Conventional wisdom is something everyone knows, and it is passed down from one generation to the next. This wisdom can be about anything, and, unfortunately, it can be oversimplified or incorrect in many cases.
This includes conventional wisdom in plumbing. Many myths surround this topic, like using a lemon to freshen your drain or wipes that are flushable. To find out if these home plumbing myths are good ideas or not, we explore the top 10 plumbing myths that cost you money!
Top 10 Home Plumbing Myths That Are Costing You Money
Contents
- 1 Top 10 Home Plumbing Myths That Are Costing You Money
- 1.1 Myth #1: Put Lemons in Your Disposal So That It Smells Fresh
- 1.2 Myth #2: “In-Tank” Cleaners Helps Ensure Your Toilet Is Clean And Smells Good
- 1.3 Myth #3: Lifetime Warranties On Bad Plumbing Products Are Really Useful
- 1.4 Myth #4: Open The Faucet While The Garbage Disposal Runs To Remove Clogs
- 1.5 Myth #5: Water Pressure Regulators Are Reliable At All Times
- 1.6 Myth #6: Everything Works As They Should As Long as Stuff Is Going Down the Drain
- 1.7 Myth #7: Water & Soap On Bathroom Fixtures Helps Keep Them Clean & Sparkly Like Your Hands
- 1.8 Myth #8: Plumbing Fixtures Don’t Need To Be Used
- 1.9 Myth #9: Only People Who Don’t Know What They Are Doing Read Users Manuals
- 1.10 Myth #10: All Plumbers Know Exactly What To Do & How To Do It
- 2 Call Skylands Energy Service For All Of Your Plumbing Requirements
Below we discuss some common misconceptions that lead to costly water bills, expensive plumbing problems, and more.
Myth #1: Put Lemons in Your Disposal So That It Smells Fresh
Avoid putting lemons down your garbage disposal. You might temporarily create a fresher aroma. However, lemons contain citric acid, which can corrode the metal in your disposal’s interior.
The Better Alternative:
Feed ice into your disposal instead to clean your garbage disposal. It can polish the inside of the disposal like a rock tumbler polishing rocks. It can create loud noises, but it is an effective method. It power washes the scum that’s emitting the foul odor from your drain without damaging your disposal.
Myth #2: “In-Tank” Cleaners Helps Ensure Your Toilet Is Clean And Smells Good
One cost you can remove is “in-tank” cleaners. These are products marketed to help make things easier for you and lessen the time to scrub your toilet. However, these cleaners leave a bleach smell and cause a buildup. Over time, this buildup can destroy your toilet system, leading to a toilet replacement.
The Better Alternative:
Instead of “in-tank” cleaners, use vinegar. Vinegar gets rid of the foul odor and buildup that can ruin the flow of your toilet for a much lower cost.
Myth #3: Lifetime Warranties On Bad Plumbing Products Are Really Useful
You might have bought a cheap product, such as a plumbing fixture and others, and it gets broken. If so, don’t expect to get the latest and best product on the market as a replacement. You are stuck with the product you purchase. In addition, you need to shell out more money and time to reinstall the same product over and over.
The Better Alternative:
Purchase high-quality plumbing products at the onset, so you don’t have to replace junk with junk. Work with a reputable plumber to find the best solutions for your home.
Myth #4: Open The Faucet While The Garbage Disposal Runs To Remove Clogs
It might seem like the perfect combination when you let the water run with your garbage disposal. After all, doing so seems like it helps the waste go down smoother. It’s something we’ve all done at some point. We’ve also had times when we reach down the drain with our hands to remove whatever is blocking the pipes. Unfortunately, letting the water run down the drain with waste doesn’t help clear any clog that’s already been there before water appears. It is important to note that you should always run water with your garbage disposal. This myth more deals with garbage disposal clogs.
The Better Alternative:
Be aware of what you place into your garbage disposal. Don’t place any items into it that aren’t meant to. Throw those items in the trash or the compost bin. When using your garbage disposal, use a 4:1 water to waste ratio to fill your sink basin. This way, the waste is separated and easily travels down the drain.
