5 Tips On How To Avoid Plumbing Disasters With Kids

Kids are our greatest treasure. Unfortunately, they sometimes end up costing us an entire fortune. One of these occasions is when they create a plumbing disaster.

When our children are old enough to start running around the house on their own, we do our best to make everything kids-proof. However, every now and then we realize we’ve forgotten to protect some part of our home. When that part is plumbing, things can end up quite costly. One wrong step or hand movement can end up in a clogged toilet or shower drain, or even a broken pipe!

Fortunately, with these 5 tips, your kids will ruin your plumbing nevermore! Here are some things you can do to avoid plumbing damages when you have children:

1. Keep Your Toilet Lid Locked

Toilets can be a fascinating item for a young child. What’s not to like about them? They make loud noises and there is water swirling and everything that gets inside of it disappears. All of this can make kids think that the toilet bowl is a nice playground.

It goes without saying that the water in your toilet is nowhere near sanitary enough. Not to mention that it can be a drowning hazard, no matter how unlikely that seems. Your child should stay away from it when they are not using it.

To avoid both clogs and injuries, get yourself a toilet lid lock. These useful items can help you stay safe from many plumbing problems.

2. Drain Covers

Just like toilets, drains are another fascinating part of both the bathroom and the kitchen. They, too, seem like a portal to the unknown. For them, it might be the greatest of fun to toss things inside of it or even to try to push their fingers into the tiny holes.

Fortunately, drain covers are there to save you. They can help you keep your pipes safe from clogs and backups. Just a single toy or hair accessory thrown inside the drain can create a hazard for your entire property. Not to mention that this will also help you keep your children’s fingers safe!

A drain cover is a good idea even if your kids are somewhat older. It can prevent hairs and other debris from going into your pipes by accident. This way, you can prevent paying thousands in repairs and plumber visits.

3. Maintain Everything on Time

While your kids aren’t to blame for this one, it’s still an important step. If you don’t maintain your plumbing regularly, you are in for a disaster. This can only be much worse if you have small kids.

Children and pets are susceptible to the dangers of broken pipes. They don’t understand that they should not drink or touch black or yellow water. They might even do something that will only worsen the damage.

Not to mention that stale water is a health hazard! It is a paradise for mold and mildew, which can cause allergies and respiratory issues for your child. This is especially dangerous for kids with asthma.

To prevent this from happening, have a plumber inspect your pipes annually. Prevention is the key to keeping everything (and everyone!) healthy. If you notice an issue before it occurs, you will make sure everyone is safe.

4. Be a Good Role Model

This is one of the most important steps you can make in every part of parenting. It can also come in very handy when it comes to avoiding plumbing disasters.

Your kids will look up to you and they will try to imitate everything that you do. From the way you walk and talk to the way you behave. You cannot tell your kid to do something, then do something entirely opposite, and expect your child to listen to your words.

Don’t flush down the toilet things that can cause clogs, even if you think your kids aren’t watching you. Napkins and baby wipes can cause clogs, but they might also make your children think that any paper-like object is fine to go inside the toilet bowl.

Wash your hands using the right kind of soap, and don’t leave things inside the sink or the bathtub and shower tub unless they belong there. Your child will do everything you do, but without understanding how it can go wrong.

5. Teach Your Kids to Respect Plumbing

This one goes hand-in-hand with the previous tip, but it needs to be said. Kids need to learn how to behave around certain items, and plumbing is one of them. There are some barriers your children need to understand, and you are there to help them.

Explain to them what they can and cannot flush. Teach them which soap and detergent are good to go down the drain, and which one can cause damage. Let them know they shouldn’t touch exposed pipes or pull on the pipe connecting the toilet bowl and the tank.

Some things that may seem logical to us are impossible for kids to understand. If toilet paper can go down the drain, why shouldn’t a toy? If small crumbs of food can go down the drain, why cannot a whole piece of bread? Educate your child on such things and let them know on time what is and what isn’t good behavior when it comes to plumbing.

The Bottom Line

While there are many more ways you can make your plumbing child-proof, one thing is certain: You can never entirely keep your child away from all the pipes and water sources. As your kid is brushing teeth or going potty they will have to be in contact with drains and toilets. This makes things all the more challenging.

Don’t be discouraged if your child throws something inside the toilet no matter how many times you’ve told them not to. Kids will be kids, and some accidents have to happen. The most important thing is to make sure your child is safe.

Plumbing disasters are not just expensive. They can be outright dangerous for small children. These 5 steps can help you prevent most problems that can happen when you combine kids with plumbing and pipes.