New parents have a lot of work to do before their baby arrives but don’t forget about the plumbing. Easy access to clean water is essential for a newborn and their parents.
The Importance of Functioning Plumbing for New Parents
Expecting parents likely focus on things like setting up the baby’s nursery, purchasing clothes and other baby supplies, as well as emotionally preparing for the addition of a new family member. However, while some parents may hold off on baby-proofing their home until their newborn is mobile, there are other safety and health measures that should be addressed before the new baby comes home.
According to both the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the WHO (World Health Organization), functional plumbing is essential to health conditions in the home.
How to Prepare Your Home’s Plumbing for a New Baby
There are a few things that new parents need to address before their new arrival comes home for the first time.
Ensure that your baby’s arrival is as smooth as possible by ensuring the house’s plumbing has all necessary repairs complete. Call M5 Plumbing today to get started!
Check for and Repair all Plumbing Leaks
Any leak in the home’s plumbing will increase moisture within the house. This moisture creates conditions perfect for both mold and mildew to grow. Mold and mildew can cause significant health issues, especially for a newborn with a brand new immune system. The baby can suffer from wheezing, sneezing, sniffing, and other symptoms caused by mold and mildew growth in the home. Excess exposure to mold and mildew can also lead to long-term issues for the new baby, including asthma. Hire a professional plumber such as the experienced contractors at M5 Plumbing in Vancouver, Washington to inspect the plumbing system and make all necessary repairs.
Install a Water Softener
If homeowners notice that they have hard water in their homes, they should contact a plumber to install a water softener. Hard water dries out hair and skin, and already-sensitive newborn skin particularly suffers with hard water. Additionally, hard water makes cleaning difficult due to the inhibition of soap lathering.
Install a Diaper Sprayer
Cloth diapers are better for the environment and a new parent’s wallet. Newborns go through an astronomical amount of diapers each day, so cloth diapers can be a great choice for many new parents. Diaper sprayers can be installed on the toilet to easily wash off the mess from cloth diapers before they go into the washing machine. Do not ever flush any type of diaper down the toilet.
Adjust the Water Heater Temperature
The new baby’s skin won’t be used to the same hardships as the other members of the household. A baby has much lower tolerance to high water temperature than adults. Ensure to set the water heater at or around 110°F. This temperature will prevent any burns as well as any chilling that might occur.
Have Water Lines Cleaned
A common problem for home plumbing systems is sediment-filled water lines. No one is immune from sediment slowly accumulating in water lines. If water lines aren’t cleaned regularly, a clog will eventually appear. To ensure that sediments don’t make their way into the water supply, add a filtration system to the water line. This process will help ensure that the whole family has consistent access to clean water.
Install Babyproofing Products on Plumbing Fixtures
While many new parents won’t install babyproofing products until their little one starts crawling, some may choose to get ahead of the game. Make sure to install babyproofing products such as locks on the toilet lid, outlet covers, faucet covers, and more. These products help keep the baby from hurting themself once they can move around the house.
Keep Up With Regular Plumbing Maintenance
As mentioned before, make sure to schedule a general plumbing inspection before your new arrival is due to come home. Make sure to keep up with all regular maintenance for your plumbing, including preventative measures to avoid clogs and frozen pipes. Do not flush baby wipes or diapers down the toilet, and make sure to leave the faucet dripping during freezing temperatures to ensure water flow through the plumbing system. This process will help homeowners avoid plumbing problems while caregiving for their new baby.
How Can M5 Plumbing Help You?
If you’re looking for reliable plumbing services, including maintenance and repair, look no further than M5 Plumbing in Vancouver, WA. With decades of combined experience among its staff, M5 Plumbing can help with any of your plumbing issues, including clogged or slow-draining fixtures, water softener installation, main water line installation, and more. Call today to get started!