Foreword: In those years, the water and electricity legends we all believed in
In the alleys of Taipei and in the chats of neighbors, some "life wisdom" about water and electricity maintenance, energy conservation and money saving are always circulated. Some of these concepts passed down by word of mouth are indeed useful, but more often they are passed down in error and are even potentially dangerous. As a master who has been in the water and electricity industry for more than ten years, I have heard too many customers turn small problems into big troubles or waste money due to misconceptions. Today, let’s make it clear once and for all!
Myth 1: Unplugging will not consume electricity?
Misconception: As long as the electrical switch is off or in standby mode, there is no or minimal power consumption and there is no need to unplug it.
Truth: As long as the plug is still plugged into the socket, the internal transformer or control circuitry of most electrical appliances is still "standby and consuming power". According to Taipower, the standby power of all electrical appliances in a household may account for 5% to 10% of the total electricity consumption. LCD TVs, set-top boxes, stereos, microwave ovens, electric cookers with clock displays, etc. are all large consumers of standby power.
Correct approach: Develop the habit of "unplugging" appliances that are infrequently used (such as dish dryers, seasonal fans) or that are not used for long periods of time every day (such as TVs, computer monitors). You can use an "extension cord with an independent switch" to cut off the power supply to an entire row of electrical appliances with one click, which is trouble-free and safe.
Myth 2: The faucet is not closed tightly. Can you save water bills by letting it drip?
Misconception: I heard that the water meter will not turn for the smallest flow of water, so if you let the leaky faucet drip continuously, the water will be free.
Truth: This is a completely wrong and extremely unethical idea! First, modern water meters are extremely sensitive, and even small flows of water will still accumulate water. What's more, if water leaks are left unchecked, dozens of liters of water may be wasted a day. This is not only a waste of money, but also an unethical behavior during the water shortage season.
Correct approach: If you find that the faucet cannot be closed tightly or is dripping, you should repair it immediately. Usually the internal "rubber ring" or "ceramic valve core" is worn out. The cost of replacing parts and materials is very cheap (tens to hundreds of yuan). You can solve the problem immediately by yourself or ask a master to replace it, saving long-term waste of water bills and water resources.
Myth 3: If the power trips, just turn the switch back hard?
Misconception: The non-fuse switch (NFB) tripping is just "accidental", and you can continue to use it by pushing it back hard.
Truth: A tripping switch is a "protection mechanism" that tells you there is a problem with the circuit: it may be a short circuit, overload, or electrical failure. Forcing the power back on without identifying the cause may cause the power to trip again, or may ignite the wire insulation and cause a fire.
Correct approach: When a power trip occurs, first unplug all electrical appliances on the circuit. Then, turn the tripped switch "fully to the OFF position" and then turn it back to the ON position. Then, plug the electrical appliances back in one by one and turn them on. When plugging in an electrical appliance causes another power outage, the electrical appliance is likely to be the culprit and should be sent for repair and inspection. If the power still trips after unplugging all electrical appliances, there is a problem with the circuit itself and you need to ask an electrician to repair it.
Myth 4: The smaller the water output of the water heater, the more gas it will save?
Misconception: Turn the hot water faucet smaller when taking a shower. Less hot water will flow out, which can save gas.
Truth: This concept is wrong about "instantaneous" gas water heaters. The water heater has a minimum starting flow rate. When the water flow rate is lower than this value, the water heater may not be able to ignite or may start and shut down repeatedly. On the contrary, the combustion efficiency is poor and the loss of parts is increased. More importantly, too small a volume of water will lengthen the bathing time and may not necessarily reduce overall energy consumption.
Correct approach: To save gas, start by "lowering the set temperature" and "shortening the bathing time." Set the water heater temperature to a comfortable 40-42 degrees (it does not have to be set to the highest setting), and use a water-saving shower head, which can save water without reducing water pressure, allowing the water heater to work at optimal efficiency.
