At this point, everybody’s been home for a while, and everybody’s staying home for a good while longer. This means new levels of stress are being placed on residential plumbing systems. As a plumber in the Bronx, here’s what we’ve been seeing, and here’s what you can do to prevent these issues from happening in your place:
Clogged Toilets
At the top of the list, the plumbing problem most associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is the clogged toilet. The reason why is simple: people who weren’t able to get toilet paper during the early rush for supplies used alternate items like paper towels, wipes, and facial tissue. These substitutes weren’t made to flush, and by and large, they don’t.
The result: clogged toilets. The solution: Call your Bronx plumber to clear the drain. Keep it from happening again: Going back to normal toilet paper should resolve this issue. If you’re forced to use substitute items, make sure they go in the trash. Don’t flush them! As for flushable wipes – from what we’ve seen, better safe than sorry: toss them in the trash & avoid having to call the plumber.
No Hot Water!
Having everybody safe at home together all the time is certainly a blessing, but it can be hard on the hot water supply. We’ve had numerous calls in the Bronx related to homes that suddenly have no hot water, or the hot water supply is intermittent. This can be attributable to increased usage to some degree, but if it’s a persistent issue, it’s a good idea to have your Bronx plumber take a look at what’s going on.
Water heater issues can be related to the heating element or controls, in which case repair can be an option. In cases where the water heater is at or past its expected useful life – ten to fifteen years in most cases – or when the tank itself is damaged, water heater replacement makes more sense.
