With the majority of residents working and eating at home right now, your building\’s plumbing infrastructure will be put to the test. Multi-story condominium buildings have a vertical plumbing system with shared pipes for supply and drainage. Since these vertical stacks serve more than one unit, it is very important that residents adhere to some basic principles to reduce the risk of sewage back-ups.

Do not flush anything other than regular toilet paper down the toilets. Doing so can result in sewage-related back-ups. Below are items that should never be flushed:

Any Type of Wet Wipes (even if they say \”flushable\”, they are not flushable)
Napkins
Paper Towels
Feminine Hygiene Products
Condoms
Cotton Balls/Swabs
Dental Floss

Since many people are also cooking and eating at home, excessive disposal of food particles in the plumbing system can also result in sewage back-ups. In addition to following the above guidelines, use of garbage disposals should be minimized at this time. Even with routine preventative maintenance, the stress put on the kitchen waste lines right now could be too much for a building.

Here are some things that you should never put down a garbage disposal.

Bones
Celery
Coffee grounds
Egg shells
Fruit pits
Grease
Pasta
Potato peels

Though it might seem like an inconvenience, by following the above guidelines you will help ensure the plumbing system at your building remains functional during what will certainly be a period of high usage.

Related Posts