There are many common plumbing myths in circulation, and most of them are not true. This can be innocent enough, but if you’re relying on that information to diagnose or fix your plumbing, it could be a real problem. Approaching a plumbing problem in the wrong way could quickly make it even worse, and water damage is expensive to repair. Let’s take a look at five common plumbing myths and find out if they are true.
- Displacing Water in The Toilet Bowl Will Save Money
There is plenty of information saying that places a brick or other large item in the toilet tank will save you money. The theory goes that the item will displace water so that you flush less and then save money on your water bill. In practice this doesn’t work out too well, you could easily break essential parts in your toilet, and you may even have to flush twice anyway. Also, bricks and stones tend to crumble and break apart over time, and this rubble will be hard to clean out of your toilet tank. If you want to use less water when you flush, consult your
local plumber and install a more water efficient toilet.
- Flushing a Flushable Wipe is Fine
One of the main selling points of a cleaning wipe that is flushable is that it’s easy to dispose of by flushing it away. Technically these products can be flushed, but a plumber would not recommend it, and they can really clog up your plumbing. Flushable wipes seem to be an attractive environmentally product because they advertised as a biodegradable option. In truth, they are a waste of money, and they could back up your entire plumbing system.
- Keeping Bleach in the Toilet Will Keep it Fresh
Some people put toilet tablets containing high concentrations of bleach in their toilets to keep them clean and fresh. Bleach is an effective toilet bowl cleaner, but it should not be left to sit in your toilet for any longer than eight minutes. Heavy bleach concentrations in your toilet can actually destroy the inner parts within six months. When you clean with bleach, simply squirt it in the bowl, swish it around with a toilet brush and then flush the system to rinse.
- A Loud Rumbling Noise from Your Water Heater Means it Could Explode
This isn’t very likely. This is often a sign that some sediment from hard water has been moved around inside the heater. The water heater has a burner located near the bottom; the loud noises will be air that’s popping because it cannot escape. A buildup of sediment will be blocking the air bubbles, and this will need to be cleared. A local plumber will be able to drain and flush your water heater if this is a problem.
- A Slow Water Leak in a Faucet is Not a Big Deal
This is false; if you can hear water dripping, then it’s being wasted because you’re paying for it. This leak could also be causing damage that you cannot see that will be expensive to fix. The longer the leak goes on, the more damage caused, so it makes good sense to call a local plumber and get it fixed quickly.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