Myth #5: Water Pressure Regulators Are Reliable At All Times
Water pressure regulators provide you with vital information regarding water pressure. However, you shouldn’t trust their readings all that much.
The Better Alternative:
Conduct a visual check on your water pressure. This will save you a lot of money and hassle. You can do this by checking for leaks and floods as high water pressure is a primary cause of these problems. Another thing to check is an annoying sound from your toilet as it continuously relieves pressure.
Myth #6: Everything Works As They Should As Long as Stuff Is Going Down the Drain
The saying that goes, “out of sight, out of mind,” doesn’t apply to your plumbing. Although you don’t see them, some foods will balloon in the pipes, such as rice and pasta. This can result in clogs, preventing other waste from passing smoothly through the pipes. Therefore, you need the right water quantity to rinse it down. Otherwise, waste will accumulate in the pipes and make drainage ineffective.
The Better Alternative:
Use your showers, sinks, and toilets correctly to keep them from clogging. Ensure that basins are filled with water before draining. Use a hair screen on your shower drain to lessen the amount of human hairballs that go down the drain.
Myth #7: Water & Soap On Bathroom Fixtures Helps Keep Them Clean & Sparkly Like Your Hands
You might have noticed that you leave some soapy water on the sink after washing your hands. It shouldn’t be a big deal, right?
Unfortunately, it is. Soap and water cause corrosion on your faucets and fixtures. They might end up bubbling and peeling as a result.
The Better Alternative:
It might take you longer, but it is recommended that you wipe the fixtures after using them. This helps prevent corrosion. This will also protect the products’ lifetime warranties. After all, the warranty is void once soap has rotted the fixture’s finish.
Myth #8: Plumbing Fixtures Don’t Need To Be Used
Plumbing fixtures are cold as steel and hard as stone. However, this doesn’t mean you can ignore them as this can be detrimental to their performance. If you don’t use them as often, it will result in the evaporation of the p-trap, which means that dangerous sewer gas can stink up your home.
Moreover, not using an electric water heater creates highly explosive hydrogen gas. This is one situation you definitely don’t want to happen.
The Better Alternative:
Don’t let your plumbing fixtures and equipment sit unused for a long time. Using them now and then ensures that there are no health risks. It might take a couple of minutes to turn them on periodically. However, this could save you a ton of money and prevent dangerous situations.
Myth #9: Only People Who Don’t Know What They Are Doing Read Users Manuals
User manuals have helpful information in them. They aren’t just full of a list of components and fancy labeled photos. It might not be a very entertaining read, but it can ultimately save you time and money.
The Better Alternative:
Read the user manual twice. This way, you will learn everything you need to know about proper usage and warranties to extend your product’s lifespan.
Myth #10: All Plumbers Know Exactly What To Do & How To Do It
Some handymen will call themself a plumber but they are not licensed or even educated in their field. Each plumber has the chance to get certificates, continued plumbing education, and special cards for the installation of some products.
You’ll have to spend more time and money to call another plumber if your first one installs a fixture poorly or chooses the wrong one.
The Better Alternative:
Use third-party sites like Google, reviews, and state certification boards to make sure that the plumber you hire is well educated and well qualified to do the job.
Call Skylands Energy Service For All Of Your Plumbing Requirements
Don’t hesitate to call Skylands Energy Service when you need dependable plumbing services. We are one of the most trusted plumbing service providers in the Central New Jersey area. The plumbing services we offer include professional plumbing checks, installation of water-efficient plumbing fixtures, faucet replacements or repairs, water leak fixes, and much more. We offer a wide variety of solutions when possible for any plumbing repairs. This allows you to choose the best option for your household and budget.
We guarantee that we have the best and most competitive services in the Central New Jersey area. Our skilled plumbers have extensive experience and proper licenses to ensure customer satisfaction. All our work is guaranteed. Call Skylands Energy Service today for a free estimate.
Contact us now at (908) 707-1776 to find out more!