Plumbing Service Near Me: 4 Common Plumbing Myths
Did you know Americans are spending over $5,000 each month on expenses? If you’re a homeowner, you want to do everything you can to keep your plumbing in good shape to save money. Otherwise, you may find yourself going online to search for a plumbing service near me.
Know what misguided plumbing suggestions to avoid. Read on to learn about 4 common plumbing myths!
1. You Can Fix Problems with Chemical Cleaners
When you go to the hardware store, you may think you should buy drain cleaning chemicals or in-tank toilet bowl cleaners. When you have a drain that’s draining slowly, for instance, a quick fix should make your life easier. But you may be doing more harm than good when you pour a chemical down the drain.
That’s because drain cleaners can be too harsh on your pipes. These caustic solutions will actually eat away at the material that makes up your plastic pipes. And if you have metal pipes, you’ll still want to be careful.
Using drain cleaners repeatedly will make the problem worse. Go with a trusted plumbing company instead when you hit a drainage issue that won’t go away.
And don’t believe the myth that a combination of baking soda and vinegar will work, either. You’ll see some foam and think the combination looks promising. But you’ll be adding a smelly concoction that doesn’t work to an existing clog in your drain.
Continuing to use chemical cleaners will only increase the chances that your pipes will give out. And that’s a much costlier problem!
Likewise, in-tank toilet bowel cleaners can eat away at parts. Corrosion will weaken pipes as well as rubber and plastic parts. When washers or gaskets wear out, you’ll be stuck with leaks and potentially higher water bills.
2. Use Hot Water to Melt Grease
Did you make the mistake of dumping bacon grease down your drain? Generally speaking, it’s a bad idea to pour grease into your pipes because eventually, it will congeal. This leads to clogs and you might end up with burst pipes and expensive repairs.
You may have heard that it’s possible to remedy this mistake by using hot water. Simply pour hot water down the drain and you should be able to melt the grease before it congeals. This solution, however, does not work.
That’s because the hot water will only stay hot for so long. Once the water cools, you’ll still be dealing with the problem of congealed fat. And that fat will continue to coat your pipes.
On top of that problem, if you use water that is too hot, you could damage PVC pipes. They may warp due to the heat. And you’ll be violating plumbing codes if you pour water that exceeds 150 degrees.
Your best solution is to call a plumbing contractor if you notice the water backs up. This is especially true if you’ve habitually poured grease down the drain.
Pouring grease down the drain once probably won’t cause major problems. But multiple instances of doing that will add up!
3. Ignore Minor Plumbing Problems
No plumbing guide is complete without mentioning the importance of addressing plumbing issues quickly. If you don’t, you risk letting those minor issues snowball into bigger ones.
You may notice that you have a dripping faucet in your kitchen, for instance. Or maybe the toilet is starting to run or struggling to refill. Don’t assume that you can let these problems fester and save money.
Minor plumbing problems, such as a dripping faucet, will result in higher water bills. In fact, you could be losing gallons of water each day if the leak is continual.
Similarly, a running toilet can lead to gallons of wasted water each month. You may have a leaking pipe or damaged part that could be a quick fix.
If you’re dealing with a clog or slow drain, it will morph into a total blockage at some point down the road. It’s much easier to fix a minor clog of food or hair in a pipe. Further, a full blockage means you can’t even use a sink — and it might smell bad until it’s fixed!
4. DIY Plumbing Can Save Money
You may think it makes sense to tackle plumbing issues yourself. After all, with so many tutorials online, it can seem easy enough to follow the instructions on a video. Unfortunately, this can be a costly misconception that can blow your budget.
There’s a reason plumbers have to go through extensive training and apprenticeships. Plumbing is an intricate process that requires technical knowledge and problem-solving.
Plumbers will know what fixes can bring your system up to current codes. And the last thing you want is to make an improper fix that triggers poor venting and backflow. You could be slapped with fines, create health issues, or find it hard to sell your home down the road.
In addition, plumbers know which pipes to use to avoid leaks and corrosion. Plumbers have the tools for the job, too, so you can save money by not buying anything new for your workbench. Plus plumbers have the expertise and breadth of experience to find their way to a solution.
Find a Plumbing Service Near Me
Are you wondering, “Should I contact a plumbing service near me?” It’s always smarter to hire a plumbing company to diagnose and fix plumbing problems. Steer clear of using caustic cleaners and take care of minor problems before they snowball into bigger ones.
For more plumbing tips, check back soon for new and informative articles!
