Don’t Flush Wipes Down the Pipes

Whether you’ve been told by your apartment complex landlord or heard it from a friend, a majority of people are realizing that flushable wipes are bad for your plumbing system. Despite the word in their name, are they actually flushable and safe to use? KCRA News uploaded video footage of a local maintenance crew cleaning out sewer pipes with a major clogging issue:

The cause? Massive amounts of flushable wipes. While they may be deemed “flushable,” they may have more of an impact on your home’s plumbing than you thing.

In this blog, we’ll highlight the negative effects of flushing the wipes, and what we can do to keep our plumbing system flowing.

Why Flushable Wipes Create More Problems

When it comes to toilet paper preference, we have a variety of brands to choose from, and we also have the option to choose single-ply or two-ply, soft or firm toilet paper. Regardless of their style, however, they all dissolve easily in water.

Over the years, bathroom comfort has taken a step further by creating various brands of flushable wet wipes to use as an additional means of comfort. While they’re both designed for the same function of cleaning, they are made from different components that vary on the amount of time it takes for them to break down.

Perhaps you been using flushable wipes for years and haven’t seen the detrimental effects they may have on your plumbing. The local news story delivered out of Sacramento by KCRA News gives you an up-close view, and it’s a messy sight.

The Impacts On Your Plumbing

The news reporter displays two containers of water. One has toilet paper, the other has a flushable wipe. Fast forward a few days, the toilet paper is broken apart and gives the water a cloudy, but fluid appearance. What about the “flushable” wipes? They’re still solid and intact.

While toilet paper takes only a few days to break down in the sewer lines, flushable wipes take years to do so. This can create serious issues in your plumbing system including:

• Constant clogs
• Smelly drains
• Damaged sewer lines
• Water leaks
• Costly repairs

Over time, you’ll have to address your plumbing issues more frequently, just as the city does on an annual basis, which should not usually be the case.

How to Prevent Sewer Problems in Your Home

Whether you realize it or not, flushable wipes have become a rampant issue in residential plumbing systems. Before, the crew had to service and clean the system quarterly; but as the problem has increased, they must clean the sewer system every month due to the number of flushable wipes in the system. The de-clogging process can take as little as half an hour to up to four hours, depending on the amount of buildup.

So how can you make a difference in your plumbing?

Simple, throw flushable wipes in the garbage instead. The simplest way to prevent clogs in your home is to work with your family to create a system. If you’re not used to throwing wipes away, keep a trash bin close to the toilet. By making it a concerted effort, you can make a difference in your area.

Also, rely on an expert plumber. If you’re in need of plumbing services, our plumbers at Hall’s Plumbing are here to help. We will take care of your piping maintenance needs to ensure that you don’t have a bigger problem your home will have to pay a higher price for.