At One Green Filter, we believe protecting your home starts with knowing what not to do. By avoiding these six common mistakes, you can help keep your plumbing healthy, save money, and prevent unnecessary repairs.
1. Ignoring Hard Water
What’s the problem?
Hard water is one of the biggest threats to your plumbing system. In Florida and many other areas, water often contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. When this water flows through your pipes and appliances, it leaves behind scale deposits.
Over time, these minerals clog pipes, reduce water flow, coat heating elements in water heaters, and shorten the life of dishwashers, washing machines, and more.
What can you do?
A professional water softener is the best solution. At One Green Filter, we install high-quality water softeners that remove hardness before it reaches your pipes. Soft water helps protect your plumbing, keeps appliances running longer, and makes cleaning easier by reducing soap scum and spots.
2. Using Too Much Drain Cleaner
What’s the problem?
When a drain is slow or clogged, many people reach for chemical drain cleaners. While they seem convenient, these harsh chemicals don’t just clear clogs — they also eat away at the inside of your pipes. Over time, this weakens the pipes, leading to leaks or even burst pipes that can cause water damage.
What can you do?
Prevent clogs before they happen. Use sink strainers to catch food scraps and hair. Never pour grease down the drain — let it cool and throw it in the trash instead. If you do get a stubborn clog, call a plumber instead of using chemicals. You’ll save your pipes from damage and avoid messy emergencies.
3. Flushing Things That Shouldn’t Be Flushed
What’s the problem?
Toilets are designed to handle only toilet paper and human waste. But many households flush things like “flushable” wipes, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, and cotton balls. These items don’t break down easily. They can stick together and block pipes, causing backups and expensive repairs.
What can you do?
Keep a covered trash can in every bathroom. Remind everyone in your house — including kids and guests — to throw wipes and other items in the trash, not the toilet. A few seconds of caution can save you thousands in plumbing bills.
4. Overloading Your Garbage Disposal
What’s the problem?
Garbage disposals are handy, but they’re not designed to handle every type of food waste. Putting large amounts of food, grease, fibrous vegetables (like celery or corn husks), coffee grounds, or bones in the disposal can clog pipes, jam the blades, and damage the motor.
What can you do?
Feed food scraps into the disposal slowly, with cold water running. Cold water keeps fats solid so they break up instead of coating pipes. Never pour grease down the disposal — collect it in a can and throw it away instead. When in doubt, put it in the trash.
5. Skipping Routine Plumbing Checks
What’s the problem?
Out of sight, out of mind — that’s how many people think of their plumbing. But ignoring small leaks, drips, or aging hoses can lead to major headaches. For example, sediment can build up in your water heater, making it work harder and use more energy. A tiny leak under a sink can turn into mold, rot, or costly water damage if ignored.
What can you do?
Inspect pipes, faucets, and appliances regularly for leaks or rust. Drain and flush your water heater once or twice a year to clear out sediment. Replace worn hoses on your washing machine before they burst. And if you have a whole-house water filter from One Green Filter, remember to change filters as recommended to keep everything running smoothly.
6. Overlooking Your Water Quality
What’s the problem?
Many people don’t realize that poor water quality can slowly damage plumbing and appliances. Chlorine, iron, sediments, and other contaminants can corrode pipes, clog filters, and wear down seals and gaskets. This can cause appliances like dishwashers, coffee makers, and ice makers to break down sooner than they should.
What can you do?
A whole-house water filtration system protects your entire plumbing system. At One Green Filter, we offer free water tests to show you exactly what’s in your water. We then recommend the best filter or softener for your specific needs. Clean water means longer-lasting pipes, clearer drinking water, and fewer surprise repairs.
How One Green Filter Can Help
At One Green Filter, we help homeowners across Clearwater, Tampa, and the entire Tampa Bay area enjoy clean, safe water — while protecting plumbing and appliances. Our team installs customized solutions like:
-
Water softeners to eliminate scale and protect pipes
-
Whole-house carbon filters to remove chlorine, bad tastes, and odors
-
Reverse osmosis systems for pure, fresh drinking water
We also offer friendly, local service and free water testing, so you know exactly what’s coming through your pipes.
Keep Your Plumbing Healthy — The Smart Way
Your plumbing system works hard for you every single day. Don’t let simple mistakes cost you money and headaches later. By avoiding these six bad habits — and trusting a local expert like One Green Filter — you can keep your home’s water flowing clean and clear for years to come.
Ready to protect your plumbing and enjoy better water? Call One Green Filter at (727) 222-1800 or visit onegreenfilter.com to schedule your free water test today.