What Your Kids Should Know About Your Home’s Plumbing System

Your home’s plumbing system is something that you should definitely teach your kids about. After all, they will be the ones who have to use it one day! In this blog post, Bell Plumbing will discuss some of the things that your kids should know about your home’s plumbing system. We will cover items that can and can’t be flushed down the toilet, foods that should never go down the garbage disposal, and how to unclog a toilet. If you are a homeowner with young children, make sure they know about the plumbing basics that are listed below.

Items that Can’t be Flushed Down the Toilet

Regardless of what your toddler might think, their toys don’t belong in the toilet! The only things that should ever be flushed down the toilet are human waste and toilet paper. Some items that should never be flushed down the toilet include:

• Wipes, even if they are labeled as “flushable.”
• Paper towels.
• Q-tips.
• Feminine hygiene products.
• Tissues.
• Diapers.

All of these items, regardless if they are labeled as “flushable” on the packaging, can cause serious damage to your pipes. Make sure your children know that the only things that should be flushed down the toilet are their own human waste and toilet paper and to keep their toys in the playroom or bathtub.

Items that Can’t Go Down a Garbage Disposal

It’s always great when the kids help clean up and do dishes after dinner, but do they know what should and shouldn’t be going down the garbage disposal? Tiny bits of food that are left on the plates after a meal are typically fine to go down the garbage disposal, but there are a lot of food items that should be disposed of in the trash can. Here are some common foods that should never go down the garbage disposal:

• Stringy vegetables like celery, artichokes, and corn husks.
• Starchy foods like pasta, rice, and potatoes.
• Grease and oil.
• Coffee grounds.
• Large meat bones.
• Eggshells.
• Fruit pits.

In addition to the foods that should never go down the garbage disposal, be sure your children know that their hands and fingers also do not belong anywhere near the unit. If your garbage disposal seems clogged or there is a food item blocking it, your kids should never put their hands down the disposal as they can risk injuring themselves with the blades.

Plunging a Toilet

If you have children younger than 13 years old, we don’t expect them to know how to unclog a toilet. However, younger teenagers should have no issue using a plunger to repair a minor toilet clog. If your child accidentally clogs the toilet, make sure they know that this is completely repairable and not to think they broke the toilet.

The most important thing to tell them is that they should never continue flushing the toilet when it’s clogged with the hope that the clog miraculously disappears. Teach them how to use a plunger by placing it in the toilet bowl and plunging in and out. If this doesn’t work, you might have to step in and help, or give our team a call at 650-206-7672 to schedule a repair appointment.

Teaching your kids the above plumbing basics means you won’t have to worry about any plumbing incidents at home! If you are dealing with a more serious toilet or garbage disposal issue, don’t hesitate to contact our team. We’re always here to help ensure your plumbing system is running smoothly.