Myth 5: If the toilet is blocked, just use more Tongle (strong alkali laxative)?
Misconception: If the toilet is clogged, pour a whole bottle of Tonic. The longer you wait, the better the effect will be.
Truth: Commercially available liquid channel openers are mostly strong bases or acids and are extremely corrosive. If the clog is grease, hair, or hygiene products, it may be effective. But if it is organic matter (such as a large amount of feces) or hard objects (such as toys, toothbrushes), chemicals cannot dissolve it at all. What's even more dangerous is that if the pipeline is old and has cracks, strong acids and alkalis may corrode the pipe wall and cause rupture, or splash and injure people. Moreover, this will expose the plumbers who will deal with it later to danger.
Correct approach: If there is a slight blockage, first use a "suction handle" (toilet piston) to use physical pressure to clear it. If that doesn't work, use a "manual pipe unblocker" (a flexible steel cable) to dig deep into the pipe to hook out or crush the blockage. If it still doesn’t work, it’s time to call the master. The master has a professional "electric pipe clearing machine" that is safe and effective. Prevention is always better than cure, don’t use the toilet as a trash can.
Myth 6: If switches and sockets are not broken on the outside, they must be safe on the inside?
Misconception: As long as the switch can still be pressed and the socket can still be plugged in, it means it is good and there is no need to check and replace it.
Truth: The dangers of switches and sockets are often hidden inside where you can’t see them. Over the years, internal metal contacts may become oxidized and loose due to arc, resulting in poor contact, increased resistance and abnormal heating. This is a common cause of electrical fires. The safety shields on older sockets may also fail, increasing the risk of electric shock to children.
Correct approach: Regularly touch the switch and socket panel in use with the back of your hand (be careful of static electricity) to feel whether it is abnormally "warm". If it feels hot to your hands, you must stop using it and replace it immediately. It is recommended that houses that are more than 15 years old can gradually update the switches and sockets of commonly used circuits to new ones, and choose products with safety baffles and integrated copper sheets inside.
Myth 7: If the hot water is hot and cold when taking a shower, the water heater must be broken?
Misconception: When the temperature of hot water is unstable, the first reaction is that the water heater should be repaired or replaced.
The truth:In Taipei, water pressure in many households can be unstable, especially during peak water usage hours. When you are taking a shower and other faucets are turned on at the same time (such as washing machine water, kitchen water), the amount of water flowing through the water heater will suddenly change. The water heater will not have time to adjust the fire power, and the water will be hot and cold. This is not necessarily a faulty water heater.
Correct approach: First observe whether it occurs during a "specific period of time" or "when a large amount of water is used at home at the same time." If so, you can consider installing a "constant temperature faucet" or "constant temperature water heater", which can automatically adjust the ratio of hot and cold water to maintain a stable outlet water temperature. If you install a pressurizing motor, you should also choose a model with a "constant pressure" function.
Myth 8: If the energy-saving light bulb/LED light bulb is broken, can it be thrown directly into the general garbage?
Misconception: Light bulbs are just glass and metal and can be disposed of as general garbage.
Truth: Energy-saving light bulbs (fluorescent tube type) and some early LED light bulbs contain trace amounts of "mercury" or other harmful substances, which may cause harm to the environment and cleaning personnel when broken. They are considered "waste lighting sources" and should be properly recycled.
Correct approach: Discarded energy-saving light bulbs, LED light bulbs, and fluorescent tubes should be packed up (to prevent breakage) and handed over to the cleaning team's resource recycling truck, or put into the "waste lighting source recycling bin" set up by supermarkets and stores (such as Carrefour and IKEA). The Taipei City Environmental Protection Bureau has detailed recycling point information.
Myth 9: When decorating, can water pipes and wires be buried in the wall once and for all?
Misconception: Use better materials when decorating. Once the water and electricity pipes are hidden in the wall, you don’t need to worry about them anymore.
