12 Common Plumbing and HVAC Myths, Debunked

Roam the pages of the internet for any length of time, and you’ll find all manner of advice – some of which is more helpful than others. Though many people who create online tutorials and tips do so with all the best intentions, if they’re not experts who have trained for years in the fields of plumbing and HVAC service, they are probably not qualified to give recommendations.

Today, we’re going to put on our mythbusting hats and debunk many of the typical misconceptions we’ve encountered in our nearly 40 decades in business. Keep reading to learn more.

Myth 1: It’s safe to flush makeup removers, baby wipes and personal cleaning cloths.

Fact: While more manufacturers than ever have started to market their products as “flushable,” don’t always trust what the label says. In reality, those products have become the scourge of municipal plumbing systems because they don’t break down the way toilet paper does. You should only ever flush two things down your toilet: toilet paper and human waste. If you want to prevent clogs, don’t ever flush things like baby diapers, tampons, kitty litter or paper towels.

Myth 2: The bigger the HVAC system, the better off I’ll be.

Fact: Size matters when it comes to your HVAC system, but not necessarily for the reasons you think. Choosing a unit that’s too large or too small will force it to work overtime to control the temperature in your home, which will eventually cause it to wear out sooner. If it’s time to replace your unit, contact a qualified HVAC company. A trained technician can calculate the best size for your home based on factors such as square footage and how many people live in your household.

Myth 3: I can procrastinate on dealing with a slow-flowing drain.

Fact: Just because a slow drain still technically “works,” a tub or sink that’s not flowing properly signifies a larger problem you shouldn’t ignore. Typically, the root of the problem is a clog, but there’s no way to know for sure without calling a company that offers professional plumbing service. One tried-and-true rule of homeownership is that putting off home maintenance only creates worse problems, and plumbing is no exception to this.

Myth 4: I don’t need to call for HVAC or plumbing service if everything is running normally.

Fact: Even if none of your essential home services are giving you problems, that doesn’t mean you can skate by without calling for periodic maintenance. Think about how you need regular checkups from your dentist or doctor. Getting them can alert you to issues like receding gums, gingivitis, high blood pressure or diabetes before it’s too late to do anything about them. Routine HVAC and plumbing inspections work the same way. You could have a pinhole leak in your pipes or a loose wire in your air conditioner for years without realizing it. With regular plumbing and HVAC checkups, your technician can fix any current issues and alert you to ones that might be looming on the horizon.

Myth 5: I can teach myself how to solve my issues with online research.

Fact: While it’s easy to find “expert” information about pretty much any topic online, this well-meaning advice can do more harm than good. Just because you watched a few YouTube videos about clog clearing or read some blog posts about HVAC maintenance, that is not enough to go on with these complex systems. A series of homemade tutorials is no substitute for the extensive training and work experience a professional HVAC or plumbing technician has, and you could cause more damage to your home by using incorrect techniques. Save yourself money and heartache by being proactive about scheduling seasonal appointments with your trusted local company.

Myth 6: Service agreements are a waste of money.

Fact: Surprise plumbing or HVAC problems can not only be pricey; they can also leave you without climate control or running water in your home. A preventive service agreement with a qualified provider can provide you with peace of mind and help protect you from pop-up issues. Most service agreements are designed to be affordable and catch minor problems before they spiral out of control.

Myth 7: A leaky faucet is no big deal.

Fact: While you might dismiss the steady drip, drip, drip of a leaking faucet as a minor annoyance, even the tiniest drip is constantly wasting water. At 60 drips per minute, you’d be wasting more than 2,000 gallons of water a year. Don’t overlook the need for a quick and straightforward repair if this is happening anywhere in your home.

Myth 8: Every service tech has the same credentials, so it doesn’t matter who I call.

Fact: When it comes to getting the most bang for your buck from your repair service, you owe it to yourself to do some homework first. It does make a difference who does the work, because not every company offers the same service guarantees or up-front pricing, and not every service technician has undergone the same level of training. It’s worth the extra time and effort it takes to shop around.

Myth 9: I can put whatever I want down the garbage disposal, as long as I run the water at the same time.

Fact: Some foods, such as artichokes, potato peels and celery, are stringy, and they can wind themselves around the blades of the garbage disposal and cause it to stop working. At the same time, you should never pour cooking grease directly down your drain, unless your goal is to create a clog.

Myth 10: It’s safe to use commercial drain cleaners to get rid of a clog.

Fact: The drain cleaners you can buy at the grocery or hardware store are not safe to use in your home. They contain harsh chemicals that can be hazardous to your health if you breathe them in or accidentally splash them onto your skin, and they are caustic enough to eat through your pipes, causing further problems. Professional plumbers can help take care of clogs without endangering your health or harming your pipes.

Myth 11: Closing vents and doors in rarely used rooms will save me money.

Fact: It might seem like a logical assumption that shutting vents and doors in rooms you usually don’t spend much time in is a smart cost-cutting measure, but the truth is that by doing so, you will be blocking your home’s airflow and causing your HVAC system to work harder to keep up, which can reduce its lifespan by creating more wear and tear. If you’re looking to save energy in rarely used rooms of the house, investigate the benefits of getting a zoned HVAC system instead.

Myth 12: It’s much less expensive to do DIY repairs than to pay a pro.

Fact: Even if you are handy around the home and have a well-stocked toolbox, it’s unlikely you have all the specialized tools and equipment necessary to complete a plumbing or HVAC repair on your own. Because of the complexity of some repair projects, attempting to do them yourself could cause further damage that would complicate the process and lead to a more expensive repair down the road. If you suspect you have a plumbing or HVAC problem, you’re always better off calling an experienced service provider who can quickly diagnose the source of the issue and get everything back to normal quickly.

Family-Owned Service Professionals

At Maichle’s Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we have been serving home and business owners in the tri-state area of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland since 1984. We offer a comprehensive guarantee on our workmanship and always provide up-front, no-surprises pricing. If you’re ready to experience what it’s like to work with our team of highly trained professionals, contact us today to learn more.