Flushable wipes are being used more these days, and especially when people were unable to find toilet paper in the stores. Now plumbing systems are under increased amounts of pressure, as these “flushable” wipes are actually known to clog sewer systems and toilets.
Many have argued that it says flushable so they should be safe for the septic tank. Wrong. According to Melbourne's Fix It Right Plumbing Company, the only thing safe for your sewage system is liquid and waste from your body - and toilet paper. Toilet paper, by design, is made to disintegrate or easily dissolve. Imagine wetting toilet paper, it will soften and can thin out to be flushed easier. Now imagine paper towels, these are not designed the same way and are too thick. Next to that, imagine wetting a flushable wipe, it becomes even thicker. These are not meant to safely be disposed of in the toilet. Any sort of material that does not start breaking apart when wet iw going to lead to a serious clog somewhere in your sewer pipes!
Wipes not only are bad for your plumbing system, they travel from homes through miles of sewer pipes and then end up in sewage treatment plants. It is true, they clog pumps at the plans and are the source of clogged and damaged septic systems.
If you have been using wipes and are concerned about your pipes, it is never a bad idea to have a professional come and check it out. It is better to be safe than have to spend the money replacing expensive systems later. There are various ratings for water and sewage flow through your drain pipes, and you may not notice a partial clog. But partial clogs don’t go away on their own. Partial clogs grow into full clogs over time, and are even harder to clear!
Some have also argued that baby’s wipes are the ones clogging systems not the flushable wipes. Many companies are sticking to their products, listing them as safe and flushable. There was a lawsuit against a company called Charmin for their “flushable wipes”. Their customers won a settlement on what they say are false claims that the company says their products were deemed “flushable” but clogged their septic tanks. So as you can see, many companies are claiming their products are safe but there has been proof that it is more harmful than safe.
Wipes have become an enormous problem for municipal sewage systems around the world. In large cities such as London and New York City, the problem has been referred to as “fatburg”. Grease and wipes fuse together deep in the sewage system to create a monstrosity that requires manual attention. City workers must venture into the sewer system, break up and remove the disgusting smelly mass of wipes, grease, and anything else that fused into the “fatburg”.
If you are having a hard time keeping your pipes clear then it might be time to call a plumber. They have the tools, experience, and training to be able to come in and clean out your drains. The last thing you want is to cause more damage to your pipes by trying to clean them yourself. A plumber will be able to give you some tips on what to do and what not to do.
Once your sewer pipes become clogged, bad things start to happen. Every bit of water going through that pipe backs up into the home, creating the more disgusting kind of flooding and damage. The smell, the property damage, and the health risks of having such an event happen should make you pause just briefly with a little bit of terror in your heart. I have heard some say that there are two kinds of people: Those that have had a clogged drain pipe, and those that do not take it seriously enough!
If you still aren't convinced after reading this then maybe I can help you out. Some people think that flushable wipes are great for cleaning out your pipes but they don't actually do that. A real plumber will have tools and training that will allow him or her to get into the pipe and remove the clog. The main key is for them to get into the clog and dislodge it. Most people won't do this and when they do, it isn’t the same level of skill. When clogs aren’t completely cleared, the pipes become even more clogged and harder to clean.
In sum, flushable wipes are not good for plumbing. Consumers are being sold on the idea of flushable wipes, but there really is no such thing. Any wipe material that can stay moist without breaking apart is going to be a serious problem for both your sewage system - and that of your municipality!
Many have argued that it says flushable so they should be safe for the septic tank. Wrong. According to Melbourne's Fix It Right Plumbing Company, the only thing safe for your sewage system is liquid and waste from your body - and toilet paper. Toilet paper, by design, is made to disintegrate or easily dissolve. Imagine wetting toilet paper, it will soften and can thin out to be flushed easier. Now imagine paper towels, these are not designed the same way and are too thick. Next to that, imagine wetting a flushable wipe, it becomes even thicker. These are not meant to safely be disposed of in the toilet. Any sort of material that does not start breaking apart when wet iw going to lead to a serious clog somewhere in your sewer pipes!
Wipes not only are bad for your plumbing system, they travel from homes through miles of sewer pipes and then end up in sewage treatment plants. It is true, they clog pumps at the plans and are the source of clogged and damaged septic systems.
If you have been using wipes and are concerned about your pipes, it is never a bad idea to have a professional come and check it out. It is better to be safe than have to spend the money replacing expensive systems later. There are various ratings for water and sewage flow through your drain pipes, and you may not notice a partial clog. But partial clogs don’t go away on their own. Partial clogs grow into full clogs over time, and are even harder to clear!
Some have also argued that baby’s wipes are the ones clogging systems not the flushable wipes. Many companies are sticking to their products, listing them as safe and flushable. There was a lawsuit against a company called Charmin for their “flushable wipes”. Their customers won a settlement on what they say are false claims that the company says their products were deemed “flushable” but clogged their septic tanks. So as you can see, many companies are claiming their products are safe but there has been proof that it is more harmful than safe.
Wipes have become an enormous problem for municipal sewage systems around the world. In large cities such as London and New York City, the problem has been referred to as “fatburg”. Grease and wipes fuse together deep in the sewage system to create a monstrosity that requires manual attention. City workers must venture into the sewer system, break up and remove the disgusting smelly mass of wipes, grease, and anything else that fused into the “fatburg”.
If you are having a hard time keeping your pipes clear then it might be time to call a plumber. They have the tools, experience, and training to be able to come in and clean out your drains. The last thing you want is to cause more damage to your pipes by trying to clean them yourself. A plumber will be able to give you some tips on what to do and what not to do.
Once your sewer pipes become clogged, bad things start to happen. Every bit of water going through that pipe backs up into the home, creating the more disgusting kind of flooding and damage. The smell, the property damage, and the health risks of having such an event happen should make you pause just briefly with a little bit of terror in your heart. I have heard some say that there are two kinds of people: Those that have had a clogged drain pipe, and those that do not take it seriously enough!
If you still aren't convinced after reading this then maybe I can help you out. Some people think that flushable wipes are great for cleaning out your pipes but they don't actually do that. A real plumber will have tools and training that will allow him or her to get into the pipe and remove the clog. The main key is for them to get into the clog and dislodge it. Most people won't do this and when they do, it isn’t the same level of skill. When clogs aren’t completely cleared, the pipes become even more clogged and harder to clean.
In sum, flushable wipes are not good for plumbing. Consumers are being sold on the idea of flushable wipes, but there really is no such thing. Any wipe material that can stay moist without breaking apart is going to be a serious problem for both your sewage system - and that of your municipality!
RSS Feed
