The stay-at-home has been effected across all states in the U.S.A., and most people are spending more hours at home than they used to. Individuals have been advised to shelter-in-place to reduce the chances of COVID-19 infection. Sadly, most of the essential supplies, such as toilet paper, quickly ran out in stores due to panic buying during the early days of the pandemic.
Amid this time of crisis, most people have resorted to using toilet paper alternatives such as disinfectant wipes for cleaning and wiping purposes. While this has eased the reliance on toilet paper, it may not be good for the toilet plumbing system. Plumbing professionals like S.A.A.B. Plumbing and Heating advice against flushing wipes down the toilet – it would eventually result in clogged drain pipes. (Which is the last thing anyone wants to deal with.)
So, how can homeowners strengthen their toilets and prevent plumbing issues? Here are some tips for maintaining their toilet plumbing systems and preventing backed-up drain pipes.
Only Flush the 3 P’s
The main reason for a backed-up toilet drain is flushing wipes and other solid materials down the toilet. Such materials may not move along the drainpipe freely and may end up clogging the drain pipe. There was even a recent article published by the EPA that encourages all Americans to only flush toilet paper, not disinfecting wipes or other non-flushable items that should be disposed of in the trash.
For a clog-free toilet and drainage system, it is advisable that you only flush the 3 P’s: pee, poop, and paper. These waste materials can quickly disintegrate and move smoothly along the toilet drain pipe. This eliminates the worry of having to deal with a backed-up toilet drain pipe. We understand flushing your toilet paper substitute is tempting, but fixing these backups caused by your alternative is costly and takes time and resources to correct.
Strengthen Your Flush
Sometimes, one flush may not do the trick. This is especially common when the flush power is low and makes it almost impossible to keep your bowel clean. To maintain a powerful flush, you need to ensure that the water levels in the toilet tank are at the designated levels.
If it seems like your toilet’s flush should be stronger, there’s another thing you could look into: the flapper. The flapper regulates how long the gap between the toilet bowl and toilet tank stays open–essentially controlling the length of the flush.
It is also critical to check that the toilet flush holes aren’t clogged. If they are, use any metallic tool to unclog the holes to maintain high pressure of the water whenever you flush.
Check Out for Other Issues
The best way to keep your toilet drainage system in great condition is to check for any issues from time to time. When you go to clean it next, ensure that the flushing system generates enough force for the water to push waste down the toilet, make sure the toilet isn’t running for an excessive period of time once it’s been flushed and that there are no visible leaks forming.
Look out for signs of a backed-up toilet drain, such as foul smell, gurgling sounds, and high water levels in the toilet bowl. Unclogging the toilet drain pipe using a snake at this stage helps avoid more serious problems in the toilet drainage system. Most importantly, ensure that disposable wipe or paper towels end up in the trash and not the toilet.
Our service goes above and beyond your average plumbers and we are always dedicated to providing our customers with the best possible service, even in these tough and unpredictable times. Feel free to reach us at (508) 501-6479 or use the contact form on our site. Our customer service department is available to assist you with scheduling service calls, answering questions, and meeting all your needs. We’ll honor special requests from customers seeking to maintain a safe distance from our service technicians.
We are essential so there is no limit to what we are able to do especially when it comes to Emergency Service Calls.
The post How to Keep Your Toilet Plumbing System Clog-Free While Sheltering in Place appeared first on S.A.A.B. Plumbing and Heating, INC..