3 Big Plumbing Myths

In a lot of ways, myths are good for us. Every culture has its own mythology–a set of fascinating stories that explain how, why, and what. Although these tales are the basis for much of what we read in books and see on TV today, the myths circulating in our modern world aren’t quite the same as those stories. Today’s myths, like their predecessors, are about explaining everyday things–like health, electronics, car care, or plumbing. Today’s myths, though, are also mostly wrong–that’s why they’re called myths!

​The real difficulty is in identifying which pieces of knowledge are true and which are myths, because, unfortunately, these myths are rarely good for us, unlike their predecessors. After all, you don’t want to be working off of a myth when you’re doing something important–like caring for the plumbing.

​Plumbing Care

Taking care of plumbing is important. If anything were to go wrong, an entire building could be compromised–and that’s all because of how deeply we rely on plumbing of all kinds. Consider, for example, what would happen if a few of the pipes in your home were to freeze. Depending on the location and purpose of these pipes, almost everything in your home could be in danger–showers, sinks, toilets, washing machines, you name it. Plumbing is important, and it requires extra care to continue functioning properly. Luckily, there are a lot of things you can do to protect and care for the plumbing in your home. The best thing to do is call a full-service plumber; these dedicated professionals will act as allies to your plumbing, fixing problems and stopping issues before they even begin. The next step is to avoid those plumbing myths.

​Three Myths

Wait–how do you identify the plumbing myths you need to avoid? Here’s a quick look at some popular myths!

• Citrus fruit in the garbage disposal. This myth is a little bit tricky. It is, in some ways, true; a lemon, orange, or other citrus fruit can make your garbage disposal smell better. However, this comes at a price. Garbage disposals can’t generally grind up these fruits all the way–and the juice’s acidity can rust the pipes and corrode the entire unit. (It’s not worth it!) Instead, try vinegar and hot water to improve the smell.
• Tank tablets for the toilet. If it seems like tank tablets are too good to be true–just toss one in and you get a clean toilet for weeks–that’s because it is too good to be true. The bleach in these tablets can quickly corrode the tank, and your toilet will have to be replaced. Manual cleaning is, unfortunately, the best option.
• Leaky faucets. You may have heard that a leaky faucet is nothing to worry about. If your faucet is leaky, the first thing you need to do is watch it leak, listen to every drop–because that is literally money going down the drain. You pay for that water. A leaky faucet needs to be fixed right away in order to save money, minimize waste, and ensure that bigger problems don’t occur.

Interested in the truth on more plumbing myths? Looking for a Boise Plumber? Contact us today!

By Tim Smith

Published: January 19, 2016