Busting Top Plumbing Myths

Smaller plumbing work is something that many homeowners feel that they can handle on their own, but the reality is that many homeowners don’t fully understand or appreciate the complexity that is a home plumbing system. Even seemingly simple at-home plumbing repairs can prove disastrous, leading to thousands of dollars in repairs that could have otherwise been avoided.

We’ve heard plenty of plumbing myths throughout our years as plumbing experts, so we’ve decided to create this short guide to help homeowners use their plumbing correctly. Let’s bust the top plumbing myths and find out why these myths can be harmful to your plumbing.

Myth: Materials that Claim to be Flushable Are Always Safe to Flush

Many household products today are labelled as flushable. When a product is labelled as flushable, that means it’s always safe to flush them, right? The truth is that some materials can severely damage your plumbing system, even if they are labelled as a flushable item. While they may initially go down the pipes, many of these so-called flushable materials simply don’t break down efficiently.

When these materials begin to build up, they can cause a serious subsurface blockage that needs extensive time and effort to repair. If the issue is severe enough, it can completely block the flow of water and can cause water to come back up through your plumbing system and cause water damage to your home. If you don’t have to flush something down the toilet, toss it in the rubbish instead.

Myth: Using Lemon Peels in My Disposal Helps the Sink

You may have heard that using lemon or citrus peels in your disposal is good for your sink. While it can certainly help with any bad odours in the food disposal, using these peels in the disposal can actually do more harm than good. Consistently using citrus to help with sink odours can eat away at the disposal and pipes in your sink. The acid in the citrus may cause damage to your sink over time.

Some disposals are not as effective at breaking down food as newer disposals. Citrus peels are often tough and durable, and some older disposals may not be able to break them down effectively. The next time you have citrus peels, add them to your compost pile instead of putting them in your disposal.

Myth: Chemicals Are Best for Clogs

Potentially one of the biggest plumbing myths out there, using chemicals to get rid of clogs is also one of the leading causes of plumbing issues. Clog-removal chemicals are extremely harsh. If these chemicals are eating away hair and other debris in your pipes, how do you think they are impacting the pipes themselves? Chemicals eat away at the coating of your pipes and can eventually create holes in your pipes.

If you do need to clear out a clog, there are plenty of ways to do so without using harsh chemicals. Purchase a snake tool to trap large debris and pull it up through your drain. You can also boil a large pot of water, add baking soda, and pour the mixture down the drain. The boiling water helps break up the clog and the baking soda helps mask the odour.

Myth: I Only Need to Call a Plumber for Serious Issues

If you’re only calling a plumber when you experience serious issues, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Many major plumbing issues can be completely avoided with regular plumbing checkups and proper maintenance.

We’ve seen countless plumbing issues and have heard many plumbing myths. The team at Murphys Plumbing is here to help you properly maintain your plumbing and prevent serious issues from happening in the future. Give us a call today to schedule your next inspection or plumbing service.