Myths About Plumbing: 10 Common Misconceptions and Mistakes
Issues with your home’s plumbing can be a real hassle, but being tricked by widespread misconceptions can make them even more frustrating to try and resolve. You may be harming different plumbing fixtures, pipes or appliances and not even be aware of it! Let’s get the facts right on these 10 plumbing misconceptions to stop preventable damage from happening.
Myth #1: Problems Are Easy to Notice
More insidious plumbing problems are sometimes hard to spot until they escalate. A seemingly slight leak might not be noticeable until it’s created widespread structural damage. Routine plumbing inspections can help catch hidden problems earlier to help them from escalating into an expensive disaster.
Myth #2: Garbage Disposals Can Handle Anything
A large number of people think the kitchen garbage disposal can break down anything, but that’s not true. Things like gristle, used coffee grounds and even small pieces of eggshell can clog the disposal or form another clog in your plumbing. Grease is especially notorious for clogging plumbing. No matter how much you try and clear out the sink with boiling water, the oil gradually congeals and causes plumbing issues. Pour hot grease into a container and toss it out once it cools down.
Myth #3: Many Leaks Are Fixed by Tightening the Faucet
A leaking faucet often starts with a broken washer or mechanism, not a loose fitting. Over-tightening may damage the threads and exacerbate the leak. Instead of just tightening the handle down further, reach out to a plumber to repair the underlying problem.
Myth #4: It’s Safe to Use Flushable Wipes
Despite what the packaging says, flushable wipes aren’t actually all that safe for your pipes. These wipes don’t disintegrate like toilet tissue and can block up your sewer pipe. Even if they can make it through your home’s plumbing, flushable wipes accumulate in the larger sewer system, worsening headaches for sanitation workers. Your tax dollars can be saved on sewer cleanup projects each year if everyone disposed of flushable wipes properly.
Myth #5: Water Heaters Are Maintenance-Free Appliances
Water heaters should be given routine maintenance to operate at their best. After enough time, residue can collect inside, lowering performance and reducing your water heater’s total service life. Draining the tank and examining the anode rod annually are the most useful steps to keep that water heater in better working condition.
Myth #6: You Can Use Toilets as Trash Cans
It may seem easy to flush facial tissues, napkins, cotton, hygiene products and other ‘seemingly’ flushable things down the toilet, but that’s a bad choice. Toilets are only designed to handle organic waste and toilet paper. Flushing other objects can cause plumbing issues and pricey repairs, so stick to the trash can for non-flushable things to avoid trouble.
Myth #7: Using Lemon Peels to Clean Garbage Disposals
Throwing lemon peels into the garbage disposal may make it smell better for a while, but the citric acid and texture of the fibers of the peels can damage the disposal’s spinning blades. A better way to freshen the garbage disposal is by tossing a handful of ice in the disposal’s drain, which washes away fat and other debris without harming the blades. Common household items like baking soda and vinegar is another safer, more thorough cleaning option.
Myth #8: You Can Sharpen Disposal Blades with Ice
First of all, garbage disposals don’t actually use sharp cutting edges to break pieces of food down—they use grinding tools to pulverize food. Ice cubes can help clean the disposal by removing debris, so feel free to break down a handful now and then. Just don’t count on them to sharpen the blades.
Myth #9: Anyone Can Install Their Own Plumbing Fixtures
Setting up plumbing fixtures is more than just hooking a few things up. Plumbing systems are complex, and improper placement can lead to leaks, flooding and the expensive fixes that come with them. Avoid the headache by contacting a professional plumber for installing fixtures.
Myth #10: All Plumbing Services Are the Same
Even though they’re all plumbers, you can’t just pick anyone out of the phone book. Licensing, work experience and reputation can make a big difference in the quality of your plumbing job. Selecting a low-cost plumber without the right experience might end up costing you more in the long run.
Contact Freedom Heating & Cooling for Professional Plumbing Assistance
At Freedom Heating & Cooling, we provide professional assistance for all your plumbing concerns. Our professionals have the skills to keep everything running smoothly, from your fixtures 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 resolve the issue. Contact us today for dependable plumbing services at a fair rate.
