When it comes to home plumbing, there are lots of rumours and myths which persist. A lot of these myths can actually lead to situations which require an emergency plumber. Below is a guide to some common plumbing myths and the dangers they can pose to the plumbing system in your home. Read on to find out some important truths about the pipes, water heaters and sewer system on your property.

Myth: Modern water heaters do not need to be serviced

While advances in technology mean that water heaters are now more reliable than they have ever been, this does not mean that they do not need to be serviced. Even if you have a modern water heater fitted in your home, you should periodically call in a plumber and have the heater and hot water system inspected. If you do not, it is likely that your hot water system will eventually fail. The failure of a home's hot water system can be very inconvenient and may require a visit by an emergency plumber.

Myth: You can unblock any drain using a plunger

If a drain becomes blocked, many homeowners make the mistake of thinking they can clear whatever is causing the problem using a household plunger. While plungers are effective at clearing small clogs in pipes, they are not suitable for larger blockages. If you persist in trying to clear a blockage using inadequate tools, you could waste valuable time. If you have attempted to plunge a blockage and it has not worked after a few attempts, you should call in an emergency plumber. An emergency plumber has access to specialist tools such as high-pressure hoses which can be used to remove blockages.

Myth: You can flush cat litter down the toilet

Cat litter can smell bad. Because of the foul smell, many people want to dispose of cat litter as quickly as possible. For most people, this means flushing it down the toilet. However, it is never a good idea to wash cat litter down the toilet. Standard cat litter will not break down when it comes into contact with water which means it can causes blockages and plumbing emergencies. Even if you buy cat litter which is designed to be toilet friendly and which will break down when it comes into contact with water, flushing it down the toilet is still a terrible idea. Cat faeces can contain parasites which can be very harmful to humans.

If you would like further information, you should contact a 24/7 plumbing service today.