Plumbing Myths Busted

Plumbing Myths Busted

South of the equator, toilets never flush in the opposite direction much to the disappointment of Bart Simpson.

Furthermore, this idea originated from the Coriolis Effect, which is the reason cyclones usually rotate in different directions between the Southern and Northern hemisphere.

However, the toilet does not have enough water to generate this effect and additionally, the direction in which toilets typically drain is determined by the jets.

Find out which plumbing facts are true and which are just plain false:

Ice can Sharpen Garbage Disposal Blades

Despite the idea of ice sharpening blades being difficult to imagine, it has somehow spread that this is possible because individuals recommend the use of ice cubes in cleaning garbage disposals.

Blades are not present on garbage disposals; instead, they have two teeth-like features known as impellers which usually grind any solid particle into a liquid while the unit is spinning. Thus, if you want your garbage disposal blades sharp, ice cubes through it will make no difference.

A Brick in the Toilet Tank Saves You Money

Some people allegedly think that by placing a brick in your toilet tank you get to save water; however, that only prevents your toilet from flushing correctly. So, if you require a toilet which performs better, your better off looking for a new one.

Grease is melted by Hot Water Hence Preventing Clogs

Hot water undoubtedly dissolves oil and subsequently washes it down the drain, nonetheless, the grease upon reaching the pipes cools, solidifies and ultimately continues to build up.

This grease is typically a magnet for lint, food bits and hair and eventually causes the pipe to clog and these clogs are such that you are unable to reach them without a taking the sink trap off.

Getting a plumber like Skan Plumbing & Heating to clear the clog away is the right ways to go once the grease has solidified, before it reaches the drain and causes more problems and increases the cost of the repairs.

‘Flushable’ Wipes

Among the main causes of clogging pipes are those ‘flushable’ baby wipes which do not break down as toilet paper does. There are 12 additional materials you never should flush down the toilet that you should take the time to look up so you don’t end up with having to get your toilet or drains cleared.

Drain Cleaners are Safe

Not true, you should avoid drain cleaners is one invaluable plumbing tip. Liquid drain cleaners usually are horrible news because they eat away at the pipes. So, you need to use a plumber which is a better alternative unless you fancy unclogging your toilet with a plunger.

If you hear the Water Heater Rumbling, It Will Explode

If you hear your water heaterrumbling, it most likely requires cleaning; therefore, it could explode if you don’t get it looked at by a professional. Since the gurgling or rumbling sound is usually caused by an unnecessary buildup of sediments in the tank.

This sound originates from the steam bubbles which rise through the sediment, and failure to resolve this problem result in your water heater failing prematurely.

Dropping Your Ring Down The Sink Means It’s Lost

You should not worry in case your ring goes down the sink, since there is a fast retrieval option. By setting a bucket underneath the trap beneath the sink and then unscrewing  the trap to release its contents.

Hopefully this saves you from needing to call a plumber, but if you cannot find it, it is advisable to call a plumber to avoid compounding the issue by attempting to fish your ring out further down the pipe.

Flushing All the Toilets inside a Skyscraper Destroy It

Engineers are one step ahead of you when you contemplate on the probability of all the toilets being flushed simultaneously; thus, the design of the building is such that it can withstand such an occurrence.

Additionally, there are numerous plumbing systems inside a building; hence this minimizes the chances of any failure.

Do you know the location of the flapper on a toilet? Or how to adjust your shower? You get to learn this here plus other toilet parts hence saving you money with some DIY maintenances.

Protect Your Water Heater from Galvanic Action/ Electrolysis With Dielectric Union

Despite dielectric unions being helpful, they do not prevent galvanic corrosion, with dielectric pipes doing a better job.

Whenever you link two different metals like galvanized pipe and copper and subsequently add water, you produce a flow of electrons (galvanic action or electrolysis) which causes damage to the pipes eventually.

Plumbers have made use of an insulated dielectric union for decades to prevent this damage with a dielectric union offering a small measure of protection. However, this is sufficient to avert the complete failure of the galvanized pipe.

According to lab tests, using a three-inch dielectric pipe minimizes current flow by 85% over the use of a dielectric union all by itself. Therefore, the next time you fit a water heater, you need to install a dielectric nipple to this dielectric union.

You can get purchase them from a plumbing supply store or by contacting the manufacturer to locate a local distributor.

Making Use of a Plunger to Clear a Sink Clog

Whereas you can use a plunger to clear the clogs inside your sink, this is not possible if you gave poured drain cleaners inside your sink.

Thus, you should not use a plunger on a blocked sink in case you have poured a drain cleaner down the drain since these chemicals can result in severe burns when they get pushed back up by the plunger through the sink. Also, here is something else you require to know about the cleaning of a blocked drain.