5 Common Plumbing Myths Debunked

As a Red Seal Plumber in Vancouver B.C, I’ve heard of many tips and tricks and other plumbing myths:

1. Adding lemons to clean your garbage disposal

Myth:  Putting a lemon or lemon peels in your garbage disposal/garburator will help sharpen the blades.

Busted: While putting lemons and lemon peels in your garbage disposal can help with odors left by food and debris, the peels themselves do not sharpen the blades, but may in fact corrode the metal components of the disposal due to the citric acid in lemons.

2. “Flushable wipes” are safe to flush

Myth: If a product is labeled “Flushable” just as portable wipes, it’s safe to flush down the toilet.

Plausible: While it is true some flushable wipes may be safer to flush down the toilet than regular wipes, as a plumber of over 35 years of experience. I highly recommend flushable wipes be disposed in the trash instead of the toilet. Often when we encounter toilet and drain backups, we will often find fiber-based wipes that are labeled as “flushable” clogging the pipes.

3. A slow dropping faucet is not a big deal

Myth: A small drip from a faucet isn’t a major concern.

True: A small drip from a faucet isn’t a major concern. While a slow drip may not seem like a big deal at first, a drop can waste hundreds of liters of water per year and increase your water bill. Not only that, but it is also not environmentally friendly and can be quite annoying to anyone sensitive to noises.

4. All plumbers are the same, just choose the cheapest one you can find

Myth: All plumbers are the same, a leak is a leak, and a furnace is a furnace. Find the cheapest plumber locally to save money.

Busted: Not all plumbers are created equal. When hiring a plumber, make sure they are Red Seal Licensed, have proper business and personal insurance and have a business license. A cheap plumber is not always the best option. The quality of parts, methods used in repair, installation and warranties are often not the same. If they are not licensed, your home insurance may not cover any damage should the installation or repair fail. Consider reading their reviews to ensure you are hiring a plumber that is reputable and will be able to warranty any issues should they arise.

5. Boiling water clears clogs

Myth: Pouring boiling water clears clogs

Plausible: Clogs can be formed by many things from food, paper towels, food debris and sometimes, oil and fat from cooking. If a clog has been formed by fats or cooking oils, boiling water can be used to soften the clog and if you’re lucky, it can soften the clog just enough to get your drain flowing again. For more stubborn clogs, a drain snake or a professional plumber may be needed to locate and clear the obstruction.