Kiddipedia
As any parent knows, children cause a whole world of concerns that our child-free selves would never have thought to question. From blocked toilets to stable hot water; sometimes these issues can’t solve themselves, no matter how much we’d like them to.
As the owner of Service Today, a plumbing and electrical company, I’ve seen it all: hot water scalds, jewellery down drains, kids shoes stuck in toilets, and once, a toddler who attempted to use a vacuum cleaner to help mum clean the inside of a toilet. You can’t make this stuff up.
So if you’ve been feeling concerned about the number of times you’ve had to call up your local tradie for a kid-related issue, here are the top three most common complaints to make you feel a little less alone.
Sticking things in power points
It might seem strange, but kids love sticking things in power points (electrical outlets). Thankfully, there’s a cheap, simple, easy fix: all you need is a removable power point cap that is difficult for small hands to remove. For more persistent problems, you could consider replacing your power points with tamper-resistant versions with built-in plug covers.
While we’re on the topic of replacing power points, if your child has been known to run off with USB convertors, you might want to consider installing USB outlets, which remove the need for converters entirely. Which brings us to…
Flushing things down the toilet
The fascination with kids and flushing things down the toilet is second to none. From toys to keys to small pets; there’s almost nothing that hasn’t found its way into the drain at some point or another.
Most of the time, plungers won’t do the job effectively, and chemical cleaners generally won’t work on solid objects that contain metal or plastic. Unless you happen to have a plumber in the family, your best bet is to call a licenced professional out to deal with the blockage. Don’t worry, we’ve seen it all before.
If your child is a serial flusher you might want to consider a toilet lock, which will prevent them from opening the lid of the toilet with adult assistance. It’s not very pretty, but it works.
Reducing hot water temperature
While sticking things in plugs and flushing things down the toilet are issues that we might feel justified blaming our kids for; hot water temperature is not something your child has any control over. If you’re moving house, get your hot water temperature checked by a licensed professional straight away, before it causes a serious accident – especially if you live in an older house that may not have temperature control systems (a tempering valve) installed. This is an absolute must for every home – and even more important for families with young children.
Remember, water at 65ºC produces a full-thickness burn in under a second, at 60ºC it takes five seconds, but at 50ºC takes five minutes to produce the same depth of burn. By reducing your water to 50ºC, you’ll be ensuring both you and your children are safe from dangerous scalds.
Safety is a huge concern for everyone, but especially for parents with young children. By taking small steps today, you’ll be saving your family from serious pain later – in every sense of the word.
Zak Saboune, founder, Service Today:
Early in his career, Zak Saboune recognised that being a skilled tradesperson wasn’t enough in today’s competitive world. Zak’s strong belief in reliable on-time performance and predictable, honest prices led him to found Service Today, a professional home services company offering services including emergency plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling.
Backed by his experience as a licensed plumber, Zak’s passion for great customer service and flair for marketing and technology has seen Service Today expand into one of Australia’s leading emergency home service businesses, with over 180 employees in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
