Most people have some basic know-how about the plumbing in their home. It’s important to be familiar with simple maintenance and repair techniques to keep your plumbing working at its best. There are, however, a number of common misconceptions in the plumbing world that can cost you a bundle and cause a lot of hassle. Here are a few plumbing myths that you should definitely avoid:
- Hot water can dissolve grease in your drain. It’s true that hot water can melt grease. The problem is that somewhere along the line that grease will cool down and solidify again. Not only does this cause build up in your drains, it also is a perfect glue for any hair, lint, or food solids that happen to wash down the drain as well. Eventually, this can cause a blockage that leads to emergency repair service.
- Flushable wipes are actually flushable. Don’t believe it. Personal wipes, make up removers and baby wipes do not break down quickly enough to eliminate the potential for blockage, and should be discarded in a garbage bin every time. Nothing but human waste and bathroom tissue should ever go into your toilet.
- A brick in the toilet can save water. Lots of people think if you throw a good old-fashioned brick in the toilet tank, it can save on water usage. In fact, a brick in the tank can cause your toilet to work inefficiently. If you are concerned with water conservation, consider installing a low flow toilet instead. They are fairly reasonable to purchase and use a fraction of the water per flush compared to a regular toilet.
- Kitty litter is safe for the drain. Many pet supply companies claim that their litter is safe to flush. While these products probably do break down eventually, the risk is there for them to cause blockages in your plumbing system. Don’t take the chance of damaged plumbing – discard your kitty’s litter in the garbage bin instead.
- Drain cleaners are safe for clearing clogs. Most homeowners have used chemical drain cleaners at some point or another. There are, however, a few challenges with using these products. Firstly, if they don’t work, or don’t work completely, you have the hazard of trying to clear a drain that is full of chemicals. Secondly, they can cause serious corrosion of your pipes, leading to bigger problems down the road. Lastly, chemicals in our drains are never the best choice for our environment. In our opinion, it’s best to avoid drain cleaners all together.
If you do have a stubborn drain or a clogged toilet, we’re here to help. We offer 24/7 emergency service to meet all of your plumbing needs.
