Let’s Uncover These 10 Common Plumbing Myths
Plumbing problems can be a real hassle, but being tricked by common misconceptions makes them even more frustrating to try and resolve. You could be harming your plumbing’s taps, drains or even major fixtures and not even be aware of it! Let’s clear up the confusion on 10 common plumbing myths to stop avoidable damage from occurring.
Myth 1: You Can Use Toilets as Trash Cans
It might look easy to flush tissues, paper towels, cotton balls, hygiene products and other ‘seemingly’ flushable things down the toilet drain, but that’s a bad choice. Toilets are only made to handle organic waste and toilet paper. Flushing other items can lead to clogs and pricey repairs, so opt for the trash can for non-flushable items to avoid problems.
Myth 2: Flushable Wipes Are Safe to Flush
Even with what the packaging says, flushable wipes aren’t actually all that safe for your pipes. These wipes can’t break down like toilet paper and can clog your sewer pipe. Even if they get through your home’s plumbing, flushable wipes accumulate in the larger municipal sewer system, leading to headaches for sanitation workers. Thousands of tax dollars can be saved on sewer cleanup efforts each year if everyone got rid of flushable wipes properly.
Myth 3: The Garbage Disposal Can “Dispose All”
Lots of people believe the kitchen garbage disposal can break down anything, but that’s not correct. Items like animal bones, coffee grinds and even small pieces of eggshell can ruin the disposal or block your plumbing. Fat is particularly well known for obstructing drains. No matter how much you flush the sink with boiling water, the oil still solidifies and causes problems. Pour fat into a container and throw it away once it cools.
Myth 4: Lemon Peels Clean Garbage Disposals
Putting lemon peels into the garbage disposal may freshen the scent temporarily, but the citric acid and fiber content of the peels can damage the disposal’s spinning blades. A better way to deodorize your disposal is by putting a handful of ice cubes into your fat and other debris without damaging the blades. Baking soda and white vinegar is another safer, more thorough option for cleaning the disposal.
Myth 5: Sharpening Disposal Blades with Ice Cubes
First of all, garbage disposals don’t actually use sharp blades to break up food waste—they use grinders to break down food. Ice cubes may help freshen the disposal by knocking off debris, so feel free to break down a handful occasionally. Just don’t wait for them to sharpen the blades.
Myth 6: You Don’t Need to Maintain New Water Heaters
Water heaters need routine maintenance to run at their best. Over time, buildup can collect, lowering performance and potentially limiting your water heater’s total service life. Flushing the tank and examining the anode rod once a year are the most beneficial steps to keep your water heater in good shape.
Myth 7: You Can Fix Leaky Faucets by Tightening Them
A leaking faucet generally indicates a broken washer or mechanism, not a loose fitting. Over-tightening may wear out the threads and worsen the problem. Instead of tightening the handle down as far as possible, call a plumber to fix the main issue.
Myth 8: All Plumbers Are the Same
Plumbing services can vary significantly in quality. Credentials, experience and word of mouth can make a big difference in the success of your plumbing job. Opting for an untrained plumber without the appropriate background might end up costing you more over time.
Myth 9: You Can Always Handle Your Own Plumbing Fixture Installation
Installing plumbing fixtures is more in-depth than just hooking a few things up. Systems for residential plumbing are intricate, and improper installation can cause leaks, water damage and the expensive fixes that come with them. Minimize the risk of trouble by contacting a professional plumber for installing fixtures.
Myth 10: You’ll Know When You Have a Plumbing Problem
Some plumbing problems can be hard to notice until they cause serious damage. A seemingly minor leak might not be noticeable until it’s created widespread structural damage. Professional plumbing inspections are a good way to spot hidden problems earlier to help them from turning into an enormous headache.
Contact a Plumber for More Help
At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we offer professional solutions for all your plumbing problems. Our trained and certified plumbers have the expertise to keep everything running smoothly, from your toilet and sewer lines to your water heater and garbage disposal. If you are not entirely happy with our work, you can rely on us to fix it. Contact us today for reliable plumbing services at an affordable price.
