Can Flushable Wipes Damage My Plumbing?

February 1, 2022/Blog

Can Flushable Wipes Damage My Plumbing?

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Flushable wipes are a hit with everyone. After all, they provide a more pleasant, cleaner feeling than you can get from just toilet paper. Medicated wipes can help relieve painful medical issues. But are flushable wipes truly flushable? Flushed wipes might harm your septic or sewer pipes. Learn more about flushable wipes here, and contact the team at TN Plumbing Solutions for more information. We are happy to provide residents of Nashville and the surrounding areas with the best plumbing services and plumbing upgrades possible, so you can count on us to have the knowledge and expertise you need, no matter what your problems are.

Are Flushable Wipes Truly Flushable?

No! Flushable wipes may not cause damage if you use them once or twice, but they have been shown to cause serious issues to plumbing systems. Furthermore, flushable wipes that are not actually flushable can easily get caught in pipes, causing clogged drains and backups. For this reason, it is a much better idea to flush only good old-fashioned toilet paper. If you do choose to use "flushable" wipes, it's best to throw them in a nearby garbage can rather than risk issues and the potential damage and high repair bills with your plumbing.

What About Medical Wipes?

If you use medical wipes for personal hygienic reasons, they can be flushed down the toilet in most cases if you wrap them up in tissue paper first. However, some brands do have specific instructions for flushing. Contact the manufacturer for advice before flushing any type of wipe, especially if you have a septic or sewer system instead of a city water supply line. Once again though, for the safest option, it is best to simply throw away your medical wipes once you are done with them rather than flushing them.

What Issues Could Flushable Wipes Cause?

As mentioned above, flushable wipes that are not actually flushable can easily get caught in pipes and cause clogged drains and backups. This is especially true if you have a septic or sewer system as these wipes don't break down as toilet paper does. Instead, they just accumulate in your pipes over time until they eventually cause damage to the system.

How To Unclog Flushable Wipes

If you've been flushing your wipes and a clog has formed, it is not the end of the world! Depending on the severity of the clog, it can be a simple fix that does not need to cost a fortune.

To begin, start with a plunger. You can try to loosen the clog and force the wipes down through the sewer pipe using the plunger. If this doesn't work, you can try using a plumbing snake to clear the clog. You can find toilet plumbing snakes at most general hardware stores, and they can prove to be useful in the future if you run into further issues with other drains or toilets in your home. If the clog is still present after trying these methods, you may need to call in a professional plumber to clear it for you. The team at TN Plumbing Solutions will help you clear any clogs caused by flushable wipes so you can get back to using your toilets without worrying about any further issues. When you need a plumbing company in Nashville, we've got you covered.

We hope this article has been helpful in informing you about the dangers of flushable wipes. We know they seem convenient and helpful at first, but they can cause more dangers than they are worth! If you do choose to use so-called flushable wipes, be sure to simply throw them in the garbage rather than flushing them down the toilet so you can avoid damage and costly repairs. For more information, or if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us for professional plumbing services in Nashville at TN Plumbing Solutions. We are happy to help residents of Nashville and the surrounding areas with all their plumbing needs!

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February 1, 2022/madwire