Since the onset of Coronavirus, plumbers have seen a surge in the number of blocked drain cases throughout Sydney. The reason is two fold. Firstly, people are spending more time at home and the bathroom facilities are being used more regularly. Secondly, an inadequate supply of toilet paper has led some people to use substitutes such as wet-wipes and kitchen roll.
“People have been struggling to buy toilet paper so they’re just using whatever they can lay their hands on,” Mr Bonanno told The Daily Telegraph last week. “We have pulled out rags, socks, underwear - it’s a surprise every time.”
Jason Bonanno, owner and director of JAB Plumbing Solutions photographed unblocking a drain for The Daily Telegraph on July 2, 2020. 📝: Matthew Benns 📸: Justin Lloyd
The worst culprit for causing blocked drains is wet-wipes because they are much stronger than toilet paper and don’t disintegrate easily in water.
JAB Plumbing Solutions has been called to to clear countless blocked drains and clogged sewers caused by the accumulation of wet-wipes in plumbing pipes. Wet-wipes combine with other substances inside drain pipes such as oil, grease, hair, tampons and the like. They form large impenetrable clogs that require specialist machinery to break apart and clear.
Last week saw a resurgence in coronavirus cases in Victoria with seventy-four new cases recorded on Sunday 5 July 2020, according to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Nine public housing towers in hotspot areas have been put into "hard lockdown" while forty-one Melbourne suburbs are under stage 3 stay-at-home restrictions. This means people are only allowed to leave their homes for work or study, exercise, to shop for food, and for "care and compassion".
According to another article in the Sydney Morning Herald, leading supermarket chains such as Coles, Woolworths and IGA have reinstated product limits in all of their Victorian stores for toilet paper as well as other products high-demand products including hand sanitiser.
A return to panic buying has also been seen in some Sydney suburbs with toilet paper shortages recorded at Coles and Woolworths at Roselands, Coles Merrylands and Woolworths Leichhardt in Sydney.
JAB Plumbing Solutions would like to remind residents that the only three things that should be flushed are toilet paper, poo and pee - the three Ps. Refrain from using toilet paper alternatives as they can cause big problems for the plumbing system in your home.
Need help with a clogged drain?
If you’re having issues with a blocked drain or clogged sewer call the expert drain plumbers at JAB Plumbing Solutions on 1800 225 552. We carry all the latest industry drain cleaning tools including jet blasters and drain cameras. Our high-pressure drain cleaning service can eradicate clogs caused by wet-wipes, paper towels, tissue and kitchen roll in around an hour (provided there is no further damage to the pipes). Call now for more information.
