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You most likely have never had to endure a life without plumbing. The-Importance-of-Having-A-Professional-Plumber-For-Plumbing-and-Plumbing-Maintenance-_-Jacksonville,-FLThis privilege has a long history of invention and innovations. The plumbing systems we take for granted daily have played a pivotal role in our everyday lives and the way we live today.

Sanitary waste removal has been a hot button topic for centuries. Before large communities began forming waste removal was fairly simple. All you needed to do was dig a hole and presto. This natural process was good for the environment at the time. With the birth of sidewalks and pavement, dirt and trees became less prevalent. People began to live close together and privacy was becoming a thing of the past. Waste removal techniques before plumbing were extremely unsanitary and toxic to the civilians that lived there. Do not take your plumbing systems for granted. If you notice a problem fix it by contacting a trusted and local plumber in Jacksonville, FL.

How Flushing Toilets Tremendously Improved Our Lives

Toilets are such an important component of everyday life. If we suddenly ceased to have them, we would suddenly not know what to do. The streets would be filthy with sewage. This was a problem before the first sewage waste pipeline was invented for New York in 1728 due to a compelling need for more sanitary conditions. Before the invention of the sewage lines human waste was just thrown into the street. This is why your waste disposal lines are especially important.

The invention of the flush was also revolutionary and has brought us a lot of conveniences. The invention was brought to us in the late 1800s by a man named Thomas Crapper. This is why we sometimes refer to the toilet as the crapper. The name may have a slightly humorous tone to it but it has seriously improved our quality of life. Due to this amazing invention, we can now go to the bathroom in our homes without any smells or toxins permeating the air for too long. If you notice any issues with your toilet you need to contact a professional right away. Toilet issues can be a serious problem.

You may need to invest in a new toilet if your porcelain throne is in need of constant repairs. Bert Norman’s plumbing will come out to your home and property and help you decide on how to proceed. The issue may not be as simple as a replacement. A plumber may be required to replace the entire appliance if it has reached the end of its lifespan.

The Benefits of Preventive Maintenance

You can rely on your trusted local plumber from Bert Norman’s plumbing to take care of all your plumbing system needs. Plumbing is a big job, there are a lot of components to a one single plumbing system. Preventive maintenance for your plumbing system is just as important as the plumbing specialist you hire to maintain your property’s systems. Your plumbing technician should be certified and reliable, this way you can rest easy knowing your very necessary plumbing systems are taken care of.

Fewer Breakdowns

The median age of American homes is 36 years of age. Your home may be a little older or younger. Older homes will have more frequent breakdowns than newer homes. When a newer home begins to break down you need to stay on top of the maintenance to not further damage your property and keep it as new as possible for longer. Plumbing systems can last anywhere from 17 to 100 years. The amount of time your plumbing systems last depends on how you care for it and what your pipes are made out of. Hire a professional who is experienced and certified to ensure your plumbing systems are working normally.

Contact a plumber to inspect your home at least once a year. This will greatly reduce the number of plumbing repairs your property may need. This will save you money and postpones the need for a total plumbing system replacement which can be an extremely costly investment.

The professionals at Bert Normans plumbing will perform plumber services on any of the systems you need to be checked. They are located in Jacksonville, FL and have been servicing the area since 1985.

Sufficient Water Pressure Helps You Save Money

Pipes can be made out of things such as copper, lead, or polyvinyl chloride. PVC is the most common type of pipe used today. PVC is durable but has its weaknesses. Some homes have different kinds of materials connecting. Special configurations require a trained and experienced plumber to handle.

Water pressure can be affected by the type of pipes you have within your walls. The water supply pipes are typically made of copper. Copper is the best material for such a large job. Some older homes still have iron pipes for water supply. This is what was used decades ago as plumbing systems evolved. Copper is the best for water supply due to its tolerance for high water pressure amounts staring through it constantly. If you notice a difference in your water pressure It may be time to contact a plumbing technician.

Depending on the issue your plumbing specialist may be able to simply patch up the issue. Your plumber may also suggest a total replacement of the water supply system if your systems aren’t up to par. Contact Bert Norman’s plumbing to have a plumber inspect your water supply system to help you decide on what the next best steps should be.

Water Quality Improvement

Another benefit of preventive maintenance directly affects the quality of water coming out of your faucets. Having your plumber inspect your plumbing and water supply systems will help improve your water quality. If the professional were to replace your iron pipes with copper ones you have instantly increased the quality of your water. Iron tends to rust and leave small particles of debris in your bath and drinking water. Copper can rust as well but isn’t as prone to doing so as iron would.

Bert Norman’s Plumbing offers 24/7 plumbing services in case of an emergency. You can also count on them to perform services such as drain cleaning, repairs, replacements, and more. They are known to use high-quality materials as well as modern and efficient techniques. Contact Bert Norman’s Plumbing for more assistance if you live in or around the area.

