Look, we all love it when life is nice and convenient.
Companies know this, so they market things in a way to make them seem the most convenient.
But here, our London plumbers try to keep in mind the maxim “don’t believe everything you read.”
Why?
Because there are a whole lot of products out there that market themselves as “flushable”, even though flushing them down the toilet really is a terrible idea.
We get called to do London Ontario drain cleaning services all the time, especially when it comes to residential plumber service.
And sometimes you can’t help it when your drain is clogged – tree roots can grow, you can have a main sewer line plumbing issue, or a handful of other issues that might pop up.
But often, it’s because people flush things they shouldn’t.
Let’s take a look.
What Does Flushable Even Mean, Anyway?
Can someone give me a definition?
I think it’s one of those words, like “natural” that doesn’t really mean anything specific.
Broadly speaking, anything that’s going to fit down your toilet is “flushable”.
Ping pong balls are flushable, Lego pieces are flushable – but does that mean it’s a good idea?
Which brings me to flushable baby wipes.
You know, those things you use to clean up your baby when they’ve… yeah.
They’re sturdier than toilet paper, which makes them work better.
So convenient, right?
But what about when you’re done with it?
It seems convenient to just flush them down the toilet, but that’s where the problem comes in.
See, these wipes aren’t made of paper.
They’re made of either cloth or plastic fibres, and these things don’t break down in water.
And while the inside of your pipes are nice and smooth when they’re first installed, they don’t always stay that way.
Over the years, small chips and tears can happen inside your pipes.
They can end up with tiny cracks in them, and tree roots can grow through those cracks.
These are all great places for debris to get caught as it goes down the drain.
That’s not an issue with toilet paper – even if it does get caught, it’ll dissolve pretty quickly as more water runs past it.
But “flushable” baby wipes? Forget it.
They’ll be there a long time, constricting the flow of water down the drain.
What’s more, it’ll become easier for other things to clump up around it.
Especially since you don’t just flush a single wipe down the drain and then move on with your life.
Flushable baby wipes will clog your toilet, and it’s not a lot of fun to have to clear it out.
Instead of having to call a clogged toilet repair plumber, or even a 24 hour emergency plumber, just don’t flush ‘em in the first place!
What Else Can Clog Your Toilet?
So okay, don’t flush baby wipes down the drain.
What else can clog your toilet?
Some of the most common items we find that clog toilet include:
• Menstrual products
• Cotton swabs
• Dental floss
• Paper towels
• Clumps of hair
• Condoms
• Children’s toys
• Cat litter
What do these things have in common?
They all take a long time to break down – if they ever do.
So, What Can You Flush?
Alright look, your toilet might seem like it’s an all purpose garbage disposal.
But it’s not – there’s not a whole lot you should flush down your toilet.
First off, human waste – that’s what it’s there for.
Next, toilet paper.
Obviously.
Anything water based is fine as well – if that container of milk has been sitting in your fridge a little too long, and you don’t want to stink up your kitchen sink, go ahead and flush it.
That’s it.
“But what about-”
Nope.
Don’t do it.
I don’t care what the package says, don’t flush it.
What To Do If Your Toilet Is Clogged
Is your toilet clogged?
Have you been flushing things you shouldn’t be flushing?
Don’t worry, we won’t judge.
It’s not your fault the package lied to you.
Give us a call, and we’ll be there.
Call London Plumbing Solutions Today
Clogged drain cleaning is one of the most common reasons why people call us.
And it makes sense – after all, big plumbing repairs, thankfully, aren’t as common.
But whether it’s a simple clogged drain cleaning or a bigger job, we’re happy to help.
Call London Plumbing Solutions today, and we’ll be there.
London Plumbing Solutions1990 Wavell St #10,
London, ON N5V 4N5
(226) 777-7996
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Whatever your local plumbing needs are, London Plumbing Solutions is here for you. Our plumbers have the skills you need to take care of new plumbing construction projects, sump pump installation, drain cleaning, bathroom plumbing, kitchen plumbing, water treatment and filtration systems, hydro jetting, camera drain inspections, and new installations, and so much more.