We love Beverly Hills. In many ways it symbolizes the best aspects of our city: the generous people, the beautiful homes, the fine dining – it’s all present within a relatively small chunk of real estate within Los Angeles. However, recently we’ve seen an uptick in common plumbing problems in the neighborhood. We don’t want to pick on BH, but we’re going to call attention to these local issues as they represent similar problems throughout the city.

Here are 5 common plumbing mistakes that many Beverly Hills – and most other – residents make.

Using the toilet as a trash can

We get it. Tossing garbage into the toilet is easy – almost too easy. If the nearby can in the bathroom is full, it’s a convenient back up. However, this mistake can have costly repercussions. An extra square of toilet paper or even a small shred of paper towel may be fine, but plastic wrap, feminine products and just about anything else is off limits. It’ll cause a serious clog that may require professional help.

Hiring ultra budget plumbers

When hiring a plumber, it’s tempting to go with the cheapest option. However, more often than not, the cheapest option doesn’t have the experience necessary to adequately address your problem. Instead, you should call a plumber that Beverly Hills residents can rely on. Ritz Plumbing offers great work at a reasonable price, whether you live along Wilshire Boulevard or near The Four Seasons Hotel. Often, our technicians have to be called in to correct the work of inexperienced plumbers, so hire wisely the first time.

Haphazard renovations

Adding value to your home through renovations is exciting. It sort of re-creates that new, move-in experience. However, make sure you plan thoroughly before starting a renovation. Whether you’re just swapping out a bathroom sink, replacing a faucet, or tearing out the shower completely, you need to know ahead of time exactly what steps are involved, if you’ll require the work of a contractor, and how much it’ll cost. Without proper planning, you’re guaranteed to hit a snag or 10.

Ignore small leaks

Small leaks don’t scream emergency. Rather, they just drip softly albeit annoyingly in the background. However, if neglected, these can balloon into a major problem down the road. Sometimes they’re indicative of a leaky pipe or even a hole in the roof. Neither of these scenarios should be taken lightly. See if you can identify the source and if possible, repair it yourself. Otherwise, call a professional as soon as possible to investigate.

Failure to earthquake-proof your home

Most of us probably don’t consider earthquake proofing our home, which is ironic as many major fault lines run through Los Angeles county. While preparation kits are somewhat common among families, we often fail to install earthquake valves. These important valves attach to your gas line, and when triggered by intense shaking, automatically shut off the gas. As gas leaks and explosions are one of the deadliest consequences of an earthquake, valves are essential to any residence.