5 Costly Plumbing Mistakes Many Americans Make Each Year
Written by
Dawn Allcot
Edited by
Amen Oyiboke
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Plumbing problems can wreak havoc on your family budget, especially if you don’t have a home warranty or money in a savings account designated for emergency home repairs. Nearly 10% of American homeowners said they wouldn’t be able to afford a $500 plumbing repair, according to a new survey by Guardian Service.
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Not having emergency savings for repairs is one mistake homeowners make. Here are five other costly plumbing mistakes that could lead to, essentially, flushing money down the drain.
Flushing Items That Aren’t Meant To Be Flush
Nearly two-thirds of all homeowners (64%) have flushed items down the toilet that they knew weren’t safe to flush, which caused a plumbing issue. While some of these mishaps could be solved with a plunger, roughly 40% of homeowners had to pay for emergency plumbing services due to improper flushing habits.
Some of the most common items flushed include paper goods like so-called “flushable” wipes (which aren’t safe to flush), facial tissues, and paper towels. In the past two years, more than 543,000 Americans have searched “clogged toilets” on Google.
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Underestimating the Costs of Emergency Plumbing Repairs
The survey showed that 57% of homeowners were shocked, at some point, by the cost of plumbing repair services. Meanwhile, 76% said they underestimated the price of emergency plumbing repairs, assuming it would cost less than $1,000. Although the average cost of plumbing repairs was $671, 1 in 12 homeowners paid more than $2,000.
Going Into Debt To Pay for Plumbing Repairs
When plumbing services cost more than a homeowner expects, they are often forced to find a way to cover that surprise expense. That sometimes means taking on extra debt. The survey indicated that 21% of homeowners put the repair costs on a credit card, while 5% took out a personal loan.
Pouring Oil Down the Sink Drain
While flushing items like leftover food, toys, and even dead goldfish can cause pricey problems in the bathroom, 47% of homeowners cause damage to kitchen pipes by pouring cooking grease or oil down the drain.
While oil starts as a liquid, as it cools it solidifies into a gel-like substance that can clog pipes over time. Gen Z and millennials are most likely to confess to this post-cooking practice, with 54% of Gen Z and 49% of millennials saying they pour cooking oil or grease down the drain. Perhaps the older generations should warn young cooks against this practice. A bacon grease saver could be a great housewarming gift that serves as a visual reminder.
Putting Off Plumbing Repairs
When homeowners are hit with a surprise plumbing problem, they may have no choice but to put off repairs until they have money available. One-in-six homeowners said they had to put off a plumbing repair. This happened most frequently to baby boomers (21%) and Gen Z (19%). Putting off a plumbing repair, however, could lead to a bigger, more expensive problem down the road.
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Sources:
- Guardian Service, “America’s Biggest Plumbing Problems: What Homeowners Are Flushing, Fixing, and Googling“
