This week on “Ask Jack”: Jack debunks plumbing myths.
Hines Plumbing is a fully licensed and insured plumbing company serving Valparaiso since 2000. They pride themselves on being prompt, clean and thoughtful professionals with over 50 years of combined experience. So you can rest assured that your questions are being answered by a man who knows his stuff.
1. Putting lemons in the garbage disposal will clean it. Lemons smell good, and will make your garbage disposal smell good, but it won't get the disposal clean. If you really want to clean it. Use a solution made with soap and water and scrub away with a scrub brush. Make sure that you disconnect the disposal so that there is no danger to you or the cleaning tools that you use.
2. Having the water running while using the garbage disposal with help clear up any food that you put in it. Not completely true. There are some foods that just shouldn't go in the garbage disposal and no amount of water will remove it smoothly. Avoid putting banana peals, egg shells, and any vegetable peelings, and any harder foods into the disposal as these can cause damage.
3. If my drain keeps moving through my drain, there will be no clogs. Wrong again. Two early warning signs of an impending clog is a slow moving disposal or drain, and waste fragments that remain on the discharge pipe. Take care of your clog before it becomes a big problem.
4. It's okay to use hand soap to clean plumbing fixtures. For some items, yes. For brass fixtures, a cleaning solution of lemon juice and baking soda works. And toilet bowls need to be cleaned using a disinfectant cleaner.
5. Plumbing fixtures need no maintenance. This is a big myth. Pipes can get clogs or moved by tree roots or a settling house foundation. Items in the home can rust or come loose or crack, so homeowners need to keep an eye on things and fix or replace plumbing fixtures before something goes awry.
6. Boiling water removes grease from drains. When hot water cools over the grease, it hardens and creates a thick coating inside of pipes. This can cause long-term issues, including backed-up or even burst pipes. Wipe grease out of pans or pour it into a disposable jar and throw it away.
7. Other things can be flushed besides toilet paper. No. Only toilet paper goes into the toilet. Otherwise clogs can happen or your septic tank can have issues.
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