‘Conventional wisdom’ is passed down through generations. It can be about anything, but usually, it’s just wrong or oversimplified.
In plumbing, we find the same; there are lots of myths. Such as, “Water pressure regulators always work” or “All plumbers know exactly what to do and the best way to fix things”. Keep reading this article to learn how to avoid the top 10 home plumbing myths that will make a dent in your wallet.
Top 10 Home Plumbing Myths That Are Costing You Money
Contents
- 1 Top 10 Home Plumbing Myths That Are Costing You Money
- 1.1 Fallacy #1: Every Plumber Knows Exactly What to Do and How to Do It
- 1.2 Fallacy #2: Buy A Bad Product? Just Use the Lifetime Warranty
- 1.3 Fallacy #3: If You Want Your Toilet To Smell Good, Use “In-Tank” Cleaners
- 1.4 Fallacy #4: Run Water While Using The Garbage Disposal to Help Waste Travel Easily
- 1.5 Fallacy #5: If Stuff Is Still Going Down the Drain, There Are No Problems
- 1.6 Fallacy #6: Water Pressure Regulators Always Work Perfectly
- 1.7 Fallacy #7: Soap Makes Your Bathroom Fixtures Just as Clean as Your Hands
- 1.8 Fallacy #8: You Don’t Need to Bother Looking At a User Manual
- 1.9 Fallacy #9: Plumbing Fixtures Don’t Have Much Upkeep
- 1.10 Fallacy #10: Lemons in Your Garbage Disposal Will Make It Smell Nice and Fresh
- 2 Call Robinson Plumbing For All Of Your Plumbing Requirements
Below, we share some common plumbing misconceptions that lead to high water bills, costly plumbing problems, and more!
Fallacy #1: Every Plumber Knows Exactly What to Do and How to Do It
- Even if someone calls themselves a plumber, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are licensed and educated in their field.
- All plumbers have opportunities to continue their plumbing education, get certificates, and even get special cards to install certain products.
- If a plumber chooses the incorrect fixture or installs something wrongly, you’ll end up spending more by having to call another plumber.
Our Spin:
If you aren’t sure if the plumber you’re hiring is qualified and educated in the field, use state certification boards, reviews, and third party sites such as Google to double-check.
Fallacy #2: Buy A Bad Product? Just Use the Lifetime Warranty
- If you buy something cheap and it breaks, don’t think you can have it replaced with the newest product on the market.
- You’re stuck with the product you buy. Besides that, you’ll end up spending more time and more money to reinstall it.
Our Spin:
Invest in good quality products when you first buy them. This way you can avoid replacing bad quality products with more junk.
Fallacy #3: If You Want Your Toilet To Smell Good, Use “In-Tank” Cleaners
- “In-tank” cleaners are marketed to make cleaning your toilet easier and reduce time spent scrubbing. But this is a cost you can cut out.
- These cleaners bleach smelly build-up but don’t get rid of it. The build-up may ruin your toilet eventually.
Our Spin:
In place of these products, use vinegar in the overflow tube. It removes any smelly build-up at a much smaller price.
Fallacy #4: Run Water While Using The Garbage Disposal to Help Waste Travel Easily
Of course, letting the faucet run while using the garbage disposal seems smart. You think it will help wash waste down the drain smoothly. But surely at some point, you’ve had to reach down the drain to unblock what got stuck in the pipes. Running water after putting waste down the disposal won’t help if the blockage already occurred.
Our Spin:
To help waste flow easily down the drain, fill your sink with a 4:1 ratio of water to waste to help separate it.
Fallacy #5: If Stuff Is Still Going Down the Drain, There Are No Problems
- In the plumbing world, you always need to be cautious of what is going on out of plain sight.
- Foods, such as pasta and rice, can cause clogs that block the passage for other waste to easily pass through the pipes, even when you can’t see it.
- Waste will build up in the pipes and drain inefficiently if there is not a proper amount of water to help rinse it down.
Our Spin:
To prevent blockage and clogging problems be sure you use toilets, sinks, and showers properly. Fill basins with water prior to draining. In a shower, put a hair screen in the drain to avoid hair from clogging it up.
Fallacy #6: Water Pressure Regulators Always Work Perfectly
While water pressure regulators do give important information about water pressure, don’t trust everything that the readings say.
Our Spin:
- Check your water pressure yourself. This can end up saving you a lot of hassle and money.
- High water pressure causes floods, leaks, and the bothersome sound your toilet makes while it runs to relieve pressure.
Fallacy #7: Soap Makes Your Bathroom Fixtures Just as Clean as Your Hands
You may think it’s not a big deal if you wash your hands and leave some sudsy water on the faucet when you turn it off. But it actually is! If you notice your faucets and fixtures peeling or bubbling, it’s because water and soap cause them to corrode.
Our Spin:
It may take an extra second, but wipe off the fixtures after use. This will help stop corroding on your fixtures. Also, lifetime warranties are void when soap corrodes the finish, so protect that warranty!
Fallacy #8: You Don’t Need to Bother Looking At a User Manual
- User manuals are more than labeled pictures and a list of parts. They have useful and important information as well.
- They can save you money and time in the future when you get past the boring text.
Our Spin:
It’s always smart to read the manual. Even read it twice. Reading the user manual will ultimately increase the lifespan of the product because they contain information on warranties and proper usage.
Fallacy #9: Plumbing Fixtures Don’t Have Much Upkeep
- Ignoring a plumbing fixture because you think it’s not necessary is detrimental to its performance.
- Dangerous sewer gas can smell up the house if you don’t use a p-trap.
- An unused electric water heater can generate very explosive hydrogen gas.
Our Spin:
- It’s best to not let your plumbing appliances and equipment sit without use for a long time. Using them periodically ensures health risks aren’t created.
- Taking time to turn them on every so often could save you a lot of money and prevent your home from exploding.
Fallacy #10: Lemons in Your Garbage Disposal Will Make It Smell Nice and Fresh
We all know the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. Stick to that idea and don’t put them down your garbage disposal! It may briefly create a fresh aroma, but eventually, the citric acid from lemons will corrode the metal inside the waste disposal.
Our Spin:
Instead, try cleaning your garbage disposal by using ice to polish your disposal inside. It works like a rock tumbler polishing rocks. You can also power wash the odor-causing scum from the drain so it doesn’t ruin your garbage disposal.
Call Robinson Plumbing For All Of Your Plumbing Requirements
Contact Robinson Plumbing, one of the most trusted plumbing companies in the Lehigh Valley, for reliable plumbing services. We have lots of plumbing services ranging from professional plumbing inspections, faucet repairs and replacements, water leak repairs, clogged drain repairs, and installation of water-efficient plumbing fixtures. We always give a wide range of solutions when possible for any plumbing repairs. This allows you to choose the best options for your budget and home.
We proudly offer the most affordable and best plumbing services in the Lehigh Valley area. Our plumbers all have the proper licenses and expertise to ensure your satisfaction. All of our work is backed with a guarantee. Contact Robinson Plumbing today and schedule your free estimate.
Call us today at (610) 351-9889 or click here to contact us for any questions that you might have!