Dissecting Five Common Plumbing Myths

Here, at Team Rooter, we have seen quite a few interesting and challenging cases, most of which we overcame safely and efficiently. But, like most businesses and this line of work, there are myths and untruths that need addressing. Below we have a list of the five most common plumbing myths to help you separate fact from fiction.

In addition, you should schedule routine maintenance calls, and reach out to us if things look and sound suspicious. You don’t want a small problem in a pipe or sewage line, the water heater, or the toilet become a bigger issue, or worse, a disastrous event costing you lots of money to fix. Our certified team is ready to look into your plumbing issues and address them correctly. Here are the five plumbing myths we wanted to share and dissect.

1. Ice cubes sharpen the blades on the garbage disposal

Somehow this unlikely situation is something people have started believing. Garbage disposals do not have blades. They usually use a teeth-like design to breakdown and grind solid food into a more liquid form as the disposal keeps spinning. Just let the cool water flow from the faucet and help dispose the food items and push them out of the unit and into the pipes and out.

Additionally, here are a few other items you should not pour into your garbage disposal: coffee grounds, bones, pasta, oatmeal, nuts, eggshells, and well, trash that belongs into a waste bin. Keeping it clean will ensure proper operation.

2. Cat Litter is Safe to Flush 

Yes, you can flush it down the toilet if you use a water soluble litter – but the cat poop in the litter is toxic, especially to pregnant women since the poop can have parasites. Therefore, just scoop the poop and dispose separately. 

3. Water heaters do not explode

Oh, but they can. Water heaters have a pressure relief valve. If that valve is faulty or fails, that pressure cannot be releases. Therefore, the tank can explode. That’s why we recommend a visit by our Team Rooter plumbers for an annual maintenance to make sure everything works properly and safely.

4. Hot water helps dissolve the grease in clogged pipes

Yes, hot water can help melt the grease and push it down the drain, but keep in mind that the liquid grease will cool, take a more solid form and become a build up and clog the pipes. The grease then becomes a nest for small food pieces, hair and lint. Worse part, the deeper the clogs are in the pipe, the harder to reach them. 

5. Critters crawling up the pipes

We call myth on this one. Well, a little! These incidents are so rare; they make the news if they happen. In 2013, two different pythons crawled up into two different toilet bowls of a couple’s home in Australia. In 1999 (according to an article in the Richmond Times Dispatch – available in the Nexis news database) a Petersburg, Va., woman was bitten by a rat as she was sitting down on the toilet. It looks like the rat crawled through city sewer lines, and attacked the victim. A local health official said “this is the first I’ve heard of anybody being bitten by a rat while on the toilet.”

Make sure to contact us at Team Rooter with your questions, and if needed, schedule a visit. One of our skilled plumbers will come in and look at the plumbing issue and suggest the most efficient way and a timeline to fix it.

Top Five Summer Plumbing Issues

The kids are home from school, family and friends are coming over and lots of outdoor activities are going on during the summer months. The increased foot traffic in your home means more toilet flushes , more showers being taken, more dishes to clean, and more clothes to wash. Outdoor hoses are also used more in the summer (fill pools, water the lawn, wash cars, etc.) which can bring plumbing issues ranging from easy fixes to more complex problems.

Preventing most common plumbing problems is usually simple. If you find that you have more complex problem with your system, Team Rooter is here to help 24/7! As a precaution, here are the five plumbing issues we receive calls on during the summer months.

Sprinkler Head Damage & Leakage

Automated sprinklers watering your lawn require periodical maintenance. The heads can break and require replacing – you can detach the head and take it to your local hardware store and see if they are easily replaced. If they are not our staff is here to help. Also not using your sprinkler system (i.e during the California drought) can also cause wear-and-tear on the system. Make sure you cleaned your sprinkler system before you begin using it during the summer months.

Clogged Toilets

With summer break and kids being home from school, your toilet will be in more use than other times of the year. Depending on the ages of your children, the things that stay out of the pipes or end up flushed away are a completely different – when plunger does not solve the problem, you will need a professional to the rescue and that’s what we do – Call the Team!

Backed Up, Clogged Sewer Line

Garbage Disposal

The extra use of the garbage disposal or dropping items that do not belong inside can damage and break it. Corn cobs, hard fruit, bones, egg shells, pasta and grease do not belong in the garbage disposal. Ask your children and other members of the household to put the disposable food items into a designated trash can or bag where they will be disposed later. This way you give the machine a break and can monitor what goes in and what stays out and goes into the garbage container outside. If you do find yourself needing a new unit, Team Rooter is here to help. 

Washing Machine Leaking

Summer time is also the season during which the washing machine runs more times than before. The hose on the back of the machine can burst and flood the room, or worse, the house. By spending slightly more and investing in a stainless steel hose, you can prevent this mishap. 

“No one goes hungry in Los Angeles,” is the vision of Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.  At Team Rooter we love this mission and are joining forces with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to donate portion of all proceeds from the month of November and December to this great organization.

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank collects food from hundreds of resources and distributes them to more than 300,000 people on a monthly bases.  According to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, 1.4 million people in Los Angeles live without knowing where their next meal is going to come from.  This includes children, seniors, families, and/or individuals just not having the means to acquire food.

Team Rooter is committed in helping our communities.  Please join us in helping those in need by donating and/or volunteering at Los Angeles Regional Food Bank