Are Flushable Wipes Harming Your Plumbing? Tuesday, May 14, 2019

When you’re looking for wipes at the store, it’s probably tempting to buy ones that are labeled as flushable. They seem convenient—less trash for you to pick up, less mess, etc., and they’re even labeled as safe for septic systems and sewers.

But are flushable wipes really as good as they seem to be? In fact, they could actually be harming your plumbing and could cause you issues down the road that are much worse than dealing with a bit of extra trash to throw away.

Here are some reasons you should not flush wipes down the toilet in the areas of central Florida that include Plant City, Lakeland, and Winter Haven.

Flushable Wipes Can Cause Large Clogs in Your Pipes & May Require More Septic Tank Pumping

Flushable wipes, unlike toilet paper, take longer to break down in water. While they may be “flushable,” they can end up building up into a large clog, especially if everyone in your family is using them. They can also get caught up with other items in your pipes that have been flushed, such as paper towels, thicker toilet paper, and floss. Wipes pass easily through your toilet but can get caught up when your pipes bend at an angle.

If you have a septic system, flushing wipes could also result in your tank filling up faster and needing to be pumped out more frequently.

Flushing Wet Wipes Can Cause Damage to Wastewater Treatment Plants

According to NPR, maintenance and hauling off waste from a Dallas wastewater treatment plant cost the area taxpayers $165,000. The trend of flushing wipes has increased exponentially over the past few years and can create massive clogs in these big plants.

In 2015 alone, sales of wet wipes reached $2.2 billion, according to TODAY. If everyone who bought wipes were to flush them down their toilets, it could cause massive clogs that affect us all. Many wastewater officials across the country have asked people to stop flushing wipes in an effort to avoid this issue.

Use Caution When Flushing Anything Other Than Toilet Paper

Some manufacturers label their wipes as flushable, and while some may dissolve over time, other brands seem not to dissolve as quickly. Currently, no manufacturers are required to pass any sort of regulation to label their wipes as flushable, so there’s no way to tell for sure which ones will be truly flushable.

At True Plumbers & AC, we recommend that you don’t flush anything down your toilets except for toilet paper, and if you have a septic system, make sure you are buying toilet paper that’s labeled as safe for those septic tank systems.

Do you think you might have a clog in your pipes?

If your toilet isn’t flushing properly and you’ve been flushing wipes down it, it’s possible you have a clog in your pipes. We can help. If you’re in the central Florida areas of Plant City, Lakeland, Winter Haven, and other nearby cities, then give us a call at (863) 667-6364. We are available 24/7 and for emergency situations.