We’ve all heard tips and tricks to help solve plumbing woes, but which tips are helpful, and which are actually harmful? If you are having a plumbing problem the last thing you want to do is make it worse. Let’s look at some common plumbing myths that could wind up costing you in the long run.
Disposal Myths
You’ve probably, at one point or another, heard to clean your garbage disposal using lemons. Or maybe you’ve heard of using ice or eggshells to sharpen or clean your disposal. But which of these things are true, and which are myths?
Lemons won’t clean your garbage disposal, but they won’t hurt it either. Lemons can help improve the smell for a few minutes, but they do little other than that. On the other hand egg shells can help clean the disposal, so go ahead and keep discarding of them that way. Ice doesn’t do anything to help sharpen or clean your disposal, so no need to continue putting ice down the drain.
Fixture Myths
On occasion you may be tempted to use any old cleaner on your plumbing fixtures, but regular soaps such as hand soap can be damaging to your fixtures over time. To prevent damage to fixtures be sure to use cleaners designed for plumbing needs.
Many people also use toilet bowl tablets that contain bleach in the belief that it will keep their toilet clean. While that may be true, it can also destroy the toilet in under a year, costing you money. Look for tablets that don’t contain bleach for a safer clean.
Clog Myths
If you aren’t experiencing a clog, you may be lead to believe that you don’t have one, and everything is running in tip top shape. This isn’t always the case. Clogs take time to develop, and as one is developing in your plumbing it may be causing damage. But what are some common causes of clogs that most people are lead to believe aren’t a problem?
Flushable wipes are a major cause of clogs in homes. Because they are labeled “flushable” many homeowners believe these wipes will degrade just like toilet paper, however they do not. Oftentimes they will flush down the toilet, get caught in pipes, and overtime create a huge mess.
Many homeowners also believe that running hot water down the garbage disposal when using it will help remove the waste and will prevent a clog. While running water helps, it isn’t an end-all to preventing clogs. If you are using your disposal, you could be developing a clog slowly over time. If your disposal is removing waste slowly, or waste remains in the pipes directly under the disposal you likely are developing a clog and are in need of plumber.
Call for Help
Whether you have a clogged pipe, broken fixture, broken disposal, or just want to get any of these checked, call the professional Eldersburg, MD plumbing service at Michael Runk Plumbing and Heating. Our Eldersburg, MD plumbing experts know just how to fix your plumbing issues and will do so efficiently. Get in contact with us today, and get those pipes back up and running!