PLUMBING QUARANTINE 101: Think Before You Flush

 Jason Palmer, owner of Palmer’s Plumbing, LLC and local Master
Plumber & Gas Fitter, is on a quest to increase awareness of an all too often disregarded
warning. Flushing anything other than toilet paper down the toilet is a bad idea. With the most
recent stay-at-home order, household plumbing systems are working overtime. Families must
pay close attention to what they and their children are tossing into the toilet or risk a messy and
inconvenient situation.
With many people having a harder time finding toilet paper, some are using baby wipes, tissues,
napkins and even paper towels instead. “These things don’t necessarily damage the toilet, but
because they don’t break down as easily as toilet paper, it increases the chances of clogging or
backing up the waste pipes” says Palmer.
He also warned that compromised or older plumbing systems are at an even greater risk for
backing up. “Old cast iron or galvanized piping could have scale build up on the inside which
causes the cloth fibers of the flushed material to get hung up on its way out to the septic or
sanitary sewer. Long term, this could turn into a much larger and costly repair.”
As essential services, many plumbers and septic companies are still operating and available to
help if you need them. Palmer says he has implemented several precautionary safety measures to
protect his customers and his team. In addition to disinfecting tools and works spaces on a
regular basis, his employees are wearing gloves and boot covers as well as frequently using hand
sanitizer when hand washing is not available. In return, he is asking his customers to maintain a
minimum of six feet distance during their service call, reschedule if anyone in the house is
feeling unwell, and be understanding that instead of the traditional handshake, you will now get a
“thumbs up” or a “wave.”