More plumbing legends that hurt your pocketbook

November 25th, 2012

More plumbing legends that hurt your pocketbook

Last time we talked about old wives’ tales that may seem like good ideas to save you time and money with your plumbing system but actually may hurt you in the long run. Just because a piece of alleged knowledge has been passed down from one generation to the next does not mean the information is infallible or even correct.

We can help you separate the myth from fact. Let’s look beyond the hype and figure out why something doesn’t work and what does work to help you save time and money with your plumbing needs.

  1. A lot of people think it’s a smart idea to let the tap water run while you are using your garbage disposal system to help the waste down the drain. It seems like the exact thing to be doing. Turn the garbage disposal on and let the tap water flush the waste down the drain. We all do it all the time. But what always happens is something inevitably gets stuck and we have to reach down into the garbage disposal and unblock the drain with our hands. This is not only a disgusting job, it is also dangerous. A better solution is to fill the sink with a four to one ratio of water to waste. This will allow the waste to separate from the water and drain down the garbage disposal with minimal problems.

httpvh://youtu.be/AgqGfbCLV9o

2) Speaking of things going down the drain with minimal problems, we generally forget all about happens to our waste water once it’s down the drain. Once we see there are no clogs or problems on our end, we don’t put any thought to where the waste goes or what happens to it. The problem is that what you put down your pipes can have an effect on what is happening in your own home.

3) Grease and cooking oils will build up over time and clog your plumbing like they might clog your arteries. Pasta and rice that may have been dry can get wet and fill to proportions that allow it to clog up and jam your piping. Using common sense before sending it down the drain will help you decide what is right and wrong.

4) You should always use water when rinsing things down the drain to help it flow and to break up things that might be building up and trying to clog your pipes. The answer to these problems is quite simple. You can prevent the clogging and blockage problems that arise in your showers, toilets and sinks by filling the sinks before draining water. Don’t put grease down your kitchen sink, or any home plumbing. The same goes for cooking oils.

5) Place a hair screen in your shower so the hair doesn’t build up and create a clog that you might have trouble dealing with. These clogs can get out of hand quickly and it’s easier to clean a screen intermittently than to have to call us to fix the problem and cost you more money than it should have cost.

6) Using your products as they were intended to be used flows right into the next plumbing legend that is probably hurting your pocketbook. How do you use your product the right way? This all ties into not reading the user’s manual. This may be using chemicals you shouldn’t be using or operating the system in a manner that isn’t proper or safe. You might also learn about warranty information you didn’t know about, such as what might void your warranty or what to do if a part should break. When the jargon is too much and you need professional help to understand your system, you should not hesitate to call a professional plumber in Salt Lake City. They may give you the perspective you don’t have to figure out a problem or understand your system in a better and more efficient manner.

7) The final plumbing legend that is hurting your pocketbook is that plumbing fixtures don’t require regular maintenance and will work forever with no problems. Just because your plumbing systems look sturdy and indestructible doesn’t mean they are. They need to go through regular checks and maintenance or else their performance will struggle, according to Plumber Salt Lake City. If you don’t use your fixture very often, the p-trap can evaporate, thus allowing toxic sewer gas to fill up your house. Danger is at every corner, as your electric water heater can generate explosive hydrogen gasses if left unused. The solution here is easy as pie. You must use your fixtures and equipment and make sure to keep up on regular maintenance.

More plumbing legends that hurt your pocketbook