While the toilet may seem like a waste bin for all kinds of different products, there are items that you should never flush down a toilet and into your septic system. Avoiding these items from entering your pipes will help your plumbing have a longer lifespan. These items may seem small, but they can build up in your pipes and sewer systems causing major clogs. If you want to avoid sewer backups, these are the items to prevent flushing down your toilet.
1- Wet Wipes, Baby Wipes, Or Flushable Wipes
This is one of the most common items users think can be flushed. Even if the packaging says the wipes are safe to flush down a toilet, that is not the case. Even wipes that are marketed as flushable can take years to break down and will cause major problems for your sewer system. These fibrous wipes can catch other debris and waste and cause massive clogs in sewer pipes. It is best to assume that all wipes should be thrown away instead of flushed.
2- Feminine Hygiene Products
Pads, liners, and tampons are all items that should not be flushed down your toilet. Flushing these large items can cause clogs and damage to the system. These items expand when they encounter moisture, which makes them the worst items to enter your pipes. They can quickly swell and lead to sewage backup inside your home.
3- Dental Floss
Although dental floss is fine and extremely small, it can become tangled in other pipe debris and lead to clogging. Dental floss is also incredibly strong, so even large debris or strong cleaners will struggle to break it down. Small items like string, floss, and hair are best not to flush down a toilet. It is best to throw dental floss in a waste bin, just to be safe.
4- Medication
Many medications are the cause of contaminated water. While medications will dissolve, the chemicals they release are harmful to aquatic life. Some systems can even feed into public water systems, so flushing your medications could cause contaminated drinking water. A lot of pharmacies offer medication disposal services or you can check if your medication can be thrown away safely through the FDA website.
5- Cat Litter
Catt litter is another item that collects moisture. When cat litter is wet, it clumps together, making it easier to scoop up and throw away. While it may seem convenient to flush this waste down your toilet, the litter can still clump together and cause clogs in your pipes. There are many modern cat litter boxes that self-clean or wrap up used litter for easier disposal. Save your toilet from damage and toss litter in the trash.
6- Cotton Balls Or Cotton Swabs
Common bathroom items should be able to be disposed of in a toilet right? Wrong, especially cotton balls and cotton swabs. These small items can build up in your sewer system or pipes over time. They also absorb moisture and are made with microplastics that don’t break down easily.
7- Condoms
Condoms can be flexible and thin, but the rubber is not easily broken down which means it can live in piping and sewer systems for years. It is easy for condoms to get stuck in pipes and cause clogs that lead to sewage backup.
While it may be unsettling to think about all of these items sitting in a landfill, it is just as unsettling to think about them contaminating your water supply and causing damage to your plumbing. Flushing items down a toilet can lead to costly repairs in the future. Severely clogged pipes will need to be replaced, which can leave your yard and home in disarray.
8- Hair
We know that hair can cause clogs in our bathtubs and sink drains, so adding more hair to your plumbing system is never ideal. Flushing hair down a toilet will only contribute to clogs that are forming. Hair will form a tangled web inside your plumbing system, making it hard for waste, water, and other debris to move smoothly through the pipes. Avoid putting large clumps of hair down a toilet.
The Drain Experts From Utah Drain X
No matter what plumbing system or clog you are experiencing, Drain X can help. Our team has the most modern tools and technology to help clear blockage quickly. Our plumbers have been working in the industry for many years and love to serve our local community. Quality plumbing is a modern luxury that we often take for granted. Having a trusted plumber in your contacts can make a world of difference during an emergency. Schedule a service with our team today or give us a call to learn more about our qualifications.
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