The first plumbing myth is, “Homeowners can do their own plumbing.” There’s often a never-ending argument on several issues between plumbers and homeowners who believe they can be plumbers without the essential training. Some say that plumbing is easy and that anyone can do it, while others say, ‘Leave it up to the experts.’ Yes, a homeowner can handle some minor plumbing issues. It really doesn’t matter what one might believe. The truth is, seasoned plumbers should only resolve most plumbing problems. Notably, gas line repairs, sewer line repairs, home repipes, broken pipe repairs, water heater repairs, etc.
If Your Shower And Sink Drains Work, Everything Else Is Fine
The second plumbing myth goes like this, “If your shower and sink drain work, everything is else fine.” There is much more that goes into a sound plumbing system than drains that work as they should. Remember, the whole system features sets of valves, joints, meters, water heater, and pipes. The fact is, most homeowners take their plumbing for granted. We should care for our plumbing like we do our cars. Our water heater should receive annual maintenance. Garbage disposals are one appliance that does not require much use, so use it sparingly and be careful what you put down them. Better yet, get a composter and start composting.
Lemons Are Good For Your Garbage Disposal Another Plumbing
Your parents or grandparents probably passed on this nugget to you- that lemons aren’t just for lemonade. Cut one into half and stick it down the garbage disposal unit once in a while. With time, the lemon will do all the necessary cleaning and make your drain smell like lemons. This is another plumbing myth! It is a big no-no. Lemons can easily add a pleasant, temporary scent to your garbage disposal unit, but unfortunately, they can’t clean it. Any plumbing expert will tell you that lemon peels are not suitable for your drain and will eventually end up in your kitchen drain line and, over time, may cause it to clog.
Don’t Clear A Drain With Drain Cleaners
Here is another misconception. We’ve heard people tell us most of our lives that drain cleaners are harmful to your pipes. Yes, there are cheap off-brand drain cleaners that should never go down your pipes. It’s been scientifically proven that a branded drain cleaner like Liquid Plumber and Drano will not harm your pipes nor harm the finish on your faucet or porcelain fixtures. They are an excellent solution for slow-moving bathroom sink and shower drains. Never put the product down your toilet or kitchen drains because it may harm your wax ring. We are living in the 21st Century, so quit believing everything you hear. With that said, there are organic drain cleaning solutions on the market that work well on small slow-moving drains.
Your Garbage Disposal Unit Can Handle Anything As Long As You Have Running Water
The plumbing myth here is that running water helps your garbage disposal unit function better. Additionally, you can put just about anything in the unit as long as you run water down the disposal to discard waste. Nothing could be further from the truth; you should never run poultry, grease, coffee grounds, eggshells, and fibrous foods like celery through your garbage disposal. It will help if you avoid starches such as potato peels as well because they tend to clog your drain. Treat your garbage disposal unit well, and it will last 10 to 15 years.
If I Put A Brick In My Toilet Tank, I’ll Save On Water?
Don’t laugh, people are really doing this. Theoretically, you would save as much water as the brick would take up in your tank. But here lies the problem, old toilets are designed to use that amount of water to push solids through to the drainpipe. While it might work for liquid waste, you will have a problem with solid waste. Here is a better idea. Buy a 1-Piece Glacier Bay 1.1 GPF/1.6 GPF high-efficiency dual flush elongated all-in-one toilet for less than $170 or buy a 2-Piece 1.1 GPF/1.6 GPF high-efficiency dual flush elongated all-in-one toilet for less than a hundred bucks. There are other great values out there that will bring you significant savings on your water bill. Glacier Bay toilets are an excellent value. You can purchase them at your local home center.
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