The plumbing myths that a lot of homeowners believe in are numerous and have often been passed down from generation to generation. Everyone knows them, but no one knows who ever told the “true story” regarding your home’s plumbing. Let’s sort out some common misconceptions about what’s going on with your plumbing that are at best useless and at worst could result in costing you a lot of money.

Some of the biggest plumbing myths to avoid:

1. There is no need to worry about a leaky faucet: you would think that small dripping is not a big deal but actually it is a very big deal if your faucet is constantly dripping. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a constant water leak can lead to 10,000 wasted gallons of water per year in just one home, which equals 270 loads of laundry. A leak can also damage the faucet and stain the plumbing fixtures unless taken care of ASAP. The dripping faucet can often be fixed simply by changing a washer in the faucet. If the new washer doesn’t fix the leak, your next step would be calling a professional plumber who can deal with the issue.
2. Clean your taps and plumbing fixtures with soap: some homeowners use soap available in the bathroom to clean their taps and plumbing fixtures. Even though the taps and sinks turn out clean and shiny, soap in some cases can damage surfaces of the materials. Use an effective disinfectant that kills germs and prevents infection to clean toilet bowls and sinks. For taps and brass plumbing fixtures a soft solution of lemon and baking soda will be enough to polish them.
3. Garbage disposal blades can be sharpened by means of ice cubes: you should know that your garbage disposal blades have a term of service for about 10 years. If your unit is over 10 years old and you decide to sharpen its blades with ice cubes, it won’t help. Quite the opposite – ice cubes might clean the blades but they won’t sharpen them, actually they can harm the blades due to their abrasive structure. If you are not sure whether you need to replace the whole unit or not, give our plumbers from Brea/Orange County Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning a call and we will advise you on the matter.
4. Everything and anything can go down the toilet drain: this is a very wide-spread myth. For some reason people think that they can flush whatever they want down the toilet. But this is not true. Never flush anything except toilet paper and human waste down your toilet drain to avoid clogs and water overflowing from the toilet.
5. So-called flushable wet wipes can go down the toilet: People often confuse wet wipes with the toilet paper. A toilet blockage frequently occurs because wet wipes have been consistently flushed down the toilet as a means of disposal. However, wet wipes are not bio-degradable like toilet paper. They do not dissolve in water and eventually pile up, clogging the drainage system. If you want to avoid a major headache of a clogged toilet, never flush wet wipes down the toilet drain. You will regret it.
6. The drain seems to be working fine – everything is being flushedThis is something that many people believe. But often you do not see how things such as rice and pasta bloat inside, causing clogs and blocking the pipe as a result, and you may not even suspect it. And at the worst possible moment water will back up. Always use a drain filter to ensure that hair and non-perishable objects do not go down the drain as well as a trap to catch any solids. An anti-blockage filter can also help prevent any prospective pipe blockages. It is a good idea to have your pipes inspected once a year even if there are no evident signs of failure. Preventative maintenance is available and affordable with Brea/Orange County Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning.
7.  The hot water cylinder is making banging noises – it is going to explode!
   The disturbing banging sound of the water heater is usually enough for the homeowners to call for a plumber. The cause for such a noise might be the sediment buildup inside your water heater. This sediment consists of minerals from hard water that sink to the bottom of the tank. When water is being heated, these particles are lifted up and the result is the popping sound you hear.

Whatever myth you believe in, it is time to get rid of such thinking, debunk the myth and start acting. No matter what plumbing issue you are facing today – do not hesitate to contact Brea/Orange County Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning in case of a plumbing emergency. Our technicians will come to the rescue in no time!