As a homeowner, you'll likely gain a wealth of knowledge about your household systems over time. From your HVAC system to your plumbing system, having some basic knowledge about their functioning and maintenance can make a world of difference in your ability to keep them in good working condition. Here, we'll address some of the most common plumbing myths and work to debunk them so you have better working knowledge of your system.
1. Flushable Wipes Are Safe
Flushable wipes are commonly marketed as safe for toilets. The reality is most flushable wipes don't break down enough and can clog your sewer line. It's typically best for homeowners to stick to using traditional toilet paper as it breaks down much quicker and is a lot safer for your sewer.
2. Lemons Clean Garbage Disposals
Taking care of your garbage disposal is a necessity to ensure a long healthy lifespan. One of the biggest myths about cleaning your garbage disposal is that lemon will do the job. Lemon doesn't actually clean your garbage disposal. All it does is freshen it to provide a nice lemon scent. Stick to using baking soda mixed with vinegar and drop in some ice cubes to sharpen your garbage disposal blades.
3. Toilet Tank Bricks Save Water
If you're concerned about your water usage, you may try the DIY fix of adding a brick to your toilet tank. The idea is that this reduces the amount of water filling up in the tank so that you use less of it. Adding a brick to your toilet tank can create numerous problems. The first is the displacement of water can actually cause your flushing to be weaker, requiring you to flush multiple times. If you want to reduce your water consumption at your toilets, consider upgrading to high-efficiency toilets or simply a modern-day toilet if the existing one is more than 40 years old. Newer toilets use much less water than those produced just a few decades ago.
4. Hot Water Melts Down Grease
When you're cooking on the stove, getting rid of grease can seem like a pain. Unfortunately, many homeowners simply pour it down their drains and just turn on the hot water thinking the hot water will help melt the grease until it reaches your city’s main sewer line. While hot water can certainly melt the grease initially, as it travels through your piping, it'll cool down and solidify. This will lead to a gel-like substance that will attract other particles in your wastewater, like hair and soap scum. This will lead to an eventual clog in your drain or sewer line. It's typically best to avoid putting any grease, oil, or fats directly down your drains. Instead, have a can or other heat-tolerant container ready to go where you can pour the grease into it to solidify and then simply throw it in the trash.
5. Drain Cleaners Are Safe
Because drain cleaners are sold at your local hardware store, many people falsely believe they're okay for your plumbing system. Drain cleaners can be extremely damaging to your plumbing system’s components. The chemicals in the cleaner can easily corrode piping and are actually harmful to the environment if they're seeping into the soil because of a leak in your sewer line. You should avoid using chemical drain cleaners and instead enlist the help of one of our plumbing professionals for rooter service.
6. Routine Plunging Is Okay
Most homeowners will experience a clog in one or more of their toilets from time to time. A lot of the time, the clog is a simple blockage that can be cleared with a plunger. However, if you're starting to experience more frequent clogging, routinely plunging to clear the clog isn’t the answer. You likely have an underlying clog that's causing the frequent issue. Resist the urge to plunge your toilet often as it can actually work the wax ring underneath the toilet loose and allow wastewater to seep out.
7. Water Heaters Are Set-It-And-Forget-It
Your water heater does need routine maintenance to stay in good working condition. Every year, it’s a good practice to have one of our plumbers come out and flush your water heater and properly service it. This will work to remove any sediment buildup that would otherwise prematurely deteriorate your water heater tank and will catch any problems while they're small and easy to fix.
8. Mixing Piping Materials Is Fine
Over the years, many different materials have been used for household plumbing. Some of the most common include PVC, copper, galvanized steel, and cast iron. Whether you're adding a new plumbing fixture to your home or simply repairing a leaky pipe, it's important to remember you don't want to mix different piping materials. Some materials simply don't interact well with each other and enhance corrosion. For example, when you mix copper with galvanized steel, there's an electrical current created between the two metals that causes premature corrosion on the inside of the piping. It's typically best to rely on one of our plumbers to do any repair work or additions to your plumbing system as they'll be able to use appropriate dielectric unions and transitions to ensure no negative effects when mixing certain piping materials.
9. High Water Pressure Is Okay
We've all undoubtedly dealt with low water pressure at one time or another. It can be extremely frustrating and can make you think having high pressure in your water piping is ideal. While it might not seem like a problem at first, high water pressure can damage your plumbing system’s components. High pressure is considered water above 80 PSI, and it's well-known to overly stress your pipes and appliances. This can lead to frequent leaks and bursts. It's generally recommended to get a pressure-reducing valve to help better regulate the water pressure flowing through your home to protect the longevity of your piping, plumbing fixtures, and water-using appliances.
10. Bigger Water Heaters Are Better
Having hot water on demand is essential for everyday comfort — but that doesn’t mean bigger is always better when it comes to your home’s water heater. The right-size unit is one that meets your household’s hot water needs efficiently, without wasting energy or money. Oversizing your water heater may seem like a safe bet, but it often leads to higher energy bills and unnecessary upfront costs.
Reliable Plumbing Maintenance Service
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® provides reliable plumbing maintenance service to the Ocean County, NJ area. We can also help with all your plumbing repair, new installation, and replacement needs. Call our friendly office today to schedule your next service consultation with one of our expert plumbers.
