Dangerous Plumbing Myths Debunked - Part 1

As a new homeowner, you may suddenly feel overwhelmed by how many chores and maintenance items you need to track. Often, busy homeowners look to the internet or ask a friend for the best tips on home maintenance. Unfortunately, while the internet is an excellent resource, there is also much misinformation. Some do-it-yourself plumbing and how-tos articles and videos can get you caught up in a minor plumbing disaster or may cause severe strain on your home. Let's debunk these common plumbing myths about what can and cannot go down your drains:

Chemical cleaners do not harm pipes

Harsh chemical toilet cleaners rid your toilet or shower drain of clogs, but at what cost? If you have had your home for only a few years, you may not notice the effects of chemical cleaners. But, over time, they sit and corrode your pipes, causing expensive repairs in the future. Invest in a snake drain, an old-fashioned plunger, and don't be afraid to call in a professional plumber if the clog gets out of hand. 

Flushing "flushable" babies wipes

We're still scratching our heads as to why specific wipes are deemed "flushable." Technically, if you can get something into a toilet and it flushes, does that make it flushable? Well, in the case of baby wipes or any wet wipes, do not flush them down your toilet. These wipes take eons longer to break down than regular toilet paper and wreak havoc on plumbing. You may not experience a clog firsthand, initially, but the city sewers will. 

Ice helps sharpen garbage disposal blades

So, the first thing we need to debunk is the notion of "blades." Garbage disposals do not have sharp, knife-like blades that will slice your finger off with one whirl. When you think about it, that's just a safety nightmare. Instead, garbage disposals have impellers, or two tooth-like components, that grind solid matter into liquids. Ice does not necessarily harm the impellers, but it isn't helping either. 

Place anything into the garbage disposal if the water is on

First off, we hope that this myth does not suggest that you put bones, eggshells, grease, and coffee grounds down the disposal because there is water running. Garbage disposals take food waste and make it smaller to flow along the pipes more easily. But, garbage disposals are not trash compacters or blenders. 

Here's a great rule of thumb: if your teeth cannot take it, neither should your garbage disposal. As for the water part, running water does not magically change what you can or cannot put down the drain. It's as simple as that.

Hot water down the sink prevents clogs

Continuing on water and sink etiquette, you should only use cold water when flushing things down your disposal. If you need hot water to "prevent" a clog, you will soon search for a local plumber. Whatever you melted down your sink with the hot tap will solidify and buildup further down your plumbing lines. As a result, those clogs are much harder to access and more costly long term. 

Next month we'll debunk more dangerous plumbing myths that involve your plumbing system as a whole. Stay tuned!

Frontier Plumbing of Las Vegas is a full-service commercial and residential plumbing company offering a full spectrum of plumbing services. We are determined to exceed your expectations! Call 702-602-6705 today!