What are the most common plumbing myths?

Here are all 12 in one place. The sections below explain each one.

These are the myths that cause clogs. They all come down to what you send down the drain and how.

### Myth 1: "Flushable" wipes are safe to flush

The label says flushable. The sewer disagrees. The EPA has urged Americans to only flush toilet paper, and says "flushing anything other than toilet paper, including disinfecting wipes, can damage internal plumbing, local sewer systems and septic systems."

Regulators have acted on the label itself. In 2015 the Federal Trade Commission settled with Nice-Pak, a wet wipe manufacturer, which agreed to stop advertising moist toilet tissue as flushable unless it can substantiate that the product is safe to flush. The FTC's complaint said the company misrepresented that a certain formulation of its wipes was safe for sewer and septic systems and would break apart shortly after being flushed. The FTC's own line sums it up: "If you claim a product is flushable, it needs to flush in the real world, without clogging household plumbing or sewer and septic systems."

Wipes go in the trash. Our page on whether flushable wipes are really safe to flush has the details.

### Myth 2: Hot water washes cooking fat away

This is the big one in kitchens. Hot water only moves the problem further down the pipe. The City of Phoenix says that "if cooking grease or oil is poured down the drain or flushed down toilets, even when followed by hot water, it eventually cools down, congeals, builds up, and hardens, eventually forming a plug in both the home and the city sewer lines." The city also says "grease is the most frequent cause of sewer problems."

Let grease cool in the pan, scrape it into the trash, and wipe the pan before you wash it. That's the fix.

### Myth 3: Run hot water while the disposal grinds

It sounds logical. It isn't how the makers say to do it. InSinkErator tells you to "run a steady stream of cool water into the sink before turning on the garbage disposal." Waste King's operating instructions say to "run cold water during the disposal operation," and list hot grease or other hot liquids among the things not to put into a disposal. Our page on running hot or cold water with a garbage disposal explains why.

### Myth 4: Lemon peels and ice sharpen the blades and clean the disposal

Two myths in one. First, on many units there aren't any blades. InSinkErator describes its disposals as using a "bladeless grind system," so there's nothing to sharpen. Second, citrus leaves a nice smell, but a smell isn't cleaning. Odors usually come from food bits stuck in the grind chamber and under the rubber splash baffle, and those have to be scrubbed or flushed out. Our page on why a garbage disposal smells bad covers the real cleaning steps, and what you can put down a garbage disposal covers the rest.

### Myth 5: Chemical drain cleaners are safe for your pipes

Manufacturers of the parts those chemicals touch say otherwise. Oatey, a plumbing products maker, says "chemical drain cleaners can damage your toilet's porcelain finish or corrode pipes over time." Waste King's disposal manual is blunter: "NEVER put lye or chemical drain cleaners into the disposal, as they cause serious corrosion of metal parts."

They're also hard on people. Poison Control says many drain cleaners contain highly concentrated corrosive chemicals and "must be used with great caution." Our pages on whether Drano is bad for pipes and safe alternatives to chemical drain cleaners give better options: a plunger, a hand snake, or pulling the trap.

### Myth 6: Baking soda and vinegar will unclog a drain

The fizz looks like it's working. Poison Control explains why it mostly isn't: since drains aren't airtight, the carbon dioxide from the reaction escapes and generally doesn't build up enough pressure to push a clog loose. It adds that "the combination of baking soda and vinegar is unlikely to be strong enough to melt away tough drain clogs due to oil and grease." Fine for a light freshen-up. Not a clog remover. See does baking soda and vinegar really unclog a drain.

These myths let small leaks run for months.

### Myth 7: A dripping faucet wastes very little water

One drip at a time feels like nothing. Over a year it's a lot. EPA WaterSense says "a leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year." That's the amount of water the EPA says it takes for more than 180 showers. A worn washer, O-ring or cartridge is the usual cause, and how to fix a dripping faucet shows the repair.

### Myth 8: In-tank bleach tablets are harmless

Drop-in tablets are convenient. Toilet makers don't want them in your tank. Kohler's toilet warranty says "unless used properly with a Continuous Clean unit, in-tank toilet cleaners will void the Warranty." American Standard's toilet warranty says it does not cover "any damages caused by use of in-tank cleaners." Fluidmaster, which makes flappers and fill valves, warns that in-tank drop-in cleaners containing bleach or chlorine will damage tank components, may cause flooding and property damage, and void the warranty on its products.

If you have one of these toilets, our pages on the Kohler toilet warranty and the American Standard toilet warranty list the other exclusions.

### Myth 9: If nothing looks wet, there's no leak

Plenty of leaks never make a puddle. EPA WaterSense says "nine percent of homes have leaks that waste 50 gallons or more per day," and that an old or worn flapper can "silently leak thousands of gallons a year." Toilet leaks run straight into the bowl, and supply lines under a slab leak into the ground.

Two free tests catch most of them. Put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank; EPA says that if color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak. Then read your water meter, use no water for two hours, and read it again. See how to do a water meter leak test and hidden signs of a water leak.

These myths cost you in equipment life rather than clogs.

### Myth 10: Water heaters don't need maintenance

A tank water heater collects sediment every day it runs. EPA WaterSense recommends that you flush your water heater once a year to reduce sediment buildup, and check the temperature and pressure relief valve at least once a year. A. O. Smith, a water heater manufacturer, says to "have your hot water heater serviced once a year," and twice a year with hard water "since mineral buildup happens faster." The same page warns that if you skip maintenance, you might void your warranty.

Phoenix-area water is hard, so the twice-a-year advice applies to most Valley homes. Our page on how often to flush a water heater in Phoenix has the steps.

### Myth 11: Low-flow toilets and showerheads don't work

This one had a grain of truth in the 1990s. EPA WaterSense says the former low-flow toilets of that era were sometimes associated with performance issues, such as needing a double flush. Things changed. The EPA says "the WaterSense labeled toilets that are designed and sold today far outperform traditional toilets from the 1980s and 1990s," and that labeled toilets are independently certified to meet its criteria for both performance and efficiency.

Showerheads went the same way. WaterSense labeled showerheads must use no more than 2.0 gallons per minute, and the EPA says the label "ensures that these products provide a satisfactory shower that is equal to or better than conventional showerheads on the market." If a newer toilet flushes poorly, look at the flapper, the water level and the rim holes before you blame the design; how a dual flush toilet works is a good place to start.

### Myth 12: More water pressure is always better

Strong pressure feels great in the shower. It's rough on everything else. EPA WaterSense says your water-using fixtures will operate best if incoming pressure is between 45 and 60 psi, and that if it's much higher, you may want a professional to adjust or install a pressure-regulating valve (PRV) to hold it at 60 psi. A screw-on gauge at a hose bib tells you where you stand. Our page on what home water pressure should be covers the code limits, and do I need a pressure reducing valve covers the fix.

A few old rules of thumb deserve a swap. Here's what to believe instead.

• If it drains, it's fine. A slow drain is a clog that hasn't finished forming. Clear it while it's partial.
• Tighter is better on fittings. Overtightening can crack plastic nuts and supply line fittings. Snug is the goal, then check for drips.
• Old pipes last forever if they aren't leaking. Pipe age matters. If your home is older, read common plumbing problems in older Phoenix homes.

For the problems these myths lead to, and how to prevent each one, see the most common plumbing problems and how to prevent them.

When a myth has already turned into a clog or a leak, HQ Plumbing and Air is licensed and insured, offers 24/7 emergency service, and gives free estimates with upfront pricing.