Wipes, we as Plumbers have a love-hate relationship with them. They are fantastic and make a messy clean-up easier for those dirty diaper moments. Those so-called “flushable” wipes leave you with a shower-fresh feeling. For many, wipes have become essential for everyday use. While these wipes are super handy, they are wreaking havoc on your sewer and septic systems. Flushable wipes are not flushable.
Do not get us wrong. We like the versatility a wipe has, especially those baby wipes. They are great for babies but also for cleaning faces, hands, removing stains, the list goes on. You are bound to find multiple uses for this perfect travel companion.
However, a wipe, is a wipe, is a wipe. Thanks to Covid, there has been an increase in people disposing of disinfecting wipes down the toilets creating even more issues in pipes, sewage, and septic systems. Whether it is a baby wipe, a makeup wipe, cleaning wipes, or ones that say they are flushable are not flushable. Ask any Plumber, and they will tell you, no wipe, absolutely no wipe is flushable.
Why Are Flushable Wipes Not Flushable?
Flushable wipes are not flushable because our sewer systems were not designed to handle wipes. Sewer and septic systems were designed to handle toilet paper and human waste. Toilet paper is designed to disintegrate in water in a matter of seconds to a few minutes, depending on the brand and thickness. Toilet paper is also biodegradable. When it comes to flushable wipes, they do not break down as toilet paper does. Thus, causing clogs in your home pipes, and even further down the line, in the city sewage system. In cities across the world, fatbergs have developed due to wipes not breaking down and collecting in their sewage plants. A fatberg is a rock-like mass of waste matter in a sewer system formed by the combination of flushed non-biodegradable solids, such as wet wipes, and congealed grease or cooking fat. Fatbergs can cause clogs in sewers entirely, sending raw sewage gushing into the streets.
No Wipes Down Pipes
We always recommend you throw wipes of all kinds, especially those that say “flushable” in the trash can. By doing so, you will eliminate wipes collecting in your pipes and creating major clogs and backups. We teach our students in our Enrichment Classes; TP, Pee Pee, and Poo Poo are a Do Do to Flush. The kids all giggle, but they get it and teach it to their parents.
Got A Clog?
If you find that your toilet is frequently getting clogged, even if you are not using wipes, there may be an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. Emergency Plumbing, Heating & Air is available 24/7 to assist you with all your plumbing needs, big or small. To learn more, or to schedule a service, give us a call at (740) 217-0450. For a full list of our services, please visit our website at www.emergencyplumbingservice.com.
