There are a lot of misconceptions regarding plumbing. At Freedom Flow Plumbing, we’re frequently called by customers in Scranton, PA with questions. Some of them relate to complex situations, while others are pretty straightforward. To make it easier for everyone involved, we’d like to clear up some things that people often have false assumptions about.
Myths That Your Plumber Wants You to Know About
Myth: You Can Treat Your Garbage Disposal Like a Trash Can
Unfortunately, the term “garbage disposal” is a misnomer. Some smaller items can be effectively processed by the garbage disposal, but the majority of food scraps are not meant for the sink. Larger pieces as well as fibrous foods, such as potato peels or celery scraps, can clog the disposal. If you do have an issue with your drain, let us know and we’ll take care of it before it gets even worse.
Myth: You Can Pour Grease Down Your Pipes
It may be tempting to wash leftover grease and oil down the drain, but that’s definitely something to avoid. That’s because fatty substances can clog drains, especially since they coagulate once they cool down. To prevent issues, wipe the grease off of pans with paper towels or something disposable. You could also set grease aside to cool before scraping it into a container and putting it in the trash can.
Myth: Don’t Worry About Freezing Pipes in the Winter
In the summer months, it’s easy to forget about the frigid winters we have in Pennsylvania. Here’s something to keep in mind when the temperatures drop. If there’s a chance that your pipes will freeze, open your taps a little bit so that there’s a steady drip overnight. This could be enough to keep your pipes from freezing. If you’ve ever dealt with frozen pipes before, there’s a good chance it’ll happen again.
Myth: It’s Okay to Leave Your Water on During Vacation
On long vacations, you might just be focused on having fun. It’s definitely not fun, however, to come home to a flooded house or a leaking pipe. To keep this from happening, turn off your main water valve before leaving. Then, open up a faucet or two to get rid of any remaining water in the pipes. This way, you won’t come home to water everywhere.
Myth: Toilets Can Handle Trash
Much like garbage disposals, toilets are known for being able to handle all kinds of things. This is an incorrect assumption. Please don’t flush trash, including paper towels, wipes, cat litter clumps, and hygiene products, down the toilet. This can greatly increase the risk of having clogged pipes. If you have a septic tank, it can mess up your whole system over time.
We hope you’ll be able to use this information going forward. Please reach out to us at Freedom Flow if you are experiencing any issues or would like advice on anything related to plumbing.