Mom is always right, right? While she certainly was right about a lot of things, she might have gotten some of her plumbing facts wrong — but we don’t blame her! Over the years, these plumbing myths have made their way from generation to generation, but we’re putting an end to some of them today!
You should never shower during a thunderstorm.
Is it really possible to get struck by lightning inside your home? Recent studies suggest that it is possible to get struck by lightning in the shower. Though the odds are incredibly rare, there have been instances where lightning struck a house while someone was washing dishes, doing laundry, or showering and they were struck by lightning that made its way through the pipes. In the end, it is technically possible but incredibly unlikely, so the jury is out on this one.
Water spins in one direction because of Earth’s rotation.
The Coriolis effect has caused millions of people across the globe to at one point or another stare into their toilet bowl. If you’ve never heard of it, the Coriolis effect makes some objects on the Earth curve when they should go straight, because of the Earth’s rotation. It’s also the reason why many people believe toilet water swirls in different directions depending on if you’re in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere.
But while the Coriolis as a whole is very real, it doesn’t work on your toilet. The gears inside a toilet that shoot water out when you flush are actually the ones that dictate which direction the water spins.
Ice cubes sharpen your disposal blades.
Nope — they’ll actually do the exact opposite! While it’s fine to throw ice cubes down the drain in an effort to clean them every once in a while, doing this every week or so will leave you with dull blades.
Want to hear something that’s not a myth? Your plumbing needs regular maintenance, even when it seems like nothing is going wrong! For all of your plumbing needs, give Mr. Rooter of San Francisco a call today!