6 Common Plumbing Myths Answered

Over the years, you’ve probably heard a lot of common home remedies to address plumbing problems. Some of those can come in handy, but others may be plumbing myths that won’t actually resolve your need for residential plumbing services.

Some basic plumbing knowledge can go a long way, so here are 6 common plumbing myths laid to rest.

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  Can Ice or Lemons Clear Your Garbage Disposal? 

Has anyone ever suggested that ice and lemons can help you fix your garbage disposal? 

Plenty of well-meaning people suggest that putting half a lemon in your garbage disposal will clean it and leave it smelling great. Lemons are associated with cleanliness and they have a nice, fresh smell, but they can’t actually clean your garbage disposal.

In fact, the lemons don’t contribute anything but an improvement in scent. Large pieces of lemon put a lot of strain on your garbage disposal, and can even break it. Your disposal is designed to deal with small, leftover chunks of food, not large ones.

Another common suggestion is using ice to sharpen the blades in a garbage disposal.

This idea sounds good, but in fact, the ice won’t have any effect on your garbage disposal, because it doesn’t use blades. Garbage disposals actually use two blunt metal prongs to crush food, relying on speed instead of sharpness to crush things.

These two myths go hand-in-hand, so remember that only tiny scraps of food should go in your garbage disposal.

If your disposal seems to be moving slowly or isn’t crushing food the way it should, it is suggested you get in touch with an emergency plumber to find a solution. 

• Does Hot Water Clear Clogs?

It’s common advice to suggest pouring leftover hot water down the drain to help dissolve any buildup of grease. This advice makes sense, and it does work in the short term, but it also has unfortunate long-term effects.

When you pour hot water down the drain and melt the grease and fat, the grease and fat will just solidify further down the drain. Clogs that are deeper into your plumbing system are more difficult and costly to deal with than ones that are easier to reach.

That results in a problem that can only be solved by a professional plumber.

Another drawback to using hot water to clear your drains is the possibility of damaging your pipes. When poured down a clogged pipe, the hot water is trapped where it can damage the pipes themselves, particularly PVC, and melt the sealant between them.

Avoid pouring both grease and hot water down your drain, because the combination of the two could result in the need for an emergency plumber later on.

• Are Harsh Chemicals the Best Way to Clean Out Your Drain?

Chemical cleaners are a popular way to get rid of clogged drains, but are those really the best way to deal with the issue?

Those harsh chemicals can help dissolve clogs, but usually, they are also harsh enough to damage your pipes, not to mention the material of your sink, bathtub, or toilet. If you happen to spill some on yourself or use a plunger after pouring in cleaner, these chemicals can cause burns.

The chemicals will eat away at these materials and cause corrosion. If you rely on drain cleaner often enough, it can cause some serious problems with your plumbing.

Instead of using chemical cleaners to deal with clogs, try using a method like a drain stick or home snake. If the clog is serious, your best bet is to call for plumbing services.

• Are Flushable Wipes Really Flushable?

We’ve all seen the packaging of baby wipes and other paper products that claim they are safe to flush down the toilet. But should you really send these items into your plumbing?

Most wipes are made from a blend of materials including polyesters, plastics, and other synthetics. These create a fabric-like texture that feels good against your skin but doesn’t break down easily.

Toilet paper is designed to dissolve quickly and go through pipes without a problem, but other items marketed as flushable aren’t guaranteed to do the same. Wipes are sturdier than toilet paper, and they can still clog pipes—especially if you flush them often.

To avoid the inconvenience of a clogged toilet, avoid flushing anything but toilet paper. Thicker paper products like makeup wipes can build up and cause serious plumbing problems.

• What Does a Rumbling Water Heater Mean?

It’s always alarming when an appliance in your home starts making new noises. Water heaters in particular can emit some loud rumbling noises.

Fortunately, contrary to what you might have heard, this doesn’t mean your water heater is about to explode. Instead, it means that there’s a buildup of sediment in the tank.

When water is heated, the minerals dissolve out of the water and settle on the bottom of the tank. Over time, sediment can build up and move around when water is heated, causing that rumbling noise.

A sediment buildup still indicates a serious problem, but it’s not a sign that your heater is about to blow. Instead, it decreases the efficiency of your heater and can increase your water pressure.

To deal with this issue, get a professional plumber to flush out your tank and look into ways to soften your water.

• Do Toilets in Australia Flush Clockwise?

You may have heard that toilets on the other side of the world flush backward compared to the toilets in the United States. This tidbit is a part of pop culture, and even The Simpson mentioned it. But is it true?

The Coriolis Effect is a scientific principle that explains how large masses, like air and water, spin when they move around the earth. It means that these masses spin differently according to which hemisphere of the Earth they’re located in. It affects ocean currents and large storms.

However, toilets aren’t controlled by this effect. Instead, the direction of a toilet’s flush is determined by each individual toilet and its plumbing. The Coriolis Effect only influences huge masses, not small amounts of water like those found in your household.

Choose the Right Plumbing Service

Now that you know some of the most common plumbing myths, you can take better care of your home plumbing. It is crucial to choose the right plumbing services to address your pipe concerns.

We offer professional residential plumbing services 24/7, so we can help you deal with emergencies and routine maintenance alike.

To learn more, contact our team at Bobby Blue Plumbing today.