Plumbing: Fact or Fiction?

There are a lot of plumbing misconceptions out there, and trust us when we say we’ve heard it all! We wanted to share with you a short list of some interesting facts and odd myths that we tend to hear day in and day out.

1. Liquid drain cleaner can unclog your sink.

FICTION: A clogged sink is typically caused by the buildup of material such as hair, skin, and makeup. Any kind of liquid drain cleaner will not permanently fix your clogged sink as it can’t dissolve any solids. In addition, overuse of liquid drain cleaner can lead to the deterioration of your pipes due to some of the active ingredients in the liquid itself.

2. Roughly 157 gallons of water are wasted each year due to a slow leak of 3 drops a minute.

FACT: Every extra drip not only costs you a lot of money, but it also wastes a ton of water! According to the EPA, household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons annually nationwide. Drips start to add up and also take a toll on your plumbing fixtures such as your faucet. We advise all of our customers to get a leak checked out and fixed as soon as possible! A great resource to use is our Drip Calculator.

3. Flushable wipes are OK to flush down the toilet.

FICTION: The last thing you want to flush down your toilet constantly are “flushable wipes.” Often times the wipes are the cause of clogged toilets and drains! We always tell our customers the only two things that should be flushed down the toilet are 1) human waste and 2) toilet paper!

4. A small critter can scamper up a pipe and into your toilet bowl.

FACT: A typical home has many pipes that run from your sewer system to the roof of your home where the sewer gases are vented out. These pipes also connect to your home’s drain system which empties water into your toilet, and other household appliances such as a dishwasher. While it’s not very common, it’s definitely possible for a snake or rat to make their way down through the sewer line and into the toilet bowl.

5. Using toilet bowl tablets that have bleach in them will keep the toilet clean.

FICTION: The bleach in the tablet can potentially ruin certain parts of your toilet within six months. Using bleach to clean your toilet is not a problem as long as you don’t let it soak in your bowl for longer than 10 minutes — make sure you flush it through to prevent any future damage.

Regardless of what your issue may be in your home, our experienced technicians are standing by to fix your plumbing problems! Give us a call today or schedule a service online to take care of that leaky faucet or clogged toilet. We’re here for you 7 Days A Week.