Each year when the big championship football game comes around, there is a myth that the water systems in major cities will collapse because of the amount of people flushing their toilets at the same time during half time. Luckily, this nightmare isn’t true, we’ll tell you why.
How was this myth started?
This myth dates all the way back to the 1930’s, when radio programs were around. Rumors swirled that simultaneous toilet flushing during popular programs would wreak havoc.
Supporting the myth
On January 22,1984 in Utah, a water main ruptured during the championship football game during half time. However, this is the only large-scale sewer system incident known to have happened during a Sunday football championship game.
What really causes sewer problems
Early morning water usage, as millions of people prepare for their work day, flushing toilets and taking showers between 6am and 8am.
Top plumbing calls made during the big championship include:
- Toilet backups
- Sewer backups
- Clogged sinks
- Clogged garbage disposals
Helpful tips:
- Don’t throw your chicken wing bones down the drain.
- Don’t pour any grease, fat or oil down the drain.
- Don’t throw potato skins or any starchy foods down the drain.
- Make sure the flapper on your toilet works correctly. The flapper is the part of your toilet that lets water flow from the tank on the back down into the toilet bowl, creating the flush. If the flapper doesn’t open all the way it won’t release enough water, which means you’ll have a weak flush, that may cause a clog.
If your plumbing happens to suffer during the big championship football game, or any time for that matter, schedule an appointment with Lindstrom. We’re happy to come fix your issue, no matter how big or small.