Collect hair from shaving, trims, and hairbrushes and toss it in the trash.

To avoid clogs, damage, and pollution, always dispose of the above items in the trash or the recycling bin, if applicable. This will keep your toilet from overflowing – and becoming the Grinch of your family holiday!

Can Boelcke help me if I have a bathroom plumbing issue?

Despite your best efforts, you could run into a plumbing issue that needs professional attention. That’s where Boelcke comes in. We provide a complete range of plumbing services, so no matter what your concern may be, we can help get your toilets, tubs, sinks, and drains back in working order promptly and professionally.

We can even help you get ahead of the game by inspecting your plumbing and fixing any problems that might be a cause for concern once your holiday guests arrive. Just give us a call at (269) 429-9261. We’ll tell you about the different bathroom plumbing products and services we offer, and help you find the solution that best suits your needs.