The plumbing system in your home is like a circulatory system; it moves clean water in and dirty water out. You need it for everyday tasks such as bathing, cooking, and cleaning- making your plumbing system a very intimate part of your everyday life. So it’s inevitable that a few persistent myths should crop up around this common household necessity.
Here, we will discuss some commonplace plumbing myths that really need to be dispelled.
Top 5 Plumbing Myths
By now, we should all be aware of the impact we have on our plumbing systems. The unusual items down disposal or the child who stuck the remote in the commode, all of these items can wreak some serious havoc on our plumbing systems. However, there are some myths out there that should be dispelled as quickly as they were fabricated.
See below for the top 5 plumbing myths we’ve heard through the years:
- Water Heaters Don’t Explode: Your water heater is a tank of pressurized water with either an electrical or gas component- both of which can be rather volatile if not treated and maintained properly. If your water heater is not adequately cared for or sustains damage, it can explode causing expensive damage or even severe injury to anyone in the area. You should have your water heater inspected regularly to ensure no such fault is present. If you discover a fault in your water heater yourself, find the water valve that feeds it and turn it off. Also turn off the gas or electricity, and call a professional plumbing or home repair service immediately.
- Plungers Can Fix Any Clog: A plunger can help to dislodge minor clogs, but they are far from the only tool you may need to clear a blocked pipe. If the clog is not a major one and is close to the drain- no more than three or four feet down- your plunger should be able to dislodge it. However, if it is deeper than that, your plunger is unlikely to do the job completely. Moderate to major clogs call for more serious tools. Frequently, professional assistance will be necessary.
- Creatures Never Crawl Up Pipes: You’ve probably heard a story or two about snakes, spiders, rats or scorpions suddenly appearing in a toilet or bathtub. While these incidences may not be terribly common, they can and do happen. Being a dark, damp, and sometimes warm place for critters to hide, pipes are naturally attractive to many unwanted pests. Rats and frogs are probably the most common animals found in pipes. However, snakes can be the most dangerous- especially in regions where poisonous water snakes are prevalent. In 2015, Slate magazine reported an Australian man bitten by a snake while sitting on the toilet. So such incidences are rare- but they can happen.
- If Water Goes Down, There’ No Clog: Not all clogs will block a pipe completely. If your tub or sink does not drain as rapidly as it used to, if there is a bad smell coming up the pipe, or if the outgoing drains are backed up- you have an issue that should be addressed by a professional plumber. Partial clogs are likely to become complete clogs very quickly. Also, any material which clogs a pipe partially is probably a very hard or stubborn substance which will catch additional material easily. This means slow draining water is much more serious than even minor clogs that stop water flow completely since they can usually be cleared with your plunger.
- Leaking Faucets are not a Problem: While leaky faucets may be common, that does not mean they should not be repaired as soon as possible. Even a mildly leaky faucet can cost you as much as $20 in a week’s time. This can add up quickly, especially if you have more than one leaky faucet. You may not want to go through the expense of calling the plumber for a leaky faucet, but if you put it off you’ll just be wasting even more money- while in the meantime the problem gets even worse.
If you have fallen victim to any of these myths, call St. Matthews Plumbing to save the day.