Photo By Grigvovan at Shutterstock

Most homeowners are smart enough to know that a toilet is not a trash can. The-10-Worst-Things-to-Flush-Down-Your-Toilet-_-Tips-from-Your-Trusted-Jacksonville,-FL-Plumbing-ServiceAfter all, if you try to flush most of your garbage down the toilet, you’re going to find yourself making a phone call to a Jacksonville, FL plumbing service in a rather short amount of time.

However, in this day and age, there are quite a few things that people think can be flushed that actually shouldn’t ever go down the toilet. You might get away with flushing a couple of these items once or twice, but if you do it regularly, you’re going to wreck your plumbing. A few of these items are so devastating for your pipes that even one time will require a plumber to come out and fix the damage. Here are some of the worst things to send down the toilet!

Flushable Wipes

Many people might be surprised to see these on here. After all, the name flushable is even part of the title! But just because something is advertised as flushable doesn’t mean that it’s meant to go down the toilet. The reason that toilet paper goes down the toilet without issue — and even it’s been known to clog a toilet if you use too much — is that after a few minutes, toilet paper will break down in water. Flushable wipes don’t break down, and they end up causing real problems in the sewers if you flush them. You might not need a plumber to rescue you from flushing these, but Jacksonville, FL and Duval County will certainly be feeling the negative effects of your decision if you send flushable wipes down the toilet.

Q-Tips

It’s easy to make the mistake of accidentally letting one of these slip into the toilet and thinking that it’s no big deal. But they present the same problems as flushable wipes: they don’t break down. If you use the ones that are partially plastic, it’s even worse. Be careful not to toss these down the toilet, or you’ll cause a sewer blockage over time.

Menstrual Pads

This would fall under the category of “call a plumbing service” if you flush one. Think about it: the purpose of a menstrual pad is to absorb fluid when necessary. Why would you want something that absorbs fluid going into your pipes? It’s going to expand and cause a major blockage if one gets flushed.

Diapers

Take everything that was just said about menstrual pads and multiply it. Diapers’ main purpose are to absorb wetness so that your baby’s skin doesn’t suffer from irritation as long as you change your baby quickly. Again, something that absorbs wetness going down your pipes is going to require you to call a Jacksonville, FL plumbing service to fix the damage.

Bleach

This is another entry that might surprise you, but bleach causes damage to your pipes in a different manner than a clog. Bleach is a corrosive liquid, and if it doesn’t get flushed through your pipes promptly, it’s going to break down the glue in PVC pipes and cause a serious issue that requires calling a plumbing service for immediate attention. If you’d like to clean your toilet, use a specific toilet bowl cleaner, or toss some common white vinegar down your pipes. Vinegar is actually an excellent choice for cleaning your toilet, as it won’t cause any problems if it goes down your pipes.

Undigested Food

The same cannot be said for other kinds of food, however. Human waste obviously goes down the toilet without issue, but when food hasn’t had a chance to be digested, it causes real problems for your pipes. Unlike flushable wipes or diapers, food will eventually break down in your pipes and clear away, but the process takes so long that you’re likely going to have to call for a plumbing service long before that happens. Bottom line: if a human body hasn’t had a chance to break it down, it doesn’t belong in the toilet.

Medicine

Have you ever heard that water is a renewable resource? Well, that becomes substantially less true if you’re putting medicine into the sewer system. Unlike other items on this list, medicine will break down when you flush it — but not all the way, and that’s a serious problem. The medicine will break down enough to toxify the water, costing Jacksonville, FL and other localities more money to properly clean it. Flushing medication won’t require you to call a plumbing service, but it’s still a very bad idea.

Pet Waste

Human waste goes down the toilet with no problem, so why not pet waste? Simple: cats and dogs’ waste dries out over time, and putting dried pet waste down the sewer is a major issue. Don’t think it will rehydrate and get through the pipes without any problems. It won’t, and you’ll likely be stuck calling a plumbing service for assistance.

Hair

Hair doesn’t break down in water. Hair expands in water by up to 30 percent, and when it’s surrounded by water, it doesn’t shrink back to its original size. Hair doesn’t belong in your shower drain, let alone your toilet’s pipes. Be sure to pluck it out of the drain and throw it away.

Grease

This might be the worst thing you can flush because of how damaging it is to your pipes. As grease cools, it solidifies, and you can probably see where this is going for your pipes. Under no circumstances should you ever flush grease of any kind down your toilet. If you do, there’s no maybe about it: you will be calling Bert Normans Plumbing for help because that’s the only way to fix the damage that grease causes.

What Can I Do?

