There are some bits of information that have been passed from person to person for so long that no one really knows if it is true and factually based. Occasionally it is a good idea to examine this information that is referred to as conventional wisdom to see if it really has a place in our thinking patterns.

Here we are going to examine some myths about plumbing that have been perpetuated as facts. Doing away with some of these practices may even save money.

1. Lemons can freshen up the smell of your disposal. Undoubtedly, cut up lemons smell nice; but the acid contained in them is corrosive to your garbage disposal. Why trade a temporary nice smell for a damaged disposal? Instead of lemons, run ice down your disposal. The cubes’ bouncing around as they are being broken up knocks loose the grime in the disposal and allows it to be washed away. And there is no acid in ice to corrode the metal parts.
2. The cleaners you drop in your toilet tank will keep it clean and eliminate odors. Trying to save time by not scrubbing your toilet costs money. These cleaners put off a pleasing smell and make build-up less visible, but it is still there. This build-up will cause damage to your toilet in the long run. A better method is to pour vinegar down the overflow tube. It gets rid of both odor and build-up. And a gallon of vinegar is cheaper than all the fancy cleaners that are available.
3. It is OK to by a cheap product as long as there is a lifetime warranty. If the product was cheap in the first place, it will be replaced with a cheap product. When choosing plumbing products, remember that you get what you pay for. Buying a more expensive product that will last longer and work properly will save you the time and hassle of having to replace one piece of junk for another.
4. You should always run water along with the disposal to prevent clogs. Even though you may do this every time you use the garbage disposal, you will one day experience a clog. If your drain is already clogged, putting more water on top of it is not going to help; and it wastes water. Instead of running the water non-stop when using the disposal, fill the sink with four times as much water as there is garbage. This helps it to flow in increments rather than one large packet.
5. If the drain is still draining, there are no problems to worry about. Just because a clog is not obvious does not mean that your pipes are completely clear. Small blockages grow larger, and this causes a BIG blockage. If the water is not traveling through the pipes freely, less and less waste is being washed down the pipes. This just accelerates the amount of build-up accumulating. To prevent massive blockages, treat your plumbed areas well. Use generous amounts of water each time, and use drain covers to keep hair from washing down the drain in showers and sinks.
6. Your water pressure regulator can be trusted all the time. Pressure regulators can give you an idea of water pressure readings, but they are not flawless. Use your own judgment to decide if your pressure is right. If you are notice that your faucets are leaking, that your utility room is flooding, or that your toilet is running non-stop, have your water pressure checked. Then replace any faulty regulators. The alternative to unchecked pressure is a lot of time and money.
7. You can save time cleaning the bathroom by leaving soapy water on the sink fixtures. Actually, the same soap you use on your hands can damage your fixtures. It may be just a little bit here and there, but over time it can corrode the metal and give your faucet a bubbly appearance. You would be better off if you took the extra time to wipe the soapy water off the faucet and handles to prevent premature wear. In addition, soap corrosion will void many warranties for faucets.  Not something you want to deal with if you’ve got a fancy single sink vanity.
8. As long as you know what you are doing, you do not have to even look at a user’s manual. Even though manuals may not be at the top of list of ways to have a good time, you should still read it at least two times. It has diagrams of the product and all its parts as well as information about how to properly use the product. All your warranty information is in there as well. So unless you want to void your warranty on your new product or break it the first time you use it, read the user’s manual.
9. Your fixtures require no special care once they are working properly. Plumbing fixtures will become unusable and even dangerous if they are not used occasionally. Not using sinks, bathtubs, and washing machines can allow sewer gases back up through the drains. These gases smell bad and are harmful to breathe in. Unused electric water heaters will produce hydrogen gas which in turn can produce an explosion. To prevent these risks, use each fixture once in a while. Go turn on the water in the guest bath. Go run some hot water through the pool house. The alternatives could be deadly.
10. Any randomly selected plumber is an expert in the field and can fix anything properly. Start your search for a plumber with accrediting entities or the Better Business Bureau. Be sure that the plumber you choose has become certified in certain areas and does continuing education. Anyone can call themselves a plumber, but that does not mean that they are a licensed one. If you choose poorly the first time, you will have a chance to meet a better plumber in the future.

Now that we have exposed some common home plumbing myths, you should be safe from many of the dangers of listening to unsound advice. Never be afraid to investigate answers for yourself.