21 Ways You're Damaging Your Home, According to Your Plumber

Plumbing is like your home's nervous system: largely invisible, but also what that keeps things running smoothly. So you can see how one wrong move can condemn your home to a pricey series of maintenance woes—or worse, a total system overhaul. (And you don't need us to tell you how large of a tab that will run you.) In the interest of getting ahead of the game, here are all the ways you might be inadvertently mucking up those pipes that keep your home in working condition, according to the men and women who live and breathe them: plumbers.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, in 2017, Americans produced an average of 4.51 pounds of trash per person per day. Paper and cardboard products were the biggest culprits, with yard trimmings, plastic products, and consumer electronics also making up a bulk of the trash. And while that may seem like a lot of trash, it was actually one of the lowest estimates since 1990. So we're certainly improving when it comes to taking care of the Earth!

While a product may claim to be flushable—and this goes for everything from wipes to tampons—the only thing you should be flushing down the toilet is toilet paper. "Toilets are more water-efficient now than they were 20 years ago, so there sometimes isn't enough volume in the flush to force debris down," Marcin Wroblewski, president of ExpressRooter Plumbing in Toronto, told Reader's Digest. "An object will get lodged in the trap and cause blockage when waste builds up days later."

We know properly disposing of grease after a hearty meal is a pain. But simply pouring it down the drain can do long-term harm to your pipes. "The fat and grease can clog your drain badly enough to force you to call a plumber," explains Dawson. "Plumbing works best when it's well cared for—not abused with grease."

Yes, it's called a dishwasher, but tossing in dishes, pots, and pans covered in large food particles can actually cause some serious damage to the appliance, leading to long-term problems down the line. "Homeowners may have to get their dishwasher repaired more often if they don't rinse their dishes before loading, or at least remove larger food pieces," explains Audrey Monell, owner of Forrest Anderson Plumbing and AC in Glendale, Arizona. "Food that gets stuck on dishes causes the dishwasher to work harder, which can wear down parts faster, resulting in problems."

Your dishwasher is not meant to handle everything and anything either. Loading the appliance up with items it's not meant to wash can cause major problems. As Consumer Reports notes, you should never stick cast-iron cookware, sharp knives, or wooden utensils in the dishwasher. Also, if you're the type to cook salmon in the dishwasher (yes, that's a thing!), reconsider. Most dishwasher manufacturers don't test their appliances for cooking capabilities.

You may think you're pretty capable around the house, but those "temporary" fixes have a habit of sticking around much longer than you'd initially intended. "A homeowner may be able to 'kludge' together a fix for a leaky pipe or broken valve, but usually, the damage done over time by leaving such temporary fixes in place will lead to bigger problems," note the experts at D&F Plumbing, which serves parts of Oregon and Washington state. "Plumbing systems are more complex than they appear. Smart homeowners trust a professional to fix things the right way."

You might imagine those strong metal pipes can handle anything you throw at, or down into, them. But pipes are often more sensitive than you might expect. "Chemicals in home products such as drain cleaner can also cause problems," according to the D&F Plumbing experts. "What might seem like a quick and easy way to fix a clog can actually eat away at the pipes and do serious damage."

Water heaters can collect mineral deposits over time, which eventually "form a thick, crusty coating that will begin to chip off and clog faucets, drains, and the water heater valve," explains house flipper Shawn Breyer, owner of Breyer Home Buyers. Over time, this can cause your heater to run constantly, cracking the inner lining and increasing your utility costs. To avoid this, drain your water heater every six to 12 months.

You should never let your water heater temperature fall below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If you do, you're opening your home to dangerous bacteria. "At this temperature, harmful pathogens—like the kind that cause Legionnaires' disease—are prevented from multiplying and may be killed," says Dawson. "As the temperature gets higher, pathogens die off quicker. For that reason, other agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommend a water heater temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit."

While your shower caddy is convenient, you might want to think twice about trying to squeeze in that extra shampoo bottle. "Too many heavy bottles and shower accessories can result in damage to the shower head or other plumbing parts you may hang things from," writes ImproveNet's Jaclyn Crawford. "An easy solution is to find a free-standing shower caddy or shower shelving."

When there's an emergency and you have to turn off your water, you need to know where to do so in order to avoid major damage. "Plumbing utilities typically have individual valves that cut water supply to the specified location," says Crawford. "In an emergency or to inform the plumber, it's a good idea to locate your water main too."

As Crawford points out, not knowing where your pipes are can cause some serious issues, no matter if you're doing a major renovation or just installing a towel rack. "A simple hole in the wall can turn into a leaky pipe if you're unaware of what is behind where you plan to drill or cut," she says. "Always place towel racks and hooks into the studs of the wall. A stud finder is a great investment … and can help you avoid a plumbing disaster. If you plan on doing any major work near or around your plumbing, call a pro to help."

Ignoring a minor leak can lead to major problems. "One of the biggest mistakes people make is ignoring a minor leak," says Monell. "Whether it's a leaking toilet, a cracked pipe, or a dripping faucet, small leaks can turn into big problems by damaging floors and ceilings, rotting drywall, and promoting dangerous mold growth—not to mention the damage costs a lot of money to repair."

It might seem like a small annoyance, but a continuously running toilet can waste more than 200 gallons of water a day. As the experts at Roto-Rooter explain, "A running toilet can be the symptom of a variety of plumbing problems, and it can be hard to discern whether those problems will require professional help." Generally this is one of the easiest plumbing problems to fix with a quick jiggle of the handle or peek into the tank, but it's also one of the most often overlooked. So don't fall into that trap!

A little bit of mildew is not unusual in a bathroom, but when it starts popping up outside the shower, you better address it. "Mold or mildew on non-shower walls, or in corners of the bathroom, is a clear sign that water is leaking somewhere and finding its way to those areas," writes J.T. Gonzales of home-services platform Angie's List. "A leaking pipe provides plenty of moisture, so the longer it takes you to detect and fix the leak, the easier and faster mold will grow."

Discolored ceilings are frequently the result of water damage, which can mean major repairs are in your future. "If there are signs of water intrusion on the ceiling, it may indicate issues with the roof or HVAC leaking," says Outlaw. "This could also mean that there is significant water damage to sheetrock, sheathing, or other areas that are hidden from the living area."

Do you know the signs that your pump might be failing? If not, you could be setting yourself up for a flooded basement. Checking connections and cleaning the pump and vents are ways to avoid this.

Common wisdom suggests that if your boilers and furnaces are functioning, they're fine. But there are subtle signs you can spot that might mean major problems. As Patrick Knight, a training, licensing, and inspection support manager at WIN Home Inspection, told Reader's Digest, signs of damage include a yellow or jumpy pilot flame or leaking or rusty flue pipes. And you can't notice these things if you don't check them out at least once a year to be safe.

When it comes to certain jobs, you just can't take shortcuts. And installing a P-trap is one of them, according to Daniel Quindemil, CEO at I AM Builders. A P-trap, which prevents sewer gases from rising up through a drain, is an essential part of a plumbing system, but one that often goes overlooked by inexperienced DIYers. If you don't install one, "you'll end up with clogs and sewer smells in your shower. And it's impossible to fix without tearing out the tile," explains Quindemil.

If your home has a septic tank rather than a city sewer, you're supposed to get it checked once a year by a professional. "Problems in the tank may start out small, but can quickly become large issues if left unaddressed. Sewage backups can be extremely damaging to your home, while major repairs to your septic system can be expensive," explain the plumbers at Mr. Rooter in Portland, Oregon. "Additionally, no matter how well you treat your septic system, it must be pumped at regular intervals to remove solid wastes."