Elizabeth Drain Service has the lowdown on everything you need to know about flushable wipes, including the answer to the burning question: Do flushable wipes cause plumbing problems? Elizabeth Drain Service has the lowdown on everything you need to know about flushable wipes, including the answer to the burning question:
Can Wipes Be ‘Flushable’?
Wipes are constructed of a form of paper pulp that is kept together using non-biodegradable ingredients such as polyester and polymers. Wipes are also known as tampons. Wipes do not disintegrate as quickly as toilet paper, which becomes unusable practically as soon as it comes into contact with water. However, when wipes enter a septic tank or sewage system, they get clogged. These wipes, if not properly broken down, have the potential to cause clogs, backups, blockages, and floods.
Since most of us are staying at home to stay safe, those of us who bought extra toilet paper in the last few weeks are probably glad we did. But staying home for days at a time instead of going to work or school definitely makes it more important to have toilet paper at home.
What can you do if you are one of the many unfortunate households that didn’t have time to buy more toilet paper before the shelves ran out?
There are a lot of things you can use besides toilet paper, which is good news. However, none of them can be flushed down the toilet without causing a sewage backup or clog, which is bad for you and your neighbors.
When you’re trying to decide what kind of toilet paper to buy, use the tips below to help you make the best choice for your family. Also, think about how you will get rid of your alternative material. If it’s not toilet paper or human waste, it’s not meant to go down the toilet!
Different Materials
- Can Baby Wipes Be Flushed? No, baby wipes should not go down the toilet. If you’re like millions of other people in this hard time, you’re thinking about using wet wipes instead of toilet paper. Even though moist towelettes might be good for wiping, they are not meant to be flushed down the toilet. The name “flushable wipe” isn’t quite right. Because they are made of woven cotton or synthetic fibers, not paper, they don’t break down in the sewer system as toilet paper does. So, after you use a baby wipe, throw it away right away.
- Can Paper Towels Be Flushed? No, you shouldn’t put napkins or paper towels down the toilet. When the shock of the empty toilet paper shelves wears off, your eyes will naturally go to the neatly stacked paper towels and napkins a little further down the paper products aisle. But unfortunately, these alternatives are much thicker and stronger than toilet paper, so they can’t be flushed. If you have to use paper towels or napkins, throw them away in the trash instead of the toilet.
- Can Face Tissues Be Flushed? No, you shouldn’t flush used facial tissues. When you hold a square of toilet paper in one hand and a tissue in the other, they feel pretty much the same. But toilet paper is made to break up quickly in water, while facial tissues are not. You could use a tissue instead of toilet paper, but don’t flush it. Throw it in the trash.
- Can you flush clothes you’ve washed? No, you should not flush clothes that can be used again down the toilet.
Do Flushable Wipes Clog Pipes?
If you have been using flushable wipes up until this point without being aware of the potential harm they might do to your waste pipes, you run the risk of having your toilet gets blocked as a consequence of your use of these wipes and the process of drain cleaning harder for the plumber.
The following is a brief instruction that will walk you through the process of unclogging a toilet that has been blocked with flushable wipes.
- Begin by grabbing a plunger. Using the plunger, you may work to break up the blockage and push the wipes farther down the sewage system so that they can be removed.
- You may use a toilet snake. You may grasp the wipes that are obstructing the pipe using a toilet snake, which you can get at most hardware shops. Then, you can use the toilet snake to draw them back out via the plumbing in your toilet. Be prepared to pull out the wipes and throw them away in the garbage pail when the time comes.
- Call a professional. In certain cases, the only method to clear a clog is to contact a skilled plumber. This is particularly true for deep-seated jams that are created by flushing wipes.
Can Flushable Wipes Affect Septic Systems?
In addition to the possibility that they could clog your pipes, non-dissolvable wipes will accumulate in the portion of the septic tank where solid waste is stored, which will result in the increased frequency with which the tank will need to be pumped. This results in an increase in the expenditures associated with plumbing and poses a potential threat of obstruction to your septic system.
What to Do With a Clogged Toilet
Do not freak out if you and your family have been using flushable wipes and have suffered blocked pipes, drains, and toilets as a result of your use of these wipes. The Elizabeth Drain Service crew in your area can assist you. You may arrange service by calling us at (908) 988-0365 to
book an appointment, or you can visit our website to do so.