7 Plumbing Myths More Believable Than Bigfoot
Ask any plumber, and you’ll hear hair-raising stories of what plumbing myths have led some homeowners to do in the search of a quick-fix. Some of these tall tales contain just enough truth to be convincing. Others are outlandish enough that it chills plumbers to the core. Have you tried a few yourself? Here are 7 common plumbing misconceptions: Myth 1: Flushable Mean Flushable Despite colorful labels describing wipes and pads as flushable, these products are not particularly kind to your plumbing. While the cellulose, cotton and other fibers in these products will eventually break down with enough agitation, your home’s toilet isn’t powerful enough to manage it. On the other hand, bathroom tissue is designed to dissolve easily in water, and it’s the only kind of paper-based product that should be flushed. Myth 2: A Brick in the Toilet Tank Saves Water The idea behind this trick is that if you displace some water in the tank, that you’ll eventually spend less per flush. Bricks aren’t meant to be submerged and can deteriorate, leading to problems with the flapper and leave mineral deposits on the working parts of your toilet. If you want to save money with every flush, get a high-efficiency toilet, not a brick. The Environmental Protection Agency notes that proper installation is crucial to getting the best performance from these new low-flow designs that can do more with less water. Myth 3: Vinegar and Baking Soda Can Unclog Your Sink If you ever made a model volcano in school, you know some of the science behind this myth. Add vinegar to baking soda and you get a dramatic fountain of fizz. Unfortunately, all those bubbles do nothing for clogs because they lack the force needed to move an obstruction through the pipe. Save the vinegar for your salad dressing and call a professional who can handle drain cleanings safely and effectively. Myth 4: Ice Cubes Sharpen Your Disposal Unit’s Blades If ice worked for sharpening a blade, you’d see chefs hacking away at blocks of it. Contrary to popular belief, your in-sink disposal doesn’t contain sharp blades anyway; it uses blunt impellers that grind scraps and other kitchen waste into a liquid that can then flow through the pipe. Ice can even damage the impellers and prevent them from grinding food into a fine enough paste, leading to clogs. Myth 5: Chemicals and Plungers Are a Safe Mix It’s risky enough to pour caustic chemicals down a drain to dissolve a clog, but using a plunger on the resulting mess is even more dangerous as it can cause the liquid to splash out of the drain. Lye-based drain cleaner can damage clothing, etch household surfaces or harm skin, so avoid stirring it with a plunger and risking your safety. Myth 6: Hot Water Makes the Grease Disappear Running a little hot water down your kitchen sink can help keep it drain quickly, but if you have a habit of pouring grease down the drain and relying on hot water alone to keep the pipes clear, you’re creating a bigger problem. Grease may be liquid as it goes down your sink but solidifies as the water cools, coating pipes and acting as a sticky substrate for food particles and other materials that go down the drain. Because the grease-based clog is farther from the source of hot water, it’s harder to dislodge with an auger or plunger. Grease belongs in the trash, not in your pipes. Myth 7: It’s Just a Harmless Little Drip A dripping faucet or a running toilet is more than a late-night annoyance. It’s costing you money, and it may be damaging your plumbing fixtures. EPA figures suggest homeowners could save 10 percent on water bills just by repairing these nuisance leaks. Small drips can also lead to big problems with mineral buildup, staining and corrosion. Bottom line: Now that we’ve successfully debunked these myths, you’ll know who to call for solutions to any of your plumbing problems. To schedule your appointment with Steve’s Plumbing, LLC call (425) 979-7376.
Finish These Chores Before Leaving For Vacation
It’s no surprise that our summer travel plans are going to look a bit different this year. While it may be too soon to tell how different, chances are you’ll be looking for some kind of adventure. So no matter what summer trips you’re planning — even if it’s a short road trip to a nearby campsite — you’ll want to make sure you prepare your home for your departure. How to Prep Your Plumbing Before Vacation Turn Off Your Water Taking this step will help prevent leaks, saving you money in the end, and safeguarding any potential damage that could take place in your absence. No one wants to come home to a flooded basement or a catastrophic plumbing mess! Save yourself the aggravation and turn off the main water valve. Change Your Water Heater Settings While you’re out — there’s no need to heat your water. Simply change your water heater to the lowest or vacation setting (50℉) to keep your energy bill low. You can even take it to the next step and turn your water heater off completely. Check Your Sump Pump Before you leave it’s important to check your sump pump. Taking this step will soothe your anxiety of coming home to a flooded basement. You can test your sump pump by filling it with water until the pump starts up. If the water levels are rising and the pump doesn’t kick on — then you have an issue (most likely a bad switch). If the pump does start, make sure it drains most or all of the water. If you’re having difficulties, call a professional to inspect or repair your sump pump. Clean Your Garbage Disposal There’s nothing worse than returning from a soothing vacation to find that your house smells like rotten food. You can easily prevent this by pouring a half-cup of vinegar and a half-cup of baking soda down the drain. Follow this step by running hot water directly into the drain for about a minute. Then presto! Just like magic, your noses will be spared before and after your return. If You’re In Need of Professional Help, Contact Us With the craziness before you leave for vacation, you may not have time to check off all these tasks on this list. If that’s the case, we have you covered! Call Steve’s Plumbing, LLC at (425) 979-7376 to schedule an appointment today!
Top 3 Benefits Of Rainwater Collection
With the recent emphasis on wanting to lead a more sustainable lifestyle sweeping the nation—rainwater collection may be your first step toward leading an eco-friendly lifestyle here in Washington. Whether you decide to use a smaller rain barrel or a large cistern, there are many benefits of water collection. Here’s what you should know about this environmentally-friendly alternative as you consider making this your new hobby. Advantages of Rainwater Harvesting 1. Lowers Your Bills Every time you run your hose to wash your car or water your lawn/garden, you’re spiking your water bill. Conserving water and having this source as a replacement for certain tasks can save you money in the long run. By using this new source of water, you’re no longer depending on the water from your household. Hooking your plumbing or hose up to the rainwater barrel or cistern gives you the option to use the rainwater and not your home’s plumbing. 2. Can be Used for Non-drinking Purposes Rainwater is natural and can be used for an abundance of tasks that we perform on a regular basis, for example: Washing your car Watering your garden, lawn or indoor plants (this is because rainwater is soft and doesn’t have minerals in it) Bathing your pet For these smaller chores, you don’t need purified or filtered water, whereas rainwater can do the trick. As for more advanced systems, rainwater can even be used as toilet water or for washing your clothes and dishes. However, you will need to filter your rainwater before using this to wash your dishes to ensure it’s clean. 3. Lowers the Risk of Flooding As the rainwater is collected in basins, it reduces the amount of water actually hitting the ground—essentially, reducing the risk of flooding on your property. As you collect rainwater, you’re also helping the environment by decreasing the amount of erosion caused by runoff. Plumbing Services in Lynnwood If you find yourself dealing with plumbing issues while you switch to a more sustainable water source, call on the Lynnwood plumbers at Steve’s Plumbing, LLC. From a small leak to a state-of-the-art filtration system, we’re here to help. Contact us online or by calling (425) 979-7376 to schedule your appointment, today!