Plumbers are always going to be a hot commodity. That's because more and more buildings and homes are being built, and they have pipes that need to be monitored. Also, there are a lot of old homes that have old plumbing that needs to be repaired. These pipes and drains break down due to natural use, but there are times when things are hurried along by people who fall for plumbing myths. As a result, according to FieldCamp, the industry itself is supposed to increase by 4% between 2019 and 2029. While plumbers love getting business, they also don't want to get it due to these things. Here are some of the more common myths you shouldn't fall for.

Run Hot Water to Get Grease to Go Through the Sink

Every time that you drink hot coffee or tea, does it unclog your arteries? No. Hot water won't necessarily move grease through the pipes either. Instead, that grease is only going to go part of the way through, and then it's going to grab onto other things that pass on through. Ultimately, it's going to result in a very deep clog that is going to need the assistance of plumbers. Dispose of grease in the trash, not the sink. Your drain pipes will thank you for that.

Put Ice Cubes in the Garbage Disposal to Sharpen the Blades

If you opened up your sink and looked at the garbage disposal, you wouldn't see any blades. It's not like there are these little whirling dervishes that chop up your garbage. So, there's nothing to sharpen there. Instead, there are grooved impellers that could be cleaned by the ice cubes (very small ones, big chunks could wind up damaging the impeller), but wouldn't sharpen them. If you feel like your garbage disposal isn't working properly, your best bet is to get help from the professionals before putting random objects down your drain.

Use Lemons to Clean Your Garbage Disposal

If you put a big lemon in the disposal, you could wind up damaging it, which would require the services of a plumber. If you're not happy with any smells coming out of the sink, then you could conceivably put a lemon peel in there to freshen it a bit when you run it, but this still won't target the root of the problem. Smells coming from your sink are most likely due to issues in the pipes that our plumbers will be able to identify and fix.

Replace Your Water Heater if It Makes Strange Noises

Hearing rumblings and banging sounds from your water heater can be a bit disconcerting, especially late at night. This doesn't always mean that the unit is failing and you'll need a new one. You could have our expert plumbers come take a look at it to make sure that it's not just something like a layer of sediment in the tank. That could save you from having to buy a new water heater by stopping problems in their tracks.

Use Flushable Wipes

If you see this on the packaging, don't always believe it. Flushable wipes can cause a lot of problems when they're constantly being used. They can clog up the pipes or cause issues with other aspects of your plumbing systems. Use regular toilet paper and if you do need to use the wipes, you can just toss them in the garbage after you've used them. Otherwise, you're looking at a backed-up toilet and having a plumber on the way to fix it.

Give Up on Items Lost Down Your Drain

If your wedding ring or another valuable item falls down the drain, there's hope to retrieve it if you follow the proper steps. There's a solution and it requires fast action. Turn off the water immediately and contact our team of plumbers. We can look in the curved section of the pipe, also known as the P-trap, and see if the item is sitting there. If that's not the case, we can see if we can look deeper into the drain pipe to locate it.

Use Drain Cleaners Often

This is an easy myth to fall for. After all, when you go shopping, you see rows and rows of drain gels targeted directly for frequent use to keep your system functioning as it should. They advertise that these cleaners can clear up clogs. Yes, they can, but at the cost of the integrity of your pipes. They will eventually corrode them and could possibly cause major flooding damage, especially if the part of the pipe is behind a wall. It's better to use a plunger to get rid of a clog, or better yet contact reliable plumbers.

Don't Worry About a Leaky Faucet

You can just tune out the constant drip of your faucet, right? It's just background noise after a while, like the sound of traffic outside. That traffic isn't going to run up your water bill and waste as many gallons of your water, though. The leaky faucet is. You waste roughly 270 loads of laundry's worth of water each year with a leaky water faucet, according to the EPA. If you get it fixed, you could save on your water bill. Call the plumber to fix it before continuing to use the leaky element of your plumbing system.

Don't Service a Working Drain

Like a lot of things, the surface can seem fine, but things underneath could be churning. Yes, your drain could be acting just fine, but there could be a problem lurking in the pipes. Properly maintaining your pipes is just as important as making the necessary repairs after the fact. Preventative leak detection and quick action on something you're not even sure is a problem can save you in the long run. When you need dependable plumbers to come give your pipes a look-over, don't hesitate to call.

Fix Most Plumbing Problems Yourself

This is the one that drives both plumbers and spouses alike crazy. Unless you work in the plumbing industry yourself, your chances of being able to fix the plumbing issue yourself is pretty low. Not even binging a bunch of YouTube videos can replace having an expert do it for you. You likely won't have the correct equipment, and even if you do, you might mess things up. Don't try to be a hero; have the professional who has likely seen your problem a hundred times before come do what needs to be done. Not only will this save you from making a small problem bigger, but it will save you time and money, and keep you from possibly injuring yourself.

There are other myths that people fall for, like putting a brick in the toilet tank and flushing bleach tablets. All of these things can cause damage, which will likely be expensive. If you learn one thing from this piece, it's to always ask a professional if one of those things that you heard is true. You can even research it online, though you should use reputable sources. Ultimately, you will wind up saving money and also having a plumbing system that works as it should by contacting our plumbers. Are you looking for plumbers in your area? We can supply you with highly-qualified ones that will fix whatever you need for very reasonable rates. Contact Holt Plumbing Company LLC today to learn more.