Don’t Let These Misconceptions Ruin Your Home’s Plumbing

Feb 26, 2019

If you’re a new homeowner scouring the internet for tips on how to properly maintain your home’s plumbing, you’ve probably run into quite a few harmful plumbing myths. Unfortunately, following some of those false facts can damage your pipes, which can lead to expensive repairs. If you’re on a mission to differentiate fact from fiction, keep reading to learn the truth behind some of the most common home plumbing misconceptions.

“Toilet Tank Tablets Are Harmless”

The convenience of continuously cleaning your toilet by dropping a tablet in the tank is hard to pass up, however, the harm the tablet can cause your toilet will have you reevaluating your choice. Most toilet tank tablets are made up of harsh chemicals, and those chemicals can damage the flapper, the seals, and the washers in your toilet tank. The best way to keep your toilet clean is scrubbing it yourself at least once a week. While this method may not be as easy as using a tablet, it’ll ensure you aren’t damaging your toilet as you clean it.

“There’s No Clog if Water is Going Down the Drain”

Obviously, the easiest way to spot a clog is a lack of draining water, unfortunately, allowing a sink or shower drain to reach that point usually indicates the clog is severe. However, if you pay close attention to your home’s plumbing, you can catch early signs of an escalating clog. A foul odor emanating from one or more of the drains in your home is your first clue something is obstructing your pipes. The next more apparent indication is water draining slowly. If either of these situations are occurring in your home, your drain most likely has a clog that needs to be dealt with before it becomes a bigger problem.

“Drain Cleaner is Safe For Your Pipes”

Liquid drain cleaner is another convenient tool that actually has a detrimental effect on your home’s plumbing. Drain cleaner is made up of highly corrosive chemicals that can eat away at your pipes. This is especially true when it comes to large clogs. If the cleaner doesn’t dissolve the entire clog, the liquid ends up sitting in your pipes, meaning serious damage is being done without you even knowing it. While we often assume bits of food are behind a clog, that isn’t always the case, in fact, issues with the sewer line or a faulty pipe could be behind the problem, especially if you’re dealing with a reoccurring obstruction. Instead of using a drain cleaner to clear a clog, try a plunger or snake. If neither tool does the job, it’s best to enlist the help of a professional plumber; otherwise, you may end up damaging the plumbing in your home even more.

If a drain in your home has a nasty clog and nothing you do is resolving the problem, please contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you.