Try these 7 Smart Ways to Deal with Your Plumbing Issues

Plumbing problems can ruin your weekend and cost you a lot of money. The good news? Most problems can be stopped before they start — just use good parts and a few smart tricks.

Here are 7 simple tips that really work:

1. Never Pour Grease Down the Drain Grease turns hard inside pipes and clogs everything. Trick: Wipe pans and plates with paper towels first, then throw the paper in the trash. Your drain stays clean and smells fresh.
2. Use a Drain Strainer – It Catches Hair and Food A cheap $2–$5 strainer stops hair in the shower and food pieces in the kitchen sink. Clean it once a week and you will almost never have a blocked drain again.
3. Clean Drains Safely with Baking Soda + Vinegar Skip the strong chemical cleaners — they damage pipes over time. How to do it:
• Pour 1 cup baking soda down the drain
• Add 1 cup white vinegar
• Wait 10–15 minutes
• Flush with boiling water Safe, cheap, and works great!
4. Always Use Good Thread Tape (Teflon Tape) Dripping threads? Wrap them with quality Teflon tape before tightening. Pro tip: Use the right color!
• White tape → general water lines
• Pink tape → drinking water lines
• Yellow tape → gas lines PCFSPN stocks all colors and thicknesses — ready to ship the same day.
5. Choose the Right Pipe Nipples from the Start Low-quality nipples rust or break fast. At PCFSPN we only sell USA-made galvanized and black steel nipples (Schedule 40 & Schedule 80). They last for decades and stop leaks before they happen.
6. Stuck Pipe? Use Gentle Heat Old fittings sometimes get stuck because of rust. Warm the fitting for 20–30 seconds with a hair dryer or heat gun (never an open flame on gas lines!). It expands the metal just enough to loosen it safely.
7. Pick Silicone Instead of Putty for Most Seals Plumber’s putty can crack after a few years. Silicone stays flexible and 100% waterproof for much longer.

Final Word

Good tools + good parts = almost zero plumbing headaches. When you need strong, rust-proof black or galvanized pipe nipples, fittings, or the right Teflon tape fast, trust PCFSPN.