Common Plumbing Misconceptions & Myths Explained

Do Lemons in the disposal freshen your kitchen and give it that nice lemony fresh scent?

Yes, but and this is a big but, our San Diego plumbers never recommend grinding those rinds in the disposal. Even if they are tiny pieces and grind okay, they eventually end up in your drain line and can cause worse problems later on. Read our blog about lemon peels to find the best way to keep your kitchen drain smelling fresh. Read it here!

Where you see water is where you have a leak (as related to slab leaks)?

Oftentimes, when our customers call us for a leak where they can see the water pooling in the floor, they believe it to be located directly under the water. However, it is more complicated than simply removing the flooring and repairing the line. That’s why our San Diego plumbers are also specialized in Slab Leak Location. They use an electronic leak location device because the water that is coming up in one place, could very well be starting at another location. By performing the leak location, our plumbers will verify the exact leak and line to ensure our repair solves your issue.

A sky high water bill indicates a major leak (not necessarily!)

As one of the premiere San Diego plumbing companies, we receive many calls asking for advice when a customer receives a sky high water bill. Many times, our customer service representatives can help eliminate possibilities by walking our customers through possible scenarios in order to determine if a specialty plumber is needed. Often, an unusually high water bill will come with visible symptoms such as leaks evident in the walls or bathroom, warm floors or wet carpets (when it is a slab leak) or irrigation leaks in the yard. Other times, there is no evidence of leaks but the water bill more than doubles. When we come across this scenario, the culprit is generally a toilet with a minor and unseen leak. Did you know that small fixture leaks and toilet leaks can be responsible for more water waste than larger leaks. This is because they go unnoticed and unchecked. It is always a good piece of advice to do regular checks and maintenance on your toilets and other fixtures. If you suspect a mystery toilet leak, you can always perform a test by adding dye (found at your local home store) into the tank. If you see the dye show up in the bowl, you may have an issue that can be easily resolved. This could save money and time chasing down those mystery leaks causing wasted water.

Tankless: Instant or endless hot water?

When we want hot water, we want it quick. Not only does it waste water during the time it takes to heat up, but especially for showers, we like to be able to use it on demand. So when we get calls for tankless water heaters, a big misconception is that the water heater will provide that “on demand” hot water instantaneously. Sadly, it is not the case. The tankless water heaters are great at providing efficient cost effective method of heating water, and will provide hot water for as long as you want it, but it still takes relatively the same time to heat up.

Tankless water heaters only heat the water as you need it. Since they do not hold gallons of water (only about the amount of two cups) at any given time, there is no lost energy in continuously heating the water for use. But, as with any water heating system (without a re-circulation system) the water takes some time to heat and the further the tap/fixture, the longer to get hot water.

Any plumber can take care of any problem

Not all San Diego plumbers are created equal, and many will have expertise in different areas. At Bill Howe Plumbing, Inc. we have three different classifications of plumbers: Drain, Plumbing and Combination techs. And even within those classifications, there are varied levels of expert knowledge. There are drain techs that specialize in sewer relining, camera inspections and hydrojetting. There are plumbing technicians that can find and repair slab leaks, gas lines and water heaters, and those who are experts in tankless water heaters.

And then, we have some who really can do it all! But one thing is certain, whatever your issue, we have the right tech for your job. So if you need a professional, you know who to call 1-800 Bill Howe (245-5469).