Category: Uncategorized

A lot of products and materials seem to be “flushable.” Some will even appear to go down your toilet just fine, with no negative repercussions. What you might not realize is that something that isn’t clogging your toilet now may be causing a problem deeper down in your home’s plumbing—or even in your town’s sewer system and waste treatment plants.

Below are some of the most common items people flush down the toilet that can cause major plumbing and sewer issues.

1. “Flushable” Wipes

Can you flush them? Yes. So why should you not? Despite what manufacturers claim, flushable wipes take a long time to break down in water, while toilet paper breaks down almost immediately. If toilet paper did not dissolve into tiny bits and shreds in just minutes, everyone in the U.S. would have significant plumbing and sewer clogs.

Consider this: flushable wipes need to hold their shape in water because they must remain wet in the packaging without breaking down. To get an idea of how long it takes for flushable wipes to break down the way toilet paper does, check out this video from The Fit RV, where multiple flushable wipe brands are tested alongside toilet paper.

2. Dental Floss

“But it’s so small!” As harmless as dental floss may seem, this material has some serious clog-causing abilities. Just like hair—perhaps the most infamous clog-causer—floss can stick to dirty pipe walls and become tangled up with other material down in your drains. This can result in a blockage that forms over time.

Bottom line: don’t give up flossing, but just be sure to toss used floss into your bathroom wastebasket—not your toilet.

3. “Flushable” Kitty Litter

We hate to break it to you, cat moms and dads: this stuff is terrible for your plumbing system. Any kind of sandy or clay kitty litter needs to have clumping properties so that you can scoop it up. Anything that clumps can coat your pipe walls and cause a clog.

If you need a fast, easy way to take care of your cat’s litter, we recommend the Litter Genie, which allows you to take the litter out to the garbage about once a week. If you bought flushable kitty litter to avoid plastic waste from traditional kitty litter bags, these plant-based, USA-made bags are a fantastic option.

4. Napkins, Paper Towels, and Facial Tissues

Paper is paper, right? Not exactly. Even though these products appear to be very similar to toilet paper, they are not toilet paper substitutes.

Like wet wipes, napkins, paper towels, and facial tissues have to hold up against moisture. This means that while they’re traveling through your home’s drain and waste pipes, they aren’t going to break down into pieces as quickly as toilet paper would. Consequently, these materials are more likely to wad up and get caught in the areas where your pipes are already dirty or where they change direction.

In short: dispose of any non-toilet-paper paper products in trash cans, not toilets.

5. Cotton Products (Makeup Pads, Cotton Balls, Q-Tips, etc.)

Now if paper towels won’t break down fast enough in water, you know that anything made of cotton won’t. Cotton products like makeup pads and cotton balls are made to suck up moisture and hold their shape. Even though they are small enough for you to flush them initially, they can get stuck in your home’s pipes farther down the line.

To quote Yoda, “Size matters not.” Cotton is not a product you want entering your plumbing system, no matter how much of it there is.

Is water draining slowly or backing up in your home? At Pioneer Plumbing and Septic, our Houston plumbers specialize in professional drain cleaning services with 100% customer satisfaction guaranteed: (281) 815-2772.

Is your faucet making a high-pitched noise that you just can’t ignore? This problem is a lot more common than you might think, especially in areas with hard water. Below, we’ll explain the typical reasons why this issue occurs, along with solutions to resolve it.

1. Hard Water Mineral Buildup

“Hard water” contains a lot of dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. When hard water gets warm, this can cause the minerals to solidify and leave deposits on the inside and outside of your pipes and plumbing fixtures–including your faucets. If enough buildup accumulates inside your faucet, it will start restricting the opening that water passes through so much that the running water will create a whistle through the fixture.

In some cases, you can solve this problem by removing your faucet from your sink, soaking it overnight in distilled white vinegar, and scrubbing it clean with a toothbrush. If your faucet has an aerator, you may want to try removing and soaking that first before taking apart the rest of the faucet. If mineral buildup becomes a recurring problem in your home, it could be wise to invest in a water softener to extend the life of your plumbing system and water-using appliances.

