4 Household Plumbing Myths You Can Ignore
Mostly hidden away out of sight, your household plumbing system is often a mystery, as well as a source of plumbing myths. Over time, these misconceptions get passed along until they’re accepted as proven truth. Sometimes, these fables are simply harmless folklore. Other times, however, they can actually make a plumbing issue substantially worse. Here are four common plumbing myths you can disregard, as well as the facts of the matter.
Dripping Faucets Are “Normal”
Faucets are designed and engineered to be completely drip-free. If you see even a small amount of dripping, it’s a malfunction, usually due to wear and tear. Dripping faucets can be repaired by a qualified plumber. There’s good reason to do so: one dripping faucet can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water a year.
A Noisy Water Heater May Explode
Bubbling and popping sounds inside a water heater are usually a sign of mineral sediment in the tank—not an impending explosion (water heaters have a temperature and pressure relief valve to prevent such things). However, sediment accumulation can substantially shorten the service life of a water heater as well as increasing water heating costs. Ask a plumber to flush the tank and remove mineral sediment.
“Flushable” Wipes Are Really Flushable
Not really. Most plumbers can tell you how often they discover that flushable wipes are the cause of a sewer line blockage. A more reality-based rule of thumb is this: any paper product other than toilet paper should be considered non-flushable and disposed of elsewhere.
A Brick In The Toilet Tank Saves Water
While the brick reduces water volume per flush, it does so very inaccurately. For example, you may have to flush twice and actually waste more water. Also, bricks deteriorate in water and may inhibit tank valves or flushing mechanisms. For a more reliable way to reduce toilet water use, ask your plumber about an ultra-low flush toilet that uses 1.6 gallons per flush or a high-efficiency toilet that uses only 1.28 gallons.
Heard any good plumbing myths lately? Get the facts from the professionals at Apollo Home.