7 Plumbing Myths Debunked

7 Plumbing Myths Debunked (Prepare to Be Slightly Embarrassed)

Ah, plumbing. The unsung hero of modern life. It’s always there for you — until it’s not. And when it’s not, that’s when the myths come out. You know the ones: whispered from neighbor to neighbor, shouted across internet forums, passed down like sacred scrolls of questionable advice.

Today, we’re busting seven of the most common plumbing myths — and yes, a few of them might make you cringe a little. Let's dive in (but not literally, because that would be unsanitary).

1. “It’s Fine to Flush Wipes — They’re ‘Flushable’!”

If marketing labels were honest, those “flushable” wipes would say “Flushable… until your plumber retires off the repair fees.”
Sure, they technically fit down the toilet. So does a small ham, but you wouldn't flush that either (we hope). Wipes don’t break down like toilet paper and can create spectacularly disgusting blockages in your pipes — and the city sewer system. Hard pass.

2. “Lemons Clean Your Garbage Disposal!”

Adorable idea. Totally wrong.
While lemon peels might make your disposal smell better for a few minutes (bonus points for the fake cleanliness vibes), they actually don't clean the gunk clinging to the blades and walls. Worse, peels can jam things up.
If your disposal smells like a dying kraken, it needs a real cleaning — not aromatherapy.

3. “A Slow Drip Isn’t a Big Deal.”

It’s just a few drops, right? Cute.
A "minor" leak can waste hundreds of gallons of water a year. That’s not just bad for the environment — it’s basically you sending cash down the drain one slow, infuriating drip at a time. Plus, that leak isn't just staying still; it's wearing down your plumbing, plotting its move from “nuisance” to “catastrophic flood at 3 a.m.”

4. “If It’s Going Down the Drain, Everything’s Fine.”

This one’s like assuming if you can squeeze into your jeans, they still fit perfectly.
Just because water disappears doesn’t mean the pipes are all smiles and sunshine. Grease, soap scum, food scraps — they cling, layer up, and eventually create a drain disaster. It’s basically the pipe’s version of clogged arteries, and no, pouring boiling water down there every now and then isn’t a long-term solution.

5. “In-Tank Toilet Cleaners Are All You Need.”

Those little blue tablet things that turn your toilet water the color of an alien ocean?
Yeah… not exactly the maintenance miracle you were promised.
They often contain harsh chemicals that slowly eat away at the parts inside your tank. So, congrats — your toilet might look clean while it’s simultaneously breaking itself apart from the inside like a Shakespearean tragedy.

6. “Plungers Fix Every Clog!”

Plungers are great. Vital, even.
But they are not magic wands. Some clogs, like the ones caused by deep tree roots or, say, your toddler flushing a stuffed dinosaur, laugh in the face of your plunger.
If you've been plunging for longer than a couple of minutes and nothing’s happening, it’s time to call in the big guns (read: a plumber with an auger and a healthy dose of professional judgment).

7. “You Can DIY Any Plumbing Repair With Enough YouTube Tutorials!”

Look. We love a good DIY spirit. Truly.
But plumbing is a little less "Pinterest weekend project" and a little more "one wrong move and now you’re ankle-deep in regret water."
Replacing a faucet? Maybe.
Reconfiguring your home’s entire water line based on a 7-minute video uploaded by “HandyDan69”? Please no.

In Conclusion:

Plumbing is one of those things that feels simple — until it really, really isn't. Trust your instincts: if a tip sounds too good to be true (or was passed down by a neighbor who once tried to snake a drain with a wire hanger), it probably is.

Need real help? Call a professional. Bonus: they’ve seen it all, and your situation probably won't even make the top 10 list of "weirdest things they’ve pulled out of a drain."