Misconceptions About Home Plumbing: Four Things You Should Know

31 July 2017
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As a homeowner, you've probably heard all kinds of things about how to take care of your home's plumbing system. There are many misconceptions out there that can ultimately lead to costly damage and plumbing repair. If you want to avoid making mistakes that could actually destroy your plumbing, there are a few things that you should know.

Lemons Won't Clean Your Disposal

Lemons and other citrus fruits are often used as a deodorizing tool for drains and garbage disposals. Unfortunately, this led to many people believing that those things actually clean the disposal. This isn't the case at all. In order to actually clean and disinfect your disposal, you'll need to use a disinfecting cleaner or a mild detergent. Disconnect the power to the disposal so it can't accidentally turn on, then use a long-handled brush to clean the blades. Rinse the whole thing thoroughly afterward.

Running Water Doesn't Mean You Can Put Just Anything Down The Disposal

While running water down the disposal when you use it will help to clear things away, it doesn't cure everything. There are still items that should never go down the disposal. Coffee grounds, eggshells, stringy foods, and large food pieces are all hazardous to the disposal. They can bind the blades and cause complete disposal failure.

Just Because The Water Is Draining Doesn't Mean There's No Clog

You may assume that as long as everything is draining, there are no problems with your plumbing. It's easy to overlook the subtle signs of trouble, like slowing drains, bubbling coming from the drains, and minor backflow elsewhere in the plumbing. If you're seeing anything like this, even if it's minimal, you'll want to have it addressed right away.

Hand Soap Is Not A Good Cleaning Product

You might think that hand soap will suffice to clean your plumbing fixtures. After all, it cleans your hands, right? The truth is that hand soap can actually cause damage to some fixtures. If you have brass fixtures, you'll want to opt for something more gentle, like a baking soda and lemon juice solution. Your toilets, on the other hand, should be cleaned with a disinfectant so that there's no risk of infections.

As you can see, there are many things you may not have realized about your home's plumbing system. With the information here, you'll be better prepared to handle your home's plumbing care and maintenance. Talk with a local plumber today for more information about how to maintain your fixtures and pipes.