We get a lot of calls from moms. We get a lot of questions from moms. I am a mom, so I thought I would write a blog on plumbing tips just for us.
No, the toilet is not a toy hot tub.
Many kids find it fun to watch items go down the toilet tornado into “Nemo” land. We have had to rescue toy cars, army men, hair brushes and massive amounts of toilet paper, paper towels, entire rolls of either of those items, blankets, etc. If your child has a fascination with items being flushed, consider one of these alternatives:
a. Put a child lock on the toilet
b. Keep the bathroom door closed and/or consider installing a chain lock on the outside of the bathroom, higher than the child’s reach, to keep the door locked from the outside
c. Keep tempting items away from the toilet- ie. Keep bath toys in the cabinet instead of next to the tub (and consequently the toilet)
d. Talk to your children about their interest and find other ways to play with water where it is appropriate- a kid pool, kitchen sink or bathtub
e. ALWAYS have a plunger accessible for any toilet a child or teen may use
I’m embarrassed to admit my teen daughter may be a Sasquatch.
It is not unusual for girls, especially teen girls, to clog shower drains. They tend to use a significant amount of lotions, hair products and ‘spa’ items that all build up in the line. These grease based products coat the line and will hold onto clumps of hair that gather then get washed into the line. Chemical drain cleaning products work to dissolve the grease so the hair can slide through the line, but they don’t dissolve hair. There is NO product that will dissolve hair (despite great commercials that give the impression this is what is happening). To clear a hair clog, we recommend earth friendly drain cleaning. This can be done by a professional, or a hand machine or mini-snake available at a hardware store.
Oh sweetie, thanks for washing the car (& flooding the basement).
Your little pumpkin may want to help with car washing, but always check the hose faucet before the entire car is washed (or the entire lawn and garden is watered). You can even make it a game- have one person stay in the basement while the other turns on the hose. If the basement partner doesn’t see or hear any indoor running water, wetness developing on dry wall or ceiling tiles, proceed with the hose help. Otherwise, shut off the hose immediately and call a professional to deal with the leak on your hands. Lots of water damage is caused by faulty sprinklers and hose faucets.
Have a question you want me to answer? Contact me: askplumbinggirl@hotmail.com