2. A Dislodged or Worn-Out Washer

Your faucet’s nozzle contains a rubber washer that can wear out over time or simply become misaligned. When that happens, running water can start to make a whistling noise. You can try to move the washer back into position yourself by unscrewing the faucet nozzle and adjusting the washer. Just make sure you remember to shut off the water supply at the shut-off valve below your sink beforehand!

If you plan on replacing the washer yourself, triple-check that you’re purchasing the correct size replacement to avoid a leak and a bigger repair down the road. If not, you can always contact a trusted plumber.

3. Faulty Valves

Sometimes the hot or cold water valve can restrict water flow, and that can cause a high-pitched sound when the water runs. You can test this by trying each hot and cold water handle separately. If you own a single handle faucet, you can push it all the way to the left or right to see if the hot valve or cold valve is causing the problem.

In some situations, the valve components simply have mineral buildup and can be fixed with an overnight soak in vinegar. If they’re warped or cracked, they’ll need to be replaced.

4. Excessively High Water Pressure

If there’s more than one whistling faucet in your home, then this is a fairly strong sign that your water pressure is too high. In most homes, the water pressure should be in the range of 40 to 60 psi. When it exceeds 60 psi, you’re more likely to put premature wear-and-tear on your plumbing system and cause problems like leaks and water hammer.

You can increase or decrease your home’s water pressure using the pressure regulator or by adjusting the cut-off pressure on the pressure pump. Similarly, you can gauge your home’s water pressure with a pressure gauge, which is easy to find at most home improvement stores. Of course, if you’re unsure of how to operate these devices, it’s best to contact a plumber to avoid damage to your plumbing system.

Faucet Repair & Installation in Houston

If you’re having trouble with a faucet in your home, you can count on Pioneer Plumbing and Septic for prompt, reliable service. Our Houston plumbers are experts at getting to the root cause of plumbing fixture issues and will present you with the best options to meet your needs. Call us today at (281) 815-2772 or contact us online.

A leak can quickly turn from a slow drip into a flood. With that comes water damage, money spent, and stress experienced. Doing a routine check for leaks can help save you trouble and money. Here are the most common places you may find a leak.

Under the Sink

With all the water that flows through your sinks, it’s no surprise that this is one of the most common sources of a leak. Taking an occasional look under your sinks (both kitchen and bathroom) will help snuff out any slow leaks that may have started. If you notice that the stuff under your sink is wet, there may be a leak worth investigating.

Though a leak will likely reveal itself to you, it’s also good to inspect the pipes under your sink, looking out for any rotting, corrosion, rust, or loose fittings that may impact performance.

Water Heater

Your water heater is always carrying water, so it’s another prime target for a potential leak. Look out for any water that may be pooling at the base of the tank. You should also look for any damage to the unit, as well as rust or corrosion. Check all lines that lead to and flow from the unit to make sure the connections are stable.

Preventative maintenance on the tank can help prevent problems like this. Flush out the tank once a year and have it inspected by a plumbing professional.

Washing Machine

Make sure to frequently inspect the machine’s tubing, connections, and parts to catch any possible leaks. If you see a leak, unplug the appliance and turn off the water main to investigate.

If you have a front-load machine and water is spilling out the door, it likely means the seal is broken, or the door is not closing all the way. A leak out the back could mean the drain hose is either clogged or not connected properly. If it’s more than a simple reconnection, it’s best to get the whole machine looked at by a professional.

Supply Lines and Pipes

Waterline leaks are less obvious and harder to fix. They almost always require work by a professional plumber. Keep an eye out for pools of water in your yard, which may be a sign of a supply line leak. You might also find water buildup in your meter box, which is another sign of this issue.

If you notice your water bill increasing without your usage increasing, a leak may have occurred. Rust-colored water is another indicator of a possible supply line leak, which should prompt a call to a plumber right away.

Similarly, the pipes that run throughout your home are susceptible to leaks. Look for dark patches on the ceiling or floors, or puddles that seep through cabinets or appliances.

Bathroom Appliances

Toilets can be another common location for leaks. Watch for any puddles that accumulate around the base of the toilet. Also, listen for the tank after you flush. If it takes a long time to refill, it may signal a link somewhere in the system.

