Dispelling 2 Harmful Plumbing Myths
Almost every homeowner has some supposed money-saving plumbing tips that they have either acquired from others or picked up from the internet and other sources. Unfortunately, most of these supposed tips and tricks are often harmful to your plumbing, and they can often cause more harm than good to your delicate pipes, faucets and drains.
This article seeks to dispel 2 such plumbing myths so as to save you from a possible plumbing disaster.
Use soap on your taps and fixtures to make them shiny
Many homeowners continue to use soap and water on their bathroom and kitchen fixtures to remove dirt and make them sparkly. However, while soap can clean up stains, it can also cause corrosion to the faucets, making the metal part peel and look old and unsightly. A good alternative to using soap would be to purchase cleaners designed for use on faucets and fixtures. You can also use baking soda or vinegar to disinfect toilet bowls and sinks and use lemon to polish your taps.
Using a colored bleach tablet in your toilet may also seem like a genius cleaning hack that keeps your toilet cistern shiny, but such tablets often dissolve gradually and can sometimes cause a slow buildup that could potentially block your cistern. A better alternative to such cistern cleaners would be to use vinegar solution, which can effectively disinfect your cistern and even remove clogs that would compromise your toilet's flow.
A quick-flowing drain means everything is fine
You could be forgiven for assuming that a drain that flows efficiently and quickly is in perfect working condition, with no underlying buildup deep in the pipes. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case, as clogs could be building up gradually in a seemingly perfectly flowing drain.
As small food particles, hairs and other debris slip through your drains, they continue to form clogs that will eventually cause backed up drain lines and possible damage to your pipes. However, small clogs won't always cause problems and can be disguised by a drain that continues to flow well.
To avoid a future clogging issue, always use drain filters to prevent debris from slipping into your bathroom and kitchen drains. You should also clean up the filters regular to prevent excess debris from infiltrating your drains. Additionally, call in a plumber to inspect your drain lines and sewers at the first sign of trouble so that clogs deep in the plumbing can be detected and cleared up early.