Many Piedmont, Oklahoma, residents view flushable wipes as viable alternatives to traditional toilet paper. However, although their advertising might make you believe these wipes are toilet-safe, they could cause more harm to your plumbing system than you might think. So, are flushable wipes bad for plumbing?
Champion Plumbing created a brief guide explaining everything you need to know about flushable wipes and if they can adversely affect your property’s pipe assembly.
Champion Plumbing is Piedmont’s number-one choice for professional plumbing and associated services. If you need a reliable and experienced plumber in Piedmont, OK, look no further than Champion Plumbing.
What Are Flushable Wipes?
Flushable wipes are common cleaning products that people use to clean themselves or remove substances like makeup from their bodies. They come in several varieties, each serving a specific purpose. Some of the most common types of flushable wipes include:
- Toilet wipes
- Makeup wipes
- Antibacterial wipes
- Baby wipes
- Wet wipes
Many manufacturers label these wipes as “flushable” or “septic-safe,” making people believe they dissolve just as well as toilet paper. However, flushable wipes vastly differ from traditional toilet paper and aren’t always plumbing-safe.
Can You Flush Wipes Down the Toilet?
So, are flushable wipes bad for plumbing?
Despite popular belief, flushable wipes aren’t toilet-safe and can create vexing clogs, flooding, burst pipes, and other plumbing issues. Unlike toilet paper, flushable wipes consist of paper pulp, polymers, and/or polyester. Polymers and polyester aren’t degradable and take much longer to break down within plumbing systems.
Most flushable wipes don’t undergo testing and just use eye-catching terms like “flushable” to persuade shoppers to purchase the product. While these wipes will flush down the toilet, they maintain their structure and accumulate within the pipe before reaching the city’s sewer system. This creates a severe clog plumbers call ragging or fatberg.
Unclogging these blockages is very taxing, especially if you don’t have professional equipment or experience. Always dispose of flushable wipes in trash bins to avoid pipe backups, clogs, and other avoidable plumbing issues.
Can Septic Tanks Handle Flushable Wipes?
Some homeowners utilize septic tanks instead of traditional plumbing systems and wonder if they can use flush wipes down their toilet without adversely affecting their tanks. Unfortunately, flushable wipes cause similar problems within septic tanks as they do conventional piping.
Flushable wipes can create severe pipe clogs before they reach your septic tank. Even if they do make it to the tank, they will gather where the solids accumulate and cause you to pump your tank much more often while significantly enhancing the chances of clogging. This can skyrocket your plumbing costs while making it more strenuous to maintain.
To put it simply, flushable wipes can cause severe clogs and blockages within both traditional plumbing systems and septic tanks. They can even cause serious pipe bursts in extreme situations, so never flush wipes down the toilet to avoid irksome and expensive plumbing issues.
How To Unclog a Flushable Wipe Pipe Blockage
Although flushable wipe clogs are often difficult to unclog due to their durable and resilient nature, it isn’t impossible with the correct tools. Use the tips below to learn how to unclog a flushable wipe blockage.
Use a Plunger
Sometimes, clearing a minor flushable wipe clog is as easy as using a plunger. Carefully work the plunger up and down to loosen the wipes and push them through the sewer line. If done correctly, the plunger will clear the clog and restore your pipe’s performance.
Use a Plumbing Snake
Plumbing snakes are helpful tools that efficiently eliminate moderate to severe pipe clogs. Most hardware stores sell plumbing snakes and allow you to restore your pipes without professional servicing.
Once you obtain a plumbing snake, gently feed it through your pipe until you find the flushable wipe clog. Work the clog until the wipes snag onto the snake, and carefully pull them out of the pipe before throwing them in the trash. This will clear the blockage and allow you to use your toilet once again.
It’s important to note that you should wear gloves while using this clearing method since you will have to grab the wipes once you fish them out of the pipe. Gloves will protect you from waste while making the process much more sanitary.
Contact a Plumber
If you used the two clearing methods above but still can’t unclog the wipes, contact a professional plumber to resolve the clog. Professionals have advanced tools and equipment that allow them to clear flushable wipe clogs with relative ease without causing plumbing damage.
Signs of a Flushable Wipe Clog
If you’ve used flushable wipes in the past and worry about clogging your system, there are a few telltale signs that will alert you of a potential problem. If you notice any of the warning signs below, contact a professional plumber to evaluate your plumbing system:
- Flooding around your septic tank or in your yard
- Your grass and trees suddenly appear greener and more vibrant, especially ones close to your plumbing system
- Foul sewage-like odors overtake your exterior and/or interior property
- Your bathtubs, showers, and sinks suddenly drain slower than normal
Flushable wipe clogs can lead to serious plumbing issues and require immediate attention. If you need help clearing a flushable wipe blockage in Piedmont, Oklahoma, contact Champion Plumbing. Our plumbers will resolve the clog and handle any other issues plaguing your plumbing system without surpassing your budget.
Contact Champion Plumbing for Outstanding Drain Cleaning and Plumbing Services in Piedmont, Oklahoma
Next time your property experiences a pipe clog and leaves you wondering, “Are flushable wipes bad for plumbing?” contact Champion Plumbing. Our team will resolve the clog while taking measures to safeguard your system from leaks, plumbing backflow, and more. We’ve been a leading plumbing company in Piedmont for over eight years and can handle even the toughest plumbing projects swiftly and effectively, guaranteed.
Give Champion Plumbing a call or reach out to us online and receive outstanding plumbing services in Piedmont, Oklahoma, today!
