Let’s Debunk These 10 Common Plumbing Myths

Issues with your home’s plumbing can be a real nuisance, but falling for popular misconceptions can make them even more frustrating to try and resolve. You might be harming your plumbing’s taps, pipes or even major fixtures and not even be aware of it! Let’s get the facts right on these 10 plumbing misconceptions to stop unnecessary damage from happening.

Myth 1: Toilets Are Suitable Trash Cans 

It may appear convenient to flush facial tissues, paper towels, cotton pads, hygiene products and other ‘seemingly’ flushable objects down the toilet, but it’s a bad idea. Toilets are only made to handle human waste and toilet tissue. Flushing other items can lead to clogs and costly repairs, so stick to the trash can for unflushable things to avoid trouble.

Myth 2: Flushable Wipes Are Okay to Use

In spite of what the box states, flushable wipes aren’t safe for your pipes and drainage. These wipes can’t disintegrate like toilet paper and can block up your sewer pipe. Even if they can make it through your home’s plumbing, flushable wipes accumulate in the broader sewer system, worsening problems for utility workers. Taxpayer dollars might be saved on sewer cleanup projects each year if everyone disposed of flushable wipes properly.

Myth 3: Garbage Disposals Can Handle Anything

Many people think the kitchen garbage disposal can handle everything, but that’s not correct. Items like gristle, coffee grounds and eggshells can clog the disposal or obstruct your drainage. Fat is especially notorious for blocking drains. No matter how much you try and clear out the drain with warm water, the fat still hardens and causes problems. Pour oil into a container and throw it away once it solidifies. 

Myth 4: Using Lemon Peels to Clean Garbage Disposals 

Tossing a few lemon peels into the garbage disposal could make it smell better for a while, but the citric acid and fibrous nature of the peels can damage the blades used to break food down. A safer way to clean the garbage disposal is by putting a handful of ice cubes into your fat and other buildup without harming the blades. Common household items like baking soda and 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 cutting edges to break up food waste—they use grinders to pulverize food. Ice cubes can help freshen the disposal by knocking off debris, so go ahead and grind up a handful every so often. Just don’t expect them to sharpen the blades. 

Myth 6: You Don’t Need to Maintain New Water Heaters 

Water heaters require regular maintenance to work at their best. After enough time, sediment can accumulate, reducing efficiency and shortening your water heater’s total service life. Flushing the tank and inspecting the anode annually are the most beneficial steps to keep that water heater in better working condition. 

Myth 7: Tightening a Leaking Faucet Will Stop the Drip 

A leaking faucet often suggests a damaged gasket or cartridge, not a loose fitting. Over-tightening may damage the threads and worsen the problem. Instead of muscling the handle down as far as possible, contact a plumber to address the root cause. 

Myth 8: Every Plumber Offers the Same Service

Not all plumbers are created equal. Licensing, experience and reviews can make a big difference in the success of your plumbing job. Opting for an untrained plumber without the proper experience might end up costing you more in the long run.

Myth 9: Anyone Can Install Their Own Plumbing Fixtures

Setting up plumbing fixtures is more than just tightening screws. Systems for residential plumbing are intricate, and improper installation can cause leaks, flooding and the expensive fixes that come with them. Save yourself the hassle by calling a professional plumber for installing fixtures.

Myth 10: Plumbing Issues Are Always Obvious

More insidious plumbing problems might be hard to notice until they escalate. A seemingly small leak might not make itself known until it’s caused significant structural damage. Regular plumbing inspections help spot hidden problems earlier to stop them from becoming an expensive disaster.

Reach Out to a Plumber for Help

At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we offer Expert services for all your plumbing needs. Our professionals have the skills to keep everything working smoothly, from your bathroom fixtures and sewer lines to your water heater and garbage disposal. If you’re not entirely happy with our work, we guarantee to make it right. Contact us today for dependable plumbing services at a fair rate.