Express Plumbing Heating & Air Blog
The function of a toilet is pretty straightforward: relief and disposal of natural bodily function. It’s easy to not think about it when all you do is pull a lever and POOF! Whatever is in the bowl disappears. Unfortunately, the trash you are flushing could cause damage to your system. You should never flush these items down the toilet if you’d like to save time and money.
Your personal hygienic products should not be flushed. Dental floss can cause clogs as well as environmental damage, as it is not biodegradable. Clogging issues can also be caused by cotton linen and paper products such as paper towels, tissues, and cotton swabs. These items do not dissolve. Wet wipes are an increasingly large problem, and companies are gradually revising their “flushable” claims on boxes, as they are receiving more and more complaints of clogs. You should never flush diapers or feminine hygiene products. Some may find it unpleasant to have these items in their trash, but may find it even more unpleasant to require a plumber to pull them out!
Some other commonly-flushed items can have both an impact on your plumbing system and the environment. Cooking grease can not only congeal in your pipes but can much up the water supply as well. Prescription medications can affect both the plant and wildlife as well as make it back to your drinking water supply! You should always check with your local government for safe ways to dispose of these. Cigarette butts are commonly made out of fiberglass, and can have a huge impact on the environment, do not flush.
Remember, it’s never too late to correct a bad habit. Here at Express Plumbing Heating & Air, we know that mistakes happen. If in-flushable materials end up in your toilet, give us a call and we will have it corrected in no time!
