In every industry, you will find that there are often many misconceptions about issues and quick fixes, or just in general. The world of plumbing is certainly not excluded from that. Check out some of these common plumbing myths, and what the truth actually is.
MYTH #1
ICE CUBES SHARPEN GARBAGE DISPOSALS
When we want to sharpen a knife, our first instinct is not to reach for an ice cube, however, for some reason, a myth has become well known that putting ice cubes down a garbage disposal will sharpen the blades.
THE TRUTH
While many people think that garbage disposals are made up of a series of spinning blades, that isn’t exactly how they work. Disposals are actually made of features that more closely resemble a set of teeth that grind solid substances down instead of slicing them up. Ice doesn’t sharpen these teeth, and instead will actually dull them faster.
MYTH #2
BRICKS IN TOILET SAVE MONEY
It is common knowledge that when objects are placed in water, the water level rises. When this logic is applied to toilet tanks, it might make sense that placing an object, such as a brick, within your tank could save you money. The brick would make the water level rise faster, and the amount of water used would decrease.
THE TRUTH
While this does make sense logically, the practice of placing any item in your toilet tank is not a good idea. This can cause an obstruction, leading to your toilet not flushing properly, and resulting in damage to your toilet or tank. This will end up costing you more money, as now you will need to replace or repair your unit.
MYTH #3
HOT WATER MELTS GREASE, PREVENTS CLOGS
Similarly to the brick in the toilet tank, the logic behind this myth is fairly understandable. It’s true, hot water melts things. It liquifies grease, and aids in rinsing things down the sink. It would make sense that this would help prevent clogs.
THE TRUTH
In reality, though hot water does help liquify the grease, it doesn’t keep it melted for very long. The grease cools down eventually and solidifies safely away from a drain snake. This can cause back ups and clogs. The best way to dispose of grease is with cold water, so solid pieces can float away down the drain, instead of settling in the pipeline.
There are plenty more plumbing myths and truths that need to be exposed, but these seem to be the most common ones that we hear in the business. If you need help keeping up with your plumbing, or you’ve run into any snags, contact our experts today!