5 Plumbing Myths Debunked

February 1, 2015

By Baker Brothers

Posted in: Preventive Maintenance, Garbage Disposal, Plumbing Inspections, Plumbing

1. MYTH: Lemons and other citrus are perfect for your garbage disposal. Although they produce a pleasing odor in your kitchen, lemons and citrus can damage your disposal. The citric acid in lemons and oranges corrode the metal components that make up your disposal. Instead of citric fruit, clean your disposal with ice or mild soap and warm water.
   
2. MYTH: As long as things are going down, my drain has no clogging issue.
   Although food waste and debris may be disappearing down your drain and your disposal is still operating, you may have a serious clog on your hands. Early warning signs of an impending clog include a slower moving disposal or waste fragments collecting on the discharge pipe. Responding to these telltale signs of an impending clog sooner, rather than later, could save you some serious repair costs. Not sure? Call your friends at Baker Brothers Plumbing to do what they do best; wash away all of your plumbing fears and anxieties.
3. MYTH: You can use hand soap to clean plumbing fixtures.
   Hand soaps contain agents that can actually cause damage to your plumbing fixtures depending on their material makeup. For your brass plumbing fixtures, use a gentle solution such as cut lemons and baking soda. For your toilet bowl, use a a reliable disinfectant to eliminate germs and prevent infection.
4. MYTH: Running water while the garbage disposal is in use will help waste travel smoothly.
   There are some things that your disposal simply cannot handle, no matter the water added. Banana peels and eggshells, for example, should never be put down the disposal, as they can cause unrepairable damage to your appliance. If you must put large chunks of debris down your disposal, be sure to break them down into smaller pieces if possible and mix with water before turning on the disposal. For more information on drain care check out our previous blog post.
5. MYTH: In-tank cleaners keep your toilet fresh and clean.
   No one wants to clean their toilet. In-tank cleaners seem to be the perfect solution and make your bathroom smell better. Unfortunately the easy way is not always the best way. In-tank cleaners bleach smelly build-up to eliminate odors but do not get rid of it. Eventually the build-up can wreck havoc on your plumbing. Instead of in-tank cleaners, try pouring vinegar down the overflow tube. Vinegar will both remove build-up and help eliminate unpleasant odors.