Myths About Plumbing: Misconceptions and Common Mistakes 

Issues with your home’s plumbing can be a real headache, but falling for popular misconceptions often makes them even more problematic. You may be harming your plumbing’s taps, drains or plumbing appliances and not even be aware of it! Let’s get the facts right on 10 common plumbing myths to stop avoidable problems from cropping up. 

Myth #1: Plumbing Problems Always Announce Themselves 

A few plumbing problems can be hard to notice until they escalate. A seemingly minor leak might not make itself known until it’s caused significant structural damage. Professional plumbing inspections help catch growing problems earlier to help them from becoming major headaches. 

Myth #2: You Can Put Anything in the Garbage Disposal 

Lots of people think their garbage disposal can handle it all, but that’s not correct. Things like animal bones, coffee grounds and even small pieces of eggshell can damage the disposal or form another clog in your pipes. Oil is particularly infamous for clogging pipes. No matter how much you try and clear out the drain with hot water, the oil still congeals and causes plumbing issues. Pour oil into a hard container and dispose of it once it cools down. 

Myth #3: Tightening a Leaking Faucet Will Stop the Drip 

A leaking faucet usually starts with a broken seal or cartridge, not a loose handle. Over-tightening could strip the threads and worsen the drip. Instead of just muscling the handle down as far as possible, contact a plumber to address the main issue. 

Myth #4: It’s Safe to Use Flushable Wipes 

Even with what the packaging says, flushable wipes aren’t actually all that safe for your pipes. These wipes can’t break down like bath tissue and can obstruct your sewer pipe. Even if they can make it through your home’s plumbing, flushable wipes continue to collect in the larger sewage system, worsening headaches for utility workers. Thousands of tax dollars could be saved on sewer cleanup costs each year if everyone disposed of flushable wipes in the trash. 

Myth #5: You Don’t Need to Maintain New Water Heaters 

Water heaters require a regular schedule of professional maintenance to operate as efficiently as possible. After enough time, buildup can collect inside, lowering performance and reducing your water heater’s max life span. Cleaning out the tank and examining the anode rod once yearly are the most beneficial steps to keep the water heater in working order. 

Myth #6: It’s Okay to Throw Trash Away in the Toilet 

It may appear handy to flush facial tissues, napkins, cotton, hygiene products and other ‘seemingly’ flushable things down the toilet, but it’s a bad idea. Toilets are only designed to handle human waste and toilet paper. Flushing other objects can cause clogs and expensive repairs, so use the trash can for non-flushable objects to avoid problems. 

Myth #7: Using Lemon Peels to Clean Garbage Disposals 

Putting lemon peels in your garbage disposal might give it a fresh scent for a while, but the acidity and fibrous nature of the peels can damage the disposal’s spinning blades. A better way to deodorize your disposal is by tossing a handful of ice in the disposal’s drain, which cleans out oil and other buildup without damaging the blades. Baking soda and vinegar is another safer, more thorough option for cleaning the disposal. 

Myth #8: You Can Sharpen Disposal Blades with Ice 

First of all, garbage disposals don’t actually use sharp cutting edges to break up food waste—they use grinding tools to break down food. Ice cubes could help freshen the disposal by breaking up buildup, so feel free to grind up a handful occasionally. Just don’t expect them to sharpen the blades. 

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

Installing plumbing fixtures involves more than tightening screws. Plumbing systems are still somewhat complicated, and improper placement can lead to leaks, flooding and the high repair costs that come with them. Save yourself the hassle by calling a professional plumber for installing fixtures. 

Myth #10: Every Plumber Offers the Same Service

Plumbing services can vary significantly in quality. Credentials, work experience and reviews can make a big difference in the quality of your plumbing job. Choosing an untrained plumber without the right credentials could end up costing you more time in the long run. 

Call United Plumbing Company for the Best Local Plumbers 

At United Plumbing Company, we deliver professional assistance for all your plumbing concerns. Our trained and certified plumbers have the knowledge to keep everything moving smoothly, from your fixtures and sewer lines to the water heater and garbage disposal. If you’re not totally happy with our work, you can rely on us to resolve the issue. Contact us today for reliable plumbing services at a fair rate.