We’ve all heard those popular home-owning tips and hacks. Save water with each flush. Bathe safely during a storm. Shove lemons and ice down your garbage disposal to clean it.
While this advice seems harmless and maybe even helpful, common plumbing hacks often fail.
These plumbing myths are not only ineffective but some of them can damage your plumbing and force you to invest in costly repairs. Follow this guide from Mr. Plumber to learn the truth about your home’s plumbing.
You’re Safe to Bathe or Shower During a Thunderstorm
Thunderstorms carry lightning, a bolt of which can travel through metal pipes and be carried out of taps and faucets. Therefore, it is possible to receive a shock from lightning if you bathe or shower during a thunderstorm.
It is best to delay your shower until 30 minutes after you’ve heard the last thunderclap.
Creatures Cannot Crawl Up Through Your Toilet
Unfortunately, animals are capable of making their way through your plumbing and into your toilet. While rare, there are reports of rodents, reptiles, cockroaches, and frogs appearing in toilets.
If this happens to you, contact an animal control expert for removal.
A Gurgling or Bubbling Water Heater Will Explode
A poorly installed, outdated, or damaged water heater poses a fire risk. Usually, the popping sound is water escaping sediment buildup in the bottom of the heating tank.
If you hear this noise, contact a licensed plumber to schedule a service and cleaning.
Save Water by Putting a Brick in Your Toilet Tank
Putting anything inside your toilet tank is ill-advised. The idea behind the brick myth is that the brick will displace water in the tank and you’ll use less for each flush.
In reality, the brick will break down over time, crumbling in the tank and keeping your toilet from flushing correctly.
There’s No Problem as Long as It Flushes
Baby wipes, sanitary pads, kitty litter, an accidental toothbrush…your toilet has flushed it all. Non-flushable items can get caught farther down the plumbing and cause larger, deeper blockages.
It is best to contact a professional plumber to handle small plumbing issues before they become big problems.
Your Garbage Disposal Can Handle Anything You Put Down It
Garbage disposals were created to grind small amounts of food to make dishwashing more efficient. That said, there are a handful of foods not recommended for your disposal.
Stringy or tough items like celery, banana peels and eggshells can wind around the impellers and cause them to seize up. Hard items like bones and nuts can damage the grinding mechanism.
It is Safe to Use Chemical Drain Cleaners on a Clog
Chemical drain cleaners were developed to eat their way through greasy, soap scummy, hairy clogs. They can damage the joints in your plumbing and even burn through certain types of pipes.
It is best to stick with natural, DIY drain cleaning methods to clear any clogs. Also, practice regular plumbing maintenance like snaking your drains and using a hair trap to keep your drains clear.
Boiling Water Can Clear Drain Clogs
The previous myth rejected chemical cleaners as a clog-clearing solution. So is boiling water the answer?
Boiling water can crack porcelain and melt PVC pipes and seals. For most small clogs, physical removal is the answer. Use a plunger or a toothed drain snake to loosen and clear the blockage.
You Don’t Need a Professional Plumber for a Leaky Faucet or Slow Drain
A leaky faucet will run your water bill up over time and waste water. It can also weaken the water pressure elsewhere in your home and could be a sign of a larger problem.
A slow drain is a sign that your plumbing has a clog. It is best practice to contact a plumber to clear a small blockage before the problem gets worse.
All Plumbers Are The Same
Not all plumbers are trained the same, and they don’t all have the same experience and expertise. It is best to check a plumber’s credentials before agreeing to hire them.
Avoid the headache and hassle of hiring the wrong person for the job. Save yourself time and money by double-checking that you’re hiring the right plumber to fix your issue.
Trust Mr. Plumber
We’ve been serving the community since 1977, offering residential and commercial plumbing services. Whether you’re a new business owner with installation questions or a homeowner with a leaky faucet, we’ve got you covered!
Put your trust in the Good Guys in Blue. Contact us today!
