Winter in Suffolk County can sometimes bring cold snaps. When that happens, the unusually cool temperatures can occasionally freeze water pipes. That means when you turn on your faucet or try to take a shower, there’s no water flow because the pipe is blocked with ice.
We have unfortunately experienced a decline in the availability of toilet paper in the last year due to the pandemic. Why is that? We may never truly know. However, we do know what we have to do and what to avoid when it comes to taking care of the home’s plumbing.
Here is what you should avoid throwing in the toilet if you have run out of toilet paper.
If you have run out of toilet paper and have been unable to locate any, then there are alternatives you can use. However, keep in mind, you should never toss any of these alternatives into the toilet. They are never meant to be flushed for any reason.
Wet wipes, tissues, toilet covers, napkins, and even newspapers have been decent alternatives for many during our toilet paper shortage. While they may not be ideal solutions, they are still solutions as long as you remember to refrain from flushing these items.
Even if something claims to be flushable, it should still be avoided out of an abundance of caution. Toilet paper is specially designed for our plumbing systems. It breaks up and dissolved with no issues. Other items, even when they claim to be flushable, may end up causing clogs and damage to your pipes.
Flushing anything other than toilet paper can cause the materials to clump up and then become clogged in the drain. Over time, the build-up of this material can cause a serious clog in the pipe and can cause a backup.
In addition to the items we have already mentioned above, you should also refrain from throwing anything else in the toilet that can ultimately cause damage such as Q-tips, baby wipes, diapers, menstrual products, condoms, floss, paper towels, and cotton pads.
Bleach should also be avoided, especially if you have a septic system. While it may be used regularly as part of your weekly cleaning rotation, you should never throw bleach down a toilet because it is too harsh of a chemical and can cause issues with your septic system. Vinegar is a good alternative when it comes time to clean your toilets.
So, the next time you find yourself limited on toilet paper, consider the alternatives but make sure you do whatever you can to safeguard your plumbing and avoid clogs and costly repairs.
Most people make the mistake of assuming that they can get hold of any plumber during an emergency and attend to the leakage or other problem, which is creating the emergency. While this is in a way true, you can never be sure that the plumber you contact when confronted with such an emergency, is the best one. Does the agency have qualified plumbers? Do they have the technical competence to tackle the emergency? Are they trustworthy? Remember such emergencies quite often occur in the dead of night and you need to be sure of the people you let in at such odd hours.