Indoor plumbing has come a long way over the years, yet there are some myths that have developed over time. As professional plumbers, it’s our job to educate our customers about their plumbing, and that includes dispelling the untrue myths they may have heard.
“Flushable” Wipes Un-Flushable
While you may have seen or used sanitary wipes marketed as “flushable” – they’re not truly flushable because they don’t dissolve like toilet paper. This means they can cause drain blockages. These include baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, and paper towels.
If you use these products for long, it is only a matter of time before your toilet backs up and can become a costly mess.
The Problem with a Slow-Dripping Faucet
It may not appear to, but did you know dripping faucets waste a LOT of water and drive up your water bill? A single drop of water leaking from a closed faucet every second seems insignificant, but did you know that single drip can eventually account for over 3,000 gallons per year?
With millions of homes around the world having dripping faucets, that means billions of gallons of fresh water wasted. Many areas on the planet don’t even have a readily supply of clean drinking water, and we simply must conserve this precious resource.
Hot Grease Down the Kitchen Sink?
Many homeowners and renters think it’s okay to pour hot grease down the sink. While hot grease is very liquid at the time, it quickly cools and sticks to the insides of their pipe. There it can harden and continues to build up over time until it fully clogs that drain and sink. To avoid this, we recommend you pour hot grease into a steel can until it cools and pitch that in your trash.
DIY Chemical Drain Cleaners?
Well advertised as the go-to solution for a clogged drain, the chemical drain cleaners found in hardware stores, grocery stores, etc. can make some SERIOUS problems for your plumbing system. They are simply not that effective at eating away blockages and can do damage to your pipes. Plus, the chemicals in these products are incredibly toxic, with even the smallest splash on your skin possibly causing burns. We suggest the use of Bio-Clean, an effective and environmentally safe waste eliminator.
Grinding Lemon Peels in a Garbage Disposal
Of course throwing some fresh lemons into your garbage disposal will grind them up and smell lemony fresh, but most people don’t realize lemons contain citric acid – which can corrode a garbage disposal’s metal parts. If you want a safe and natural cleaner for your garbage disposal, we recommend simply using ice.
The Problem with Fluctuating Water Pressure
Despite what some people have heard or think, fluctuating water pressure can be a sign of a problem. Water pressure should remain consistent otherwise, it may be a sign of a leak somewhere or a failing pressure reducing valve. Get it checked out!
That Brick in the Water Tank Saves Water?
While it is accurate that placing a brick in your toilet’s water tank may conserve a little bit of water per flush, many people don’t realize that over time bricks decay and crumble and may damage a toilet’s mechanics. If you want to save water, have a high-efficiency toilet installed.
Keeping Toilets Clean with Bleach Tablets
There’s no question that bleach is a powerful cleaning product, but putting bleach tablets inside a toilet or its tank potentially may do more harm than good. Toilet parts including the gaskets, washers, and pipes are prone to corrosion. Having a corrosive bleach tablet sit in your toilet’s water may take its toll on it’s functionality.
Bleach may also damage the glazed finish of your toilet if it sits there for a long period of time at full strength before rinsing it. If you do use bleach or any other product containing bleach to clean your toilet, we recommend you wash it off with warm, soapy water soon after application.