Don’t flush anything that isn’t human waste or toilet paper down your toilet and always be sure not to use too much toilet paper for your toilet to handle. By restricting your flushing to those two items, you’ll do a lot for your pipes and keep them in top shape — and you’ll limit the amount of emergency calls you have to make to a Jacksonville, FL plumbing service, keeping that money free for things you really want to use it for, such as a new shower!

Your toilet can’t speak. It can’t tell you to stop flushing random 10-Things-You-Shouldnt-Flush-Down-the-Toilet-_-Tips-from-Your-Yulee,-FL-Plumberthings. So today, we’re not here to tell you to only flush what’s supposed to be flushed. Hopefully, you already know what is! We’re here to speak on behalf of your plumber in the Yulee, FL area. Here’s what you should never flush down your toilet.

Remember, with each flush, you’re using up almost three gallons of water. Make sure that you’re not wasting water by flushing the wrong things. If you do, it’s best to call a professional in the Yulee, FL area.

Do you want to make sure you’re not flushing any of these things down your toilet? Do yourself a favor and go through this list:

1.    Flushable Wipes

Names can be deceiving. Sometimes people can say things they don’t mean. Similarly, some makeup and baby wipes claim to be flushable. We suggest you refrain from risking the damage caused by flushing them down the toilet. They are usually not biodegradable and can clog up your toilet. When there’s a trash can nearby, use it. It’s a much safer alternative.

2.    Diapers

While, we’re on the topic of baby products, one thing you should definitely not be tossing in the toilet is a diaper. They’re big and smelly and your plumber will not be happy to see that you’ve tried to flush it away. A diaper is technically already a portable toilet for your baby anyway. The only sensible decision to make after it has been used is to throw it in the bin.

3.    Floss

You should be flossing twice a day. Once when you wake up and once before sleeping. Your toilet, however, does not need to floss. So please don’t throw your floss in there. It may seem like it isn’t a big deal at first, but floss bunches up over time and will lodge itself in your bathroom plumbing. It can also get caught with more gunk and create a huge mess.

4.     Cat Litter

Humans and cats are meant to use different toilets. If you find yourself flushing kitty litter down the toilet, stop before your plumber has to buy you a litter box. Cat litter often becomes blobs of solid once it touches water. If you put it in the toilet, chances are it’ll form clumps inside the pipes and clog your pipes.

5.     Food

Waste food and you’ll be labeled a terrible person. Attempt to flush it down the toilet and your plumber will never see you the same way again. Not only is it disgusting to take your food to the bathroom, but trying to dispose of it this way is one of the worst ideas you could have. If there’s ever any extra or unwanted food at home, try dropping it off at the local soup kitchen.

Along these lines, you shouldn’t be getting rid of oil or grease this way either. You may think that you’re only putting liquid in the bowl, just like the majority of things that usually go in there, but you’re not. Oil and any kinds of grease will eventually solidify in your pipes and clog them.

6.    Tampons

It may seem like the easiest solution when you’re in a hurry. As convenient as it may seem, it’s very harmful for your pipes, and you will have to call your plumber to save you. Be responsible when disposing of your tampons or other hygiene products. Wrap them with toilet paper and throw them in the garbage. It may seem like a handful at first, but you’ll get used to it.

7.     Pets

This is as bad of an idea as it is cruel. Animals, especially your pets deserve to be disposed of with as much dignity as anyone else. People tend to throw their fishes in the toilet, but this is going to cause you trouble in the long run. Animals do not break down in the pipes and you will have to call a plumber to unclog the blockage.

This shouldn’t have to be said, but you definitely should not be getting rid of living pets this way at all. Find someone who wants to adopt your pet if you don’t want them anymore.

8.     Medication

You may be wondering what the issue is when medicine also dissolves in your body? Well, although they won’t clog your pipes and be an issue for your plumber they will dissolve into the groundwater and release chemicals into your sewers. This will, over time, become a problem for you too.

The water that runs in our sewers is the same water that goes into the major water bodies around us. The last thing you want is your favorite beaches to become contaminated.

9.     Hair

Hair loss is real and anyone will tell you they hate it too. Do you really want to flush your precious locks down the toilet? Any kind of hair should be thrown into the garbage. Hair can get tangled up with other things in your pipes.

If your pet is suffering from fur loss, make sure you throw their fur away properly too. When detangling your hair from your brushes, try to do it near a garbage can.

10.   Cotton Swabs

You may think these little creatures aren’t going to create any issues for you, but your plumberwill tell you otherwise. Like paper towels and facial tissues, these aren’t made to be put in your toilet. They might not dissolve in the water as easily as toilet paper. Regularly flushing them down the toilet after removing your makeup will lead to a clog in your pipes.

If you are looking for a professional plumber in the Yulee, FLarea, give Bert Norman’s Plumbing of Yulee, FL a call at 904-225-5888 or fill out our online request form.

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