Let’s Dispel 10 Common Plumbing Myths
Issues with your home’s plumbing can be a real hassle, but believing in common misconceptions often makes them even more frustrating to try and resolve. You might be harming your faucets, pipes or even major fixtures and not even realize it! Let’s set the record straight on these 10 plumbing misconceptions to stop unnecessary damage from happening.
Myth 1: You Can Use Toilets as Trash Cans
It may appear convenient to flush tissues, paper towels, cotton, hygiene products and other ‘seemingly’ flushable objects down the drain, but this is a bad idea. Toilets are only made to handle organic waste and toilet paper. Flushing other items can lead to blockages and pricey repairs, so use the trash can for non-disposable things to avoid trouble.
Myth 2: Flushable Wipes Won’t Harm Your Plumbing
Despite what the box states, flushable wipes aren’t safe for your plumbing. These wipes don’t break down like toilet tissue and can block up your sewer pipe. Even if they can make it through your home’s plumbing, flushable wipes continue to collect in the broader municipal sewer system, leading to headaches for sanitation workers. Taxpayer dollars can be saved on sewer cleanup costs each year if everyone got rid of flushable wipes properly.
Myth 3: You Can Put Anything in the Garbage Disposal
Many people think the kitchen garbage disposal can handle anything, but that’s not true. Food waste like animal bones, coffee grounds and eggshells can clog the disposal or obstruct your plumbing. Grease is especially well known for obstructing plumbing. No matter how much you rinse the pipes with warm water, the oil eventually hardens and causes plumbing issues. Pour hot grease into a sealable jar and dispose of it once it cools down.
Myth 4: Lemon Peels Clean Garbage Disposals
Tossing a few lemon peels in your garbage disposal may freshen the scent temporarily, but the acidity and fibrous nature of the peels can cause wear and tear on the disposal’s spinning blades. A safer way to freshen your disposal is by tossing a handful of ice down the grease and other buildup without damaging the blades. Common household items like baking soda and white vinegar is another safe, thorough cleaning option.
Myth 5: Sharpening Disposal Blades with Ice Cubes
First of all, garbage disposals don’t actually use sharp cutting edges to break pieces of food down—they use grinding tools to smash food into smaller pieces. Ice cubes could help clean the disposal by knocking off debris, so go ahead and grind up a handful every so often. Just don’t wait for them to sharpen the blades.
Myth 6: You Don’t Need to Maintain New Water Heaters
Water heaters should be given routine maintenance to operate at their best. Over time, buildup can collect, reducing efficiency and potentially limiting your water heater’s life span. Cleaning out the tank and examining the water heater’s anode rod once yearly are the most helpful steps to keep your water heater in working order.
Myth 7: You Can Fix Leaky Faucets by Tightening Them
A leaking faucet usually starts with a worn-out washer or cartridge, not a loose handle. Over-tightening can strip the threads and worsen the problem. Instead of cranking the handle down as far as possible, reach out to a plumber to repair the main issue.
Myth 8: All Plumbing Services Are the Same
Even though they’re all plumbers, you can’t just pick anyone out of the phone book. Certification, a work background and word of mouth can make a big difference in the success of your plumbing service. Selecting an untrained plumber without the right credentials could end up costing you more in the long run.
Myth 9: DIY Plumbing Fixture Installation Is a Breeze
Installing plumbing fixtures is more in-depth than just screwing on parts. Systems for residential plumbing are still somewhat complicated, and improper placement can result in leaks, water damage and the costly repairs that come with them. Save yourself the hassle by contacting a professional plumber for installation projects.
Myth 10: You’ll Know When You Have a Plumbing Problem
More insidious plumbing problems are sometimes hard to spot until they start causing real trouble. A seemingly slight leak might not be very obvious until it’s created extensive water damage. Routine plumbing inspections can help identify unseen problems early and stop them from escalating into major headaches.
Get Professional Plumbing Assistance
At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we offer high-quality services for all your plumbing concerns. Our professionals have the knowledge to keep everything flowing smoothly, from your toilet and sewer lines to the water heater and garbage disposal. If you are not entirely happy with our work, you can rely on us to resolve the issue. Contact us today for reliable plumbing services at a fair rate.
