Bad Shower Habits That Can Ruin Your Plumbing

The shower is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a long day at work. Unfortunately, it's also the perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew, and other harmful elements that can ruin your plumbing.

Many bad shower habits can lead to serious problems later on. If you want to extend the life of your pipes and avoid costly repairs down the road, here are some things you should avoid doing in the shower.

Long Hot Showers

Hot water causes lime scale formation and corrosion in pipes, which results in clogs, leaks, and more. Limit your showers to five minutes or less. If you find yourself taking long showers, keep the temperature of the water at lukewarm levels. You can also use an electric shower timer to regulate this process.

Shorten Your Showers

If you want to cut back on your water usage and save money on your utility bill simultaneously, you should start by shortening your showers. Even several minutes will make a difference in how much water is used during each shower; over time, that can add up.

Use Low-Flow Showerheads

Low-flow showerheads are one of the easiest ways to cut back on your water usage without changing any habits! These showerheads use less than 2 gallons per minute of water while still providing a powerful spray that rinses away shampoo and soap just as well as regular high-power sprays.

Leaving Your Loofah In the Shower

Loofahs are made from natural fibers that easily absorb water and soap scum, making them ideal for use in the shower. However, once you're done using it, don't leave it sitting around in your shower. Instead, hang it on a hook or place it in a container with water so it can dry out naturally. Leaving your loofah in the shower causes mildew and mold to grow on its surface, eventually damaging its structure and making it unusable.

Loofahs are known for their ability to clean and exfoliate the skin, but they're also known for causing clogs in showers. The problem is that loofahs are often made out of synthetic materials that don't break down easily once they get wet. This means that as you scrub your body, pieces of the loofah stick to soap scum and other grime that's built up in your shower. Over time, these pieces can build into a big mass of gunk that will clog up your drain pipe.

Leaving Hair Down the Drain

Hair will eventually gather in your drain and create a blockage that could cause severe problems with your plumbing system. If you have long hair, consider using a drain strainer or a disposable product like this to catch hairs before they go down the drain.

Hair doesn't dissolve and will eventually clog your pipes if you don't remove it from the drain. Use a drain strainer or a plunger to remove hair from your drains after every wash. If your drain is still clogged, call Mr. Rooter Plumbing to unclog it.

Using biodegradable shampoos and conditioners will break down over time and won't clog your pipes as quickly as non-biodegradable products do.

Leaving Water On the Floor

Water on the floor typically runs under the tub or sinks and into the subfloor, creating a breeding ground for mold and mildew. The longer you leave standing water in your bathroom, the more damage it will do to your home's foundation. Also, standing water can cause rust stains on your tub and other surfaces if left too long.

Leaving standing water on your bathtub or shower floor will eventually seep into the walls and cause mold or mildew to grow. This is especially true if you have a leaky pipe under your sink or toilet. It may take months for this mold to appear, but once it does, you'll have to rip out all those walls and replace them with new ones.

Ignoring Hard Water Buildup

Hard water is simply water that contains high concentrations of dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals leave white, powdery deposits on fixtures, pipes, and showerheads. Over time, they can corrode metal pipes and damage faucets. The best way to prevent this buildup is by using a descaler formulated for your specific types of water, such as salt-free or liquid detergent-based products. Most homeowners first notice this problem when their showers start leaking or developing brown stains around the edges of the tub or tile grout lines due to mineral deposits that have built up over time.

Call the Professionals For Water Heater Repair

A faulty water heater can mean an abundance of problems for you, from unmanageable water bills to clogged pipes. And although repairs are usually fairly simple and inexpensive, a bad experience can turn someone off to homeownership for good. When you call the professionals at Mr. Rooter Plumbing for fast, effective water heater repair, you're guaranteed to have a reliable plumber assisting with your problem from start to finish.