09 Mar Save Your Pipes: Don’t Flush Those Wipes! | Affordable Plumbing Sacramento
Always Affordable Plumbing Tips | Can I flush?
Just Cause’ it Goes to the Sewer Doesn’t Mean Your Toilet is a Trash Can!
Prevent expensive pipe damage, DON’T FLUSH THESE ITEMS!
Look, we understand how it goes…the toilet flushes down the grossest of the gross, so where is the harm in flushing down other things? Many of us treat the toilet with an “out-of-sight, out-of-mind” mentality. Once it gets flushed, it is not our problem!
The problem is that some things that people think are OK to flush, actually can cause a lot of damage to your plumbing. Not just to your plumbing, but also to the City Sewer system as well. Many items that end up getting flushed end up collecting and clogging your pipes, never making it to the sewer. Some of these items are non-biodegradable, so they just build-up, and build-up, until BOOM! Your sewer backs up, or worse, your pipes are damaged.
There are only 2 things that should get flushed down the toilet:
- Human waste (feces, urine)
- Toilet paper
Things that you SHOULD NOT FLUSH include:
- disposable diapers
- tampons and tampon applicators
- sanitary napkins
image from smartsign.com
- cotton balls and swabs
- mini or maxi pads
- condoms
- cleaning wipes of any kind
- facial tissue
- bandages and bandage wrappings
- automotive fluids
- paint, solvents, sealants and thinners
- poisons and hazardous waste
- pet poop
Are FLUSHABLE WIPES safe to flush?
Despite the clever marketing, NO, flushable wipes are NOT SAFE to flush! These products may claim to disintegrate, but the reality is that they often don’t disintegrate fast enough to prevent build up or blockage. Here is a Consumer Reports video about it:
Can I flush expired medicine?
Maybe. While medicine may not damage your pipes, the potential environmental damage is debatable. The best thing to do with medicine is to take it to your local medicine take-back program. The FDA claims flushing medications is safe for the environment, but we will leave that up to you.
Bacon grease and fats
Nope! As discussed in this ARTICLE, greases, oils, and fats can quickly build up in your pipes! Do not pour these items down the sink or flush them down the toilet. They very easily cling to pipes and harden like a plug!
Prevent a main drain clog, or a toilet clog, by being mindful about what you flush! If you have any questions, or are having problems with your main drain or home plumbing, CALL Always Affordable Plumbing, serving Sacramento and surrounding areas with honest, affordable service!
Learn some of our best affordable plumbing tips to PREVENT expensive plumbing repairs!!
Always Affordable Plumbing Sacramento | Can I flush?