Flushing the wrong items down the toilet can cause serious damage to your plumbing and the environment. It’s important to know what can and cannot be safely flushed in order to keep your pipes and waterways clean and functioning properly.
When In Doubt, Throw It Out
Here are a few items that should never be flushed down the toilet:
- Baby wipes, facial wipes, and other wipes labeled as “flushable” may go down the toilet, but they do not break down in the same way as toilet paper. Just because something is labeled as “flushable” doesn’t mean it’s safe to flush and these items actually may cause blockages and damage to your plumbing.
- Feminine hygiene products, such as tampons and pads, should never be flushed. They can cause blockages in your pipes and in sewage treatment facilities.
- Paper towels and tissues are not the same as toilet paper and should not be flushed. They do not break down as easily and can cause blockages.
- Medications should not be flushed down the toilet, as they can end up in waterways and harm marine life. They should be disposed of properly, typically at a pharmacy or other facility designated for safe medication disposal.
- Grease, oil, and fat should never be poured down the drain or flushed down the toilet, as they can solidify and cause blockages in your pipes.
If you find yourself facing a toilet clog due to a non-flushable item going down the toilet, contact us immediately and we’ll get your problem fixed right away.
Flush Away
Stick to only the following when it comes to flushable products:
- Human waste and toilet paper. These materials are designed to break down easily and will not cause clogs in the pipes.
It’s also worth noting that if you are on a septic tank system, there might be additional rules that you have to follow. Septic tanks have limited capacity, and flushing items that cannot be broken down by the bacteria living in the tank can cause damage to the system.
Overall, it’s important to be mindful of what goes down your toilet. Only flush toilet paper and human waste to avoid blockages and damage to your plumbing and the environment.
If you have additional questions, visit our website at edrikeplumbing.com/plumbing/clogged-toilet-repair/ where you can find additional information. Our team of professionals is always here to help!
