Trying to Be Eco Friendly Has Cost Me New Plumbing
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I always try to limit the use of chemicals, and attempt to be eco friendly in the home
But i have recently learned an expensive lesson
I was constantly pouring the hot water down the kitchen sink after boiling the kettle to make tea
, firstly to dislodge any sludge that might have accumulated in the plumbing underneath , and secondly to steralise the sink without using disinfectant
I then noticed leaks starting to appear on the pipework and not realising the cause tried to be clever by sealing the joints with waterproof tape over time, which did work
Last week i noticed a pool of water on the kitchen floor , and when i opened the sink cupboard saw it was concentrated there and found it leaking directly under the sink plug drain
Everything has disintegrated and not even the tape could repair it
Then the penny dropped, the scalding hot water was melting the joints
So with a bucket under the sink 
I am waiting for a plumber to come to fit new pipework and i doubt i will get much change from £80
I could buy the plumbing and do it myself but want it fitted properly in this case
So please be aware , sometimes trying to save the planet doesn't save your wallet
What eco deed has cost you more than you bargained ?
Carry on saving the planet telmel. I feel by using vinegar down the sink as a disinfectant that this solution might cause extra corrosion but I don’t know.
I put bicarbonate of soda and Vinegar down mine. I think the pipes may have disintegrated because they don't last forever and it may have been an age factor as well
Jerseydrew Just had the pipework replaced , £80
The plumber said hot water shouldn't disintegrate the joints that much , it is mainly age with the seals and rubbers slowly corroding naturally
But he did say one of the biggest problems they see is when people go away on holiday
Just before they go they tend to stuff chemicals down the plughole so when they come back it smells nice and fresh
They mentioned bicarbonate of soda and bleach being the worse offenders for corroding the rubber seals as the chemicals sit in the drain without rinsing for a week or two
Thats when leaks are found mostly when people get back
I have done this in the past myself , so you are not alone 
I would of thought by emptying hot water down the sink It would over time melt/warp the seals but not the actual pipes Itself. Hope It doesn't cost you too much for whatever It Is that needs replacing. Same as the Toilet. Don`t use Bloo In the cistern as that can ruin your seals too.
telmel £80? Wow. I did Plumbing for 20 years or so for a company so I do have some knowledge on It. I would of fixed It for you If I lived closer to you for free. It Is best to carry some red fiber washers assorted and assorted o rings too. You can pick both up for about 3-4 quid depending on where you go.
Emerge11 That would have been kind of you E. thanks
They did spend about one hour here , they had to cut the pipe to size to fit and insert a couple of extra washers, i think and put mastick around the joints
They also replaced the two metal plug inserts, the ones you press down to open and shut
No leaks now and all new
So i was more than happy with the price , i think i would have struggled to do it myself
Being a one person household I rarely overfill my kettle but I do use surplus boiling water to sterilize my dishcloth, but it is in a washing up bowl!
From experience, most plumbers charge a call out fee, which could be £80 on its own, then there is the extra cost of new pipe and labour, plumbers are very expensive
martinlufc5637 I have the best plumber in the world and I dread the day he retires. His cost is always low and one time he came out and refused to take payment as it was a very small job. I got him to take some tomatoes plants and he later told me his wife was well pleased as they got a bumper crop!
Lynibis people like that are a dying breed today, years ago there was lots of cheap handymen, normally retired men who did things just to keep busy and charged very little, we needed a new seal on our bathroom window because the seal had failed and it was causing condensation between the glass, phone a couple of guys, £210+ I was quoted 
, I ended doing it myself for £30, price of the seal and it took 30 mins to do and was quite easy to do
martinlufc5637 Tell me about it M ,thats why i thought i would post this incase others were possibly doing the same, and destroying their plumbing unintentionally
martinlufc5637 I have had this too M, and i usually do my own pumbing if the job is not too big, for example i fitted a new kitchen tap but had to remove the sink to fit it, but under the sink has been a bit of a trauma and i want it fitting professionally to avoid any future leaks, and a plumber knows the best way to do this and which parts are best, you can never be too sure with u bends 
Nadiaparveen Sorry N, not sure if you are asking me about the hot water or not ?
If so, yes , always put the left over hot water down the drain thinking i was keeping it clean and bacteria free , as well as cleaning the sponge , now i am paying the price so to speak
telmel oh yes I was wondering if because you did it everyday maybe that was a factor in speeding up its erosion.
It's always this time of year things go bust and often in pairs 
it happens to us every year I think
As i mentioned i think the scalding water melted the glued joints of the plumbing and i started with a very slow leak i failed to notice, probably just drips, then it escalted as it got worse
I suppose it could happen if your water heater was set too high also, but i doubt it is as hot as a boiled kettle
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