Common Plumbing Myths

Your plumbing is an essential part of keeping your home safe, convenient and healthy. But do you really know what your plumbing is capable of and what it can’t do?

Let’s go over some of the more popular misconceptions people have about their plumbing and explain the truth.

Animals Can’t Crawl Up the Pipes

This is false. Unless you leave your faucets, showers and toilets running 100% of the time, the majority of the day, your pipes are actually empty, and nothing prevents roaches or rodents from climbing into them.

While this doesn’t happen often, it’s been quite well documented that in some cities with much larger rat populations, such as London and New York, the combination of food sent down the kitchen sink along with the large hole used for the toilet has led to rats using toilets to enter homes.

A Plunger Will Fix All Clogs

You should always try to use a plunger first. It can solve a lot of clog problems quickly and cheaply.

That doesn’t mean, however, that it will solve all your clog problems, and some clogs may be embedded so deep, or turned into outright blockages that only a more professional response can clear things up.

A Water Heater Can’t Explode

Most of the time, this is true, as long as the water heater is working as intended. However the temperature and pressure relief valve on a water heater tank is what prevents explosions from happening. If you damage this valve in any way, this can lead to a build-up of pressure that can turn your water tank into a bomb that will go off.

A Leaky Faucet Doesn’t Mean Anything

While a leaky faucet itself isn’t doing much to hurt you or your plumbing, like a chronic nose bleed, or aching joint, it’s a sign that something else is going on. And if you ignore what the leaky faucet is telling you, it may turn into a more serious problem further down the road that will require a more expensive solution.

If you notice a leaky faucet, try investigating. You may find it’s just a problem with your faucet, or you may head off a big plumbing problem.

Water Going Down the Drain Means No Clogs

Water going down your drain means that there are no clogs that are blocking your water yet. That doesn’t mean that clogs aren’t building up. Just because your drain is clear, it doesn’t mean that something isn’t happening further down your pipe.

You may be building up a clog due to things getting flushed down the toilet that you’re not aware of. Or you may be in danger of getting blocked pipes due to tree roots in your yard breaking through and slowing growing. Only a professional inspection can tell you these things.

Professionals Can Handle It

The Plumbing Works has the people, the tools and the know-how to help you with any problem, big or small. If you want an expert assessment of the state of your plumbing so you can keep small problems from turning into big ones, or you already have a job that needs a quality repair, just call us at 610-929-8860 in Reading, PA and the surrounding area. You’ll get great results, peace of mind, and clear, clean, safe water in your home again.