For first time homeowners or those new to the home owning life, there can be several areas that are a bit overwhelming at first. One such area is plumbing, where some newbies make simple rookie mistakes that damage their systems and potentially lower their home’s value.

At Whipple Plumbing, our experts are here to help prevent these simple errors from ever happening. Here are a few common mistakes that new homeowners make, and what the correct practices are for those areas.

Too Much Down the Drain

The drains in your home are meant for water, soap, waste…and very little else. Your drains are used to things like toothpaste, toilet paper and small food scraps in the garbage disposal.

What they aren’t used to or prepared for, though, are many other items. People flush toiletries down the toilet, pour grease down sink drains and allow hair to clog things up. Drain maintenance becomes exponentially harder if you’re clogging your drains with improper materials, and you could end up spending a lot more on drain cleaners.

Too Many Fixtures

It’s common for new homeowners to want to play with their new toys, but you have to be cognizant of stressing the plumbing system too much. Don’t try to run several major appliances at once – don’t shower, start a dishwasher cycle and throw a new load of laundry in all at once. Water pressure may lower, and you could run out of hot water depending on the status of your hot water heater.

Improper Repairs

It’s great that you have a do-it-yourself attitude and want to fix things around the home, but don’t attempt a plumbing fix you aren’t educated on. Easier repairs can be done by the homeowner, but trying these without the right know-how can only make things worse. Don’t try to take apart items you haven’t put together before, and if you’re not 100 percent sure you know how to fix an issue, call our plumbers first.

For more on mistakes to avoid as a new homeowner, or to find out about any of our other plumbing services, speak to the pros at Whipple Plumbing today.