Ken's Plumbing | Blog

While owning a home can bring the greatest joy and be a source of great pride, there are always a number of unanticipated problems that arise. Inevitably you are eventually going to have plumbing, electrical, heating and air, or other major home systems that develop issues, and it can be hard to know what to believe with so many so-called "experts" out there giving conflicting information. Today, we want to walk you through a list of myths that you may hear over time in order to keep your home well maintained and your wallet in your pocket.

Plumbing Debunked

1. Chemical drain cleaners are perfect for disinfecting your disposal: These types of cleaners are harsh enough to eat through your pipes and ruin your disposal seal, so be sure not to use them. It's a safer bet to mix household items like vinegar and baking soda down your drain or use lemon, lime, or orange peel every now and again. This helps with disinfecting your disposal and alleviates any funky smell that was there before. Note: if you want to use any peeling, make sure you've sliced them into small chunks before putting them in your disposal.

2. Using the plunger when your sink is clogged: This DIY has proven to be hazardous and messy, espeically if you have a double sink. If you are trying to unclog one drain, you may not remember to cover the second drain, causing the blockage from the clogged drain to come right back up the other one. If you decide to use your plunger after you pour chemical cleaner down your drain, you may cause splash-back, where the chemical comes back up the drain and can make contact with your eyes, causing injury and potentially blindness.  Avoid this by never using a plunger after you pour chemicals down your drain. Better yet, don't pour chemicals down the drain at all!

3. Disposing wet wipes down your toilet: One of the many reasons we get called out for a plumbing problem is because wet wipes have been flushed down the toilet. Wet wipes are not bio-degradable like toilet paper, and once flushed, they just pile up and clog the drainage system. Any thing that is not toilet paper really needs to be placed in a trash can. 

4. My drain is working perfectly if things go down with no problem: It's good to note that blockages don’t occur all at once in your plumbing system. It takes time for things like wet wipes, inappropriate foods, and cat litter to build up inside your pipes and cause their damage. Make sure your drains stay up to par by using hair strainers over the shower drain and disposing of foods in the trash.

5. As long as I run water while using the garbage disposal, my food gets broken down: Yes, absolutelty run your water when using your garbage disposal, but banana peels, eggshells, and cucumber peeling will never dispose properly no matter how much water you're running. It's best to avoid putting thick foods down your disposal and break up or mix other foods thoroughly before you throw them down as well.

6. Hot water easily flushes down grease: Let's never do this! Grease will stick to your pipes and drains, and even boiling water won't allow it to continue its journey through your drain. When hot water cools over the grease in your pipes, the grease then hardens and will leave a thick coating inside your pipes, causing future you to see backed-up or burst pipes. Wipe the grease out of your pans or pour it in a plastic container and place it in your garbage can.

7. Plumbing fixtures require little to no maintenance: This is one of the most dangerous plumbing myths of all—we definitely want you to take care of your plumbing fixtures and fittings. You need to take time out periodically to inspect all of your sinks, faucets, toilets, drains, and pipes to make sure everything is running properly. If these issues aren't addressed, you will find yourself holding a hefty plumbing bill because of a sewer line or pipe replacement. 

8. Pipes can handle all my weekend guests: If you are hosting a neighborhood Christmas party or having your in-laws over for the weekend, be cautious of how many times the toilet gets flushed. Your sewer or septic line may not be capable of handling all of your guests, and you wouldn't even know that unless you have previously checked out your pipes. Your septic tanks works with all waste water in your home, so that includes your kitchen and showers, not just toilets. If you do have guests, make sure you schedule out showers so the lines have ample time to clear up and you may want to consider asking guests not to flush the toilet with each use. Many people feel this is not proper etiquette, and it may not be if you're throwing a holiday party. But if you just have family over, you may want to consider asking in order to protect yourself from a flooded basement.

9. You can clean plumbing fixtures with hand soap: Depending on the type of plumbing fixtures you have, hand soap can actually damage your plumbing fixtures. Brass plumbing fixtures should be cleaned with gentle solutions such as cut lemons and baking soda. Toilet bowls, however, need an effective disinfectant to kill all germs and prevent infection on your family.

10. All plumbers are the same: This is one we definitely want to debunk! You may be able to find lower prices elsewhere, but you won't find better service! With Ken's, you get expert knowledge, quality workmanship, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing you won't have to call us out again and again. We stand by our team's workmanship and quality and uphold the proper accreditation to prove that when you choose Ken's, you choose The Picky People's Plumber. 

When you have an issue with your pipes, drains, and sewage lines, you want the problem to be fixed immediately. We understand, and that's why we are available every day of the year excluding Christmas. Be sure to give us a call at (864) 242-5511 or contact us online as we're here to help with all of your plumbing needs!