During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, households across Central Florida experienced an unexpected consequence of staying home — increased strain on their plumbing systems. With more people working, learning, and spending time indoors, the volume of water use and waste being flushed through residential systems rose dramatically.

At Absolute Best Plumbing, we saw firsthand how these changes impacted homes throughout the region. From clogged toilets to overloaded sewer lines, the plumbing industry has been flooded with emergency calls. Let’s take a closer look at how the pandemic affected residential plumbing and what you can do to prevent costly issues.

What Goes Down Must Stay Down

Under normal circumstances, your plumbing system is built to handle everyday use — but not extreme overuse or improper disposal habits. One of the biggest culprits of plumbing issues during COVID-19 was the widespread use of non-flushable alternatives to toilet paper.

With shelves empty, many households turned to:

• Paper towels
  
  
• Napkins
  
  
• Baby wipes
  
  
• Facial tissues
  
  
• Even restaurant napkins or cleaning wipes
  
  

These materials don’t break down in the sewer system the way toilet paper does. As a result, they can accumulate in your pipes, cause backups, and contribute to costly plumbing disasters — especially in older systems.

Only Three Things Should Be Flushed

The golden rule of toilet flushing is simple: Only flush the 3 Ps — pee, poo, and (toilet) paper.

Anything else puts your pipes and sewer lines at risk. Even items labeled “flushable,” such as flushable wipes, often don’t dissolve properly and should be thrown in the trash.

How Stay-at-Home Orders Stressed Your Pipes

Beyond what people were flushing, the sheer increase in water usage put a strain on plumbing systems. With everyone home all day:

• Toilets were flushed more frequently
  
  
• Dishwashers and laundry machines ran more often
  
  
• Hot water demand spiked, straining water heaters
  
  
• Showers and sinks saw heavier use
  
  

If your household typically only uses its plumbing system in the morning and evening, COVID-19 transformed your home into a 24/7 facility. The increase in usage can:

• Reveal weak points in aging pipes
  
  
• Overwhelm septic tanks
  
  
• Lead to slow drains and clogs
  
  

Preventive Tips for Heavy Plumbing Usage

If your home continues to see increased plumbing use due to remote work or homeschooling, here are a few tips to protect your system:

1. Be Mindful of What You Flush

Stick to flushing only the essentials. Keep a small trash can near the toilet for anything else, and educate children and guests.

2. Use Drain Strainers

Install strainers in bathroom and kitchen drains to catch hair, food particles, and debris that can lead to clogs.

3. Space Out Usage

Avoid running the dishwasher, shower, and washing machine all at once. This spreads out the water demand and reduces the risk of overloading your system.

4. Schedule Preventive Maintenance

Have your plumbing system inspected and serviced by professionals. Absolute Best Plumbing offers inspections, drain cleaning, and water heater checkups to keep everything running smoothly.

5. Watch for Early Warning Signs

Slow drains, gurgling toilets, or unusual odors can indicate an issue is forming. Don’t wait for a full-blown backup — act early.

We’re Here When You Need Us Most

At Absolute Best Plumbing, we’ve adjusted our services to meet the challenges of the pandemic. Our team follows strict safety protocols to protect the health of our clients and technicians, including:

• Masked and gloved technicians
  
  
• Sanitized tools and equipment
  
  
• No-contact service visits when requested
  
  

Whether you’re dealing with a clogged toilet, slow drains, or increased demand on your water heater, we’re just a phone call away.

Contact Absolute Best Plumbing Today

If your home’s plumbing is under pressure, don’t wait for a disaster to strike. Let the licensed professionals at Absolute Best Plumbing provide fast, safe, and effective solutions to keep your system running smoothly — even under the most challenging conditions.

Call today to schedule an inspection or emergency repair. We’re committed to keeping your home safe, clean, and comfortable — pandemic or not.