If your toddler has recently become more mobile and curious about the world around them, then it is time to come up with a comprehensive plan for protecting all of your faucets, fixtures, and pipes. You probably won’t be able to prevent every plumbing problem that your child causes, but there are a few simple steps that you can take to avoid major accidents.
Put Locks on the Toilets
Most young children are going to become infatuated with toilets at some point, and that is one of the reasons why you should consider installing locks on the seats as well as the levers. When certain objects are flushed down a toilet, it can cause an incredible amount of damage in a short period of time. Putting a few locks on all of the toilets in your home is a simple project that should only take a few minutes, and those safety devices can easily be removed when your child is a little bit older.
Invest in Drain Covers
One of the most cost-effective ways to protect your plumbing is to invest in a few drain covers. Those simple devices are nothing more than mesh screens that can be placed over all of the drains in your home. As long as they remain in place, they should catch any unusual objects that get washed away in the shower or rinsed down the sinks.
Practice Good Habits Yourself
Your toddler will most likely copy everything that you do around the house, and that includes how you interact with items like faucets or the dishwasher. Treating those types of objects carefully will show your child just how important it is to respect the plumbing system. As they grow older, you can also spend a little bit of time teaching them about the plumbing system so that they understand some of the basic concepts.
Have Your Plumbing Regularly Serviced
Even if you are extremely careful, you should still have your plumbing system serviced by a residential plumber at least once every year or two. During those service calls, the plumber can address issues such as leaky pipes or faucets that drip. They can also clear out any residue that is in the pipes so that you don’t have to deal with major clogs later on.
In addition to these few tips, you should make sure that you know how to turn off your home’s water supply as well. Accidents can take place at any time, and knowing how to operate the main shut-off valve is going to reduce your risk of serious water damage.
