3 Plumbing Mistakes Marietta Homeowners Make That Cost Thousands

Owning a home in Marietta comes with plenty of responsibilities, and your plumbing system requires more attention than most homeowners realize. At Rooter King, we respond to expensive plumbing disasters every week that could have been easily prevented. Here are three common mistakes we see Marietta homeowners make that turn minor issues into major financial nightmares.

Mistake #1: Treating Drains Like Garbage Disposals

Your kitchen sink has a garbage disposal, so everything can go down the drain, right? Wrong. This is one of the most expensive misconceptions we encounter. Even with a garbage disposal, certain items should never enter your drains—and Marietta's older sewer systems are particularly vulnerable to clogs.

Grease, cooking oil, and fat are the worst offenders. They might flow down as liquids, but they solidify in your pipes, creating stubborn blockages that grow over time. Coffee grounds, pasta, rice, and fibrous vegetables like celery also cause problems by clumping together and catching other debris.

We've pulled tree roots, "flushable" wipes (they're not actually flushable), and even children's toys from Marietta sewer lines—all resulting in thousands of dollars in excavation and repair costs. The worst part? Most of these homeowners knew better but thought "just this once" wouldn't matter.

The fix: Use drain screens, dispose of grease in containers, and treat your drains with respect. When you do experience slow drains, call a professional before attempting chemical drain cleaners that can damage pipes and make problems worse.

Mistake #2: Ignoring Small Leaks

A faucet dripping once every few seconds doesn't seem urgent. That toilet that occasionally runs for a minute after flushing? Annoying, but not an emergency. Unfortunately, these "minor" leaks cost Marietta homeowners far more than they realize—both in wasted water and hidden damage.

A single dripping faucet wastes 3,000+ gallons annually. That running toilet? It can waste 200 gallons per day, adding hundreds to your water bill. But the real danger is what you can't see. Small leaks under sinks, behind walls, or in crawl spaces create perfect conditions for mold growth and wood rot. By the time you notice water stains or musty odors, you're often looking at extensive repairs.

We recently helped a Marietta homeowner who ignored a "small" leak under their kitchen sink for months. When we opened the cabinet, we found rotted flooring, a compromised subfloor, and active mold growth requiring professional remediation. What started as a $150 repair became a $8,000 restoration project.

The fix: Address leaks immediately, no matter how small. Check under sinks monthly for moisture. Monitor your water bill for unexplained increases. If you hear water running when nothing's in use, investigate immediately.

Mistake #3: Attempting DIY Repairs on Jobs Beyond Their Skill Level

YouTube makes plumbing look easy. Watch a 10-minute video, buy some parts at the hardware store, and save the plumber's fee, right? While we appreciate homeowners who want to learn, some plumbing jobs require professional expertise—and DIY attempts often multiply the original problem.

We regularly repair damage caused by homeowners who:

• Over-tightened connections and cracked pipes or fixtures

• Used incorrect materials that violate code and fail quickly

• Made gas line "adjustments" creating life-threatening leak risks

• Attempted water heater installations without proper permits or safety knowledge

• "Fixed" sewer line clogs by pushing them deeper instead of clearing them

The most expensive call we received involved a homeowner who attempted to replace their water heater after watching online tutorials. Improper installation led to a gas leak that required emergency response, professional remediation, and costly repairs—plus they still needed to pay for proper water heater installation.

The fix: Know your limits. Basic tasks like replacing faucet aerators, tightening visible connections, or plunging simple clogs are reasonable DIY projects. But water heater work, gas line repairs, sewer line issues, and major installations require licensed professionals. The money you "save" on DIY often becomes much larger repair bills when things go wrong.

Prevention Saves Money

The common thread in all these mistakes? Homeowners trying to save money in the short term end up spending far more fixing preventable damage. Your plumbing system is critical infrastructure that protects your home and your family. Treating it with care and calling professionals when needed isn't an expense—it's an investment in avoiding disaster.

Rooter King serves Marietta homeowners who understand that professional plumbing service prevents problems rather than just fixing them. Our maintenance plans catch issues before they become emergencies, and our experienced plumbers handle repairs correctly the first time.