Let’s Uncover These 10 Common Plumbing Myths 

Plumbing problems can be a real headache, but believing in common misconceptions often makes them even more problematic. You might be harming your plumbing’s taps, pipes or plumbing appliances and not even realize it! Let’s clear up the confusion on 10 common plumbing myths to stop preventable damage from cropping up.

Myth 1: You Can Use Toilets as Trash Cans 

It might appear handy to flush facial tissues, napkins, cotton, feminine hygiene products and other ‘seemingly’ flushable items down the drain, but this is a bad decision. Toilets are only designed to handle organic waste and toilet paper. Flushing other objects can result in clogs and expensive repairs, so use the trash can for unflushable objects to avoid problems.

Myth 2: Flushable Wipes Are Safe to Flush

Despite what the box states, flushable wipes aren’t safe for your pipes. These wipes can’t decompose like bath tissue and can clog your sewer pipe. Even if they make it past your plumbing system, flushable wipes build up in the larger municipal sewer system, leading to headaches for utility workers. Thousands of tax dollars could be saved on sewer cleanup projects each year if everyone disposed of flushable wipes properly.

Myth 3: The Garbage Disposal Can “Dispose All”

Many people assume their garbage disposal can handle everything, but that’s not true. Things like gristle, used coffee grounds and even small pieces of eggshell can clog the disposal or block your plumbing. Grease is especially well known for obstructing pipes. No matter how much you rinse the pipes with hot water, the oil still solidifies and causes clogs. Pour hot grease into a sealable jar and throw it away once it solidifies. 

Myth 4: You Can Clean Your Garbage Disposals with Lemon Peels 

Putting lemon peels into the garbage disposal might freshen the scent temporarily, but the acid content and texture of the fibers of the peels can damage the disposal’s spinning blades. The best way to clean your disposal is by putting a handful of ice cubes down the oil and other buildup without damaging the blades. 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 blades to break pieces of food down—they use grinders to break down food. Ice cubes may help freshen the disposal by knocking off debris, so feel free to grind up a handful every so often. Just don’t wait for them to make the disposal sharper. 

Myth 6: Water Heaters Are Maintenance-Free Appliances 

Water heaters require regular maintenance to work as efficiently as possible. Over time, sediment can collect, lowering performance and shortening your water heater’s max life span. Flushing the tank and inspecting the water heater’s anode rod annually are the most important steps to keep your water heater in good shape. 

Myth 7: You Can Fix Leaky Faucets by Tightening Them 

A leaking faucet usually starts with a worn-out gasket or valve, not a loose fitting. Over-tightening can strip the threads and exacerbate the drip. Instead of muscling 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

Plumbing services can vary significantly in quality. Licensing, experience and word of mouth can make a big difference in the success of your plumbing job. Selecting an untrained plumber without the appropriate experience can end up costing you more in the long run.

Myth 9: You Can Always Handle Your Own Plumbing Fixture Installation

Installing plumbing fixtures is more in-depth than just screwing on parts. Systems for residential plumbing are still somewhat complicated, and improper placement can cause leaks, flooding and the expensive fixes 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

Some 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 resulted in widespread water damage. Professional plumbing inspections can help catch hidden problems earlier to stop them from becoming an enormous headache.

Reach Out to a Plumber for Help

At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we deliver high-quality assistance for all your plumbing problems. Our plumbing technicians have the expertise to keep everything flowing smoothly, from your bathroom 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 make it right. Contact us today for dependable plumbing services at a fair rate.