Watch for any leaks in your shower or bathtub. A leaking shower head or tub faucet wastes water and therefore wastes money. Low water pressure can also be a sign that there is a leak. And make sure the caulking around your tub and in your tiling is all smooth and unbroken. Cracks can produce openings where water will be excited to travel, giving way to damage in other parts of the house.

At Pioneer Plumbing and Septic, our team of friendly plumbers are ready to help! Call us at (281) 815-2772 to schedule same-day water heater services in Houston! Our team also serves Crosby, TX.

While it may seem like your toilet can easily flush away trash like paper towels and wet wipes, plumbers and city sewer workers will tell you a different story. Flushing items other than your personal business and toilet paper can have many negative repercussions that may ultimately affect your entire community.

If you still flush trash other than toilet paper from time to time, below are some reasons to reconsider.

Toilet Paper Is Made to Break Down in Water

A lot of disposable items in your around your home appear similar to toilet paper in look and texture. Is toilet paper really that different from napkins, paper towels, facial tissues, personal wipes, or antibacterial cleaning wipes? The main difference comes down to how manufacturers construct them.

Manufacturers know that toilet paper needs to pass through your home’s plumbing pipes, which are not very wide. From there, the paper must be able to journey through the municipal sewer system to the local wastewater treatment plant. That’s why they design toilet paper to fall apart quickly when soaked.

Now think about objects like paper towels and napkins. You don’t want these items to wilt into pieces the moment they touch moisture. In fact, wipes “sit” in moist containers, ready for use. If that moisture caused them to break apart, they’d be useless. You can see the difference between a wipe and toilet paper in this short video from the City of Durham’s Water Management Department.

Flushed Garbage Causes Plumbing Clogs

Because woven paper materials like paper towels tend to hold their shape in water, they can get stuck and form blockages in your home’s plumbing. The first place they can cause a clog is in your toilet. However, the force of the flush can push the garbage into your home’s drain-waste-vent system. The drain-waste-vent system is a series of pipes that take waste from your toilet and used water from other drains down to your home’s sewer line.

As mentioned above, your home’s drain and waste pipes are not that wide, so it’s not difficult for a clog to form. Additionally, garbage can collect to create a blockage in your home’s sewer line, preventing wastewater from leaving your home and traveling into the municipal sewer system.

Clogs are bad news for two significant reasons:

If the clog is severe enough, the pressure it creates can cause a leak (or multiple leaks) in your plumbing.

A clog can also cause wastewater to travel backward up your home’s pipes into your drains, which means you could end up with sewage filling up your sinks and showers.

Plumbers have cleared out just about every type of trash imaginable from plumbing pipes, including diapers, cotton balls, feminine hygiene products, contraceptive items, and kitty litter. Save yourself a plumbing repair and stick to flushing toilet paper and what nature provides.

Flushed Garbage Causes Blockages in Sewers and Wastewater Treatment Plants

Because of 2020’s infamous toilet paper shortage, many people have resorted to flushing toilet paper substitutes, including paper towels and so-called “flushable” wipes. This has caused a major headache for municipal sewer and wastewater treatment plant workers, as these items are notorious for causing clogs in city sewers and wastewater treatment plant pumps. This problem is expensive to fix and ultimately costs taxpayers money.

Despite what the packaging may tell consumers, a recent study for the Municipal Enforcement Sewer Use Group of Canada showed that none of the 23 “flushable” wipe samples “fell apart or dispersed enough to safely pass through the sewer system without a risk of clogging or causing damage to infrastructure.” Similarly, the Fit RV conducted a “toilet paper vs. wipes” experiment viewable on Youtube. In this video, you can see the difference between how toilet paper breaks down in water compared to several major U.S. brands of flushable and “septic-safe” wipes.

Unfortunately, clogs in city sewers and pumps are not where the problem ends. When municipal sewer systems get major blockages, sewage backflow can occur in homes, businesses, the streets, and even local waterways, polluting the surrounding environment. This is why we all must continue to flush responsibly. After all, the impact can be much larger than we ever imagined.

From commercial grease traps to residential drains and septic systems, our Houston plumbing experts at Pioneer Plumbing and Septic have the training and experience to provide you with reliable solutions. Contact us online or give us a call today: (281) 815-2772.