Truth: Even with the best materials, pipes have a lifespan. Water pipes will become scaled and the insulation on electrical wires will deteriorate. More importantly, you have to know where they are going. Many people do not keep the "water and electricity configuration diagram" after renovation. When drilling holes on the wall to hang pictures or install shelves in the future, it is easy to accidentally drill through the pipelines, causing serious losses.
Correct approach: When the decoration is completed, be sure to obtain a "Complete Drawing of Water and Electricity Pipeline Configuration" from the designer or work team and keep it properly. If you don’t have pictures, at least use your mobile phone to take pictures of the locations of all pipes on the walls and floors before they are sealed. Before constructing on solid walls in the future, be sure to use a "metal detector" or "pipe detector" to confirm that no pipelines are passing through it.
Myth 10: When looking for a plumber, the one with the cheapest quote is the most cost-effective?
Misconception: It’s the same as replacing a switch or repairing a leak. The job will be done by whoever offers the lowest price.
Truth: The "construction methods" and "materials" of water and electricity projects are very different. Cheap quotes may use inferior materials, omit required steps (such as replacing sockets without locking them, repairing water leaks without wrapping anti-leak tape), or additional costs later. This may cause the problem to recur quickly, and even cause security issues, which is not worth the gain.
Correct approach:When choosing a technician, you should confirm whether he has a technician certificate such as "Indoor Wiring (Electrician)" or "Water Pipe Plumbing". After on-site inspection, ask the master to explain in detail the cause of the problem, solution, brand of materials used and construction method, and request a written quotation. A reasonable price should include materials, wages and warranty. Remember, "professionalism has a price", safety and quality are always more important than low price.
Dispelling myths and establishing correct concepts is the first step to stay safe and save money at home. I hope that the sincere words of these masters can help residents in Taipei live more securely and smarter. The next time you have a plumbing problem, don’t believe unsubstantiated claims!
New knowledge on air-conditioning power consumption and Taiwan climate maintenance regulations in recent years (2025-2026 current situation)
With the high temperatures in summer breaking historical records and the adjustment of electricity price structure in recent years, the latest statistics from the Energy Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs show that air-conditioning equipment accounts for more than 47% of residential electricity consumption in summer. Many people mistakenly believe that if the air conditioner is not cold, they only need to "replenish the refrigerant." However, in fact, refrigerant is not naturally consumed during normal operation in a closed circuit. If the refrigerant is insufficient, it means that there are micro leaks in the copper pipes or joints. Simply replenishing the air conditioner will only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. Refrigerant leakage will aggravate the high temperature overload of the compressor and shorten its service life.
According to Taiwan's standard operating specifications for air-conditioning projects, it is recommended that professional technicians with a refrigeration and air-conditioning decoration technician license perform "full machine high-pressure water washing and evaporator deep sterilization" every 1 to 2 years for detached air-conditioning indoor units. Especially in the humid summer in the Shuangbei Basin, the air drum and water collection tray are easy to breed black mold and jelly-like biofilm. This is also the main reason for the sour smell in the air-conditioning outlet and the backflow of the drainage pipe. Regular maintenance can maintain CSPF (Air Conditioning Seasonal Performance Factor) level one energy efficiency level, which can save an average household 15% to 20% of air conditioning electricity bills every year.
Autonomous simple maintenance vs professional maintenance safety red line
- Homeowners can do by themselves: Remove and clean the nylon filter regularly every 2 to 3 weeks (rinse with clean water and dry in a cool place, do not expose it to the sun to avoid deformation and embrittlement); clean the air outlet blades of the indoor unit with a dry cloth; check whether there is any accumulation of debris within 50 cm around the outdoor unit that hinders heat dissipation.
- Professional technicians must be entrusted according to regulations: Refrigerant pressure testing and leakage repair welding, high-pressure cleaning of indoor unit air drums and aluminum fins with liquid chemicals, reset of the drainage slope of hidden cold water pipes in the ceiling, and 220V dedicated power circuit configuration and leakage circuit breaker replacement.
