How to Properly Care for Your Shower, According to a Plumber
A reliable plumbing system with good maintenance can and should last for decades. This is good because replacing all of this is a large and expensive project.
A few years ago, user Imgur NegativePositivePrimitive shared some very literal ” soul thoughts ” from the point of view of a real plumber that are circulating again, perhaps as everyone realizes they need them because the drain is clogged. These are real thoughts about souls and how to keep them in top shape. Here are some of the things our Mystery Poster and other plumbers recommend to heal your system to keep it long lasting.
Don’t go straight to Drano
When you have a blockage, the impulse to pour out the chemicals and melt it is very strong, but you have to resist. According to the 2015 Wisler Plumber blog, Drano is a very unpopular product among plumbers because it often complicates their job when you dump them and call them anyway. First, people often throw it into standing water, which means that the sink or bathtub is filled with hazardous material that must be disposed of properly. It can also leave a film on the surface that is damaged and destroyed over time.
And Drano doesn’t just kill the hairball, it kills the living creature growing inside your real pipes, which is what you need:
Certain types of bacteria can be beneficial in the drainage system – the beneficial bacteria gradually break down organic material. If you pour bacteria-killing chemicals down the drain, you will eventually damage your drains. Once in public sewage treatment plants or septic systems, these chemicals also cause damage. Chemical sewer cleaners are not only corrosive, but also cause significant harm to the environment.
If you are going to repair a clogged drain yourself, try using a plunger or water snake first. Chemicals should be taken as a last resort.
Design your shower
When you install a new shower, you might be tempted by something beautiful and unique, but our user Imgur says you will be better off with something with easily replaceable parts when they fail. Which they will do. Some brands offer a lifetime warranty. This is something to think about when you shower so much in your entire life.
They also recommended, like TodaysHomeOwner.com, a pressure balancing valve with temperature balancing technology. This doesn’t necessarily increase the life of your pipes, but it automatically adjusts the pressure in the shower if someone flushes the toilet or uses the sink. This will prevent severe burns when rinsing your hair. You can even learn how to fix a valve with this clip from This Old House :
See? Technology doesn’t change much.
Learn to change your shower head
From experience I can tell that sometimes just buying a new shower head can completely change the rules of the game. Over time, calcium can build up in it, blocking and disrupting shower flow. If you have one of these easily replaceable setups, you can simply buy a new head from a hardware store. Or you can remove the head and rinse it with vinegar as shown in this guide:
Plumber call
They might be biased, but NegativePositivePrimitive’s final tip is to admit when it’s time to call a pro:
Too often, a simple problem turns into a costly mess. Many plumbing problems can be solved more easily and cheaper if inexperienced homeowners weren’t trying to save money. Plumbers are here to help. Don’t be afraid to call one.
But if you’re going to do it yourself, do it right. Don’t use Drano.
This story was originally published in 2018 and has been updated on 12/17/19 to provide more complete and up-to-date information.