Debunking Common Plumbing Myths

Some plumbing myths out there sound more believable than others and need to be debunked. Here are some of the top myths we hear from customers and online:

Myth: A leaky faucet isn’t a big deal

Fact: Leaking faucets can waste thousands of gallons of water and significantly increase your bill!

If the constant drip isn’t loud enough to make you pull your hair out yet it’s easy to put off fixing your leaky faucet. While it might not be a big problem now it could be a big problem when your water bill comes back. Leaking faucets can wastes thousands of gallons of water and increase your bill significantly from month to month. Household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons annually across the nation! This is not only bad for your wallet but also bad for the environment.

Myth: Lemons can clean your disposal

Tossing lemon peels down your garbage disposal might help your kitchen smell fresh and clean but it most definitely is not. Lemon peels in your garbage disposal not only don’t clean it, but they could also cause clogs and do damage to your drain. We recommend throwing lemon juice (no peels!) along with ice down your garbage disposal to help freshen it up.

Additionally, it’s always best to check the manufacturers manual for proper cleaning techniques.

Myth: Running water while using the garbage disposal helps any waste go down the drain

Fact: No amount of water will help large, hard materials get safely ground up in your garbage disposal.

Running water can help soft materials go through the garbage disposal and down your drain safely. In fact, some garbage disposal manufacturers recommend running the water for a few seconds before and after grinding soft materials. However, for large and hard materials, water does not help one bit. The safest way to dispose of these hard materials is to throw them in your waste bin.

How To Keep Your Plumbing Safe & Running Smoothly

As a rule of thumb, being gentle to your pipes and dropping the right items into them can prolong their lives and save you time, money and a headache. Unfortunately, pipes in your home can occasionally have issues (like when your child puts a toy down the garbage disposal … yeah, we’ve been there).

If you do have pipes that are causing you problems, schedule an appointment with the expert plumbers at Superior Drain.