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Debunking 3 Common Plumbing Myths

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Debunking 3 Common Plumbing Myths

As one of the best plumbing companies serving New Jersey and the surrounding states, we’ve encountered quite a wide variety of repairs that could have easily been avoided if it had not been for widespread myths. With it being the digital age, it’s no coincidence that myths and “hacks” for home cleaning and general maintenance are always on the rise and especially unavoidable. Today, we’re going to take on a handful of the most common plumbing-related myths and how they can cause detrimental damage to your pipes as a whole.

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Bleach is Fine

We’re never going to tell someone that bleach isn’t a fantastic chemical for cleaning and disinfecting your filthiest areas. However, a combination of laziness and misinformation can often cause homeowners not to consider the ramifications of flushing bleach down the toilet. Bleach is very corrosive when left untreated for long periods of time, so it is essential to clean it up sooner rather than later, especially when in the toilet. The corrosion can cause your entire toilet to become defunct slowly, so don’t risk that. Instead, be hyper-aware of how you clean and what you clean with.

Hangers for Snakes

For all of those little clogs that don’t just go away but are seemingly not large enough to call for one of our plumbers in Burlington County, NJ, it is vital to address them with the same level of care and caution a professional would. Using a bent coat hanger as a supplement to a drain snake can be exceptionally dangerous, as the sharp metal can scratch and damage your pipes. This damage will inevitably lead to needing a plumber’s assistance, which is precisely what you were hoping to avoid! Instead, invest in a drain snake to get the hair out of your shower and sink. If it doesn’t get fixed with that, it’s best to call a professional to take on the job to prevent further damage.

Garbage Disposal Functionality

For this section, we’re going to focus on an entire category of little myths. Many of the most common fables about garbage disposals can significantly damage the system itself and the pipes below. 

  • Orange peels and other peels from fruits do not help aid the garbage disposal’s functionality outside of scent, and can actively dull the teeth that grind up the food due to their particular toughness
  • Oil should not go down the drain, regardless of what you mix in with it. Myths that “hack” dumping oil through combining it with boiling water and other liquids do nothing to aid your pipes. The oil will cause damage and clogs to your plumbing, so dumping it in any form is a huge “no.”
  • Just because it all goes down, it doesn’t mean that everything is fine. Often it is difficult to think beyond the surface, and what is visible, but what is happening in your pipes when you put foods down your disposal can be quite devastating in the long run. If you notice water draining slower than usual, contact a plumber for assistance.

In short, following advice online when it comes to your garbage disposal’s health is probably not a smart idea. If you think your disposal or kitchen plumbing seems damaged, contact a plumber as soon as possible rather than DIYing the repairs.

General Advice

To summarize everything, we’re going to drop you some essential advice on plumbing maintenance. Don’t trust everything you see, hear, or read on the internet, especially when it comes to important functionalities like plumbing, heating, cooling, and home appliances in general. Our top goal at Hutchinson is to keep your home safe and comfortable all year long, so don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for more information about our home energy audits in New Jersey and all other HVAC and plumbing services.

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