Can You Flush Disposable Wipes?

If you’re looking for a way to overwhelm, destroy or impair your home’s plumbing system, flush products down the toilet that are deemed “flushable” or disposable. (*Sarcasm*)

This includes many household products that are available in today’s markets — but this is especially true for disposable or “flushable” wipes.

While these products are marketed as being septic and sewage system safe, they are known to clog toilets and the sewer line they’re attached to.

The Term “Flushable” is a Marketing Scheme

The advent of these “flushable” items has caused the public to flush everything down the drain from wipes to disposable toilet wand pads.

The industry is so overwhelmed with these problems that they have coined very insidious terms for clogs in sewers caused by flushing these products — “fatbergs.”

Additionally, these clogs occur throughout the system. So when these wipes are flushed, there’s a chance the clogs are located in areas that aren’t the most accessible. Thus, increasing your cost to have them removed from your sewer line.

How They Affect Sewer Systems

Often marketed as septic-safe, they require a longer period of time in order to break down. Unlike traditional toilet paper, which is designed to break down in commercial, public and private sewer systems.

This along with aging infrastructures has caused major blockages in sewer systems across the country, including areas like Lancaster, Lititz, Ephrata, York , etc. These blockages place sewage overflow everywhere from residential basements to adjacent streams and watersheds.

Some municipalities have to make million dollar upgrades to their sewage systems in order to properly handle this new type of waste.

How This Will Affect You

Homeowners have to employ plumbers to clear clog issues related to disposable wipes. Oftentimes, they will need to have all or parts of the sewer system affected by the flushable product repaired or replaced

Calling to clear pipes can become an expensive fix for a preventable problem. Reputable licensed plumbers like ours at Lancaster Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical do not like to cost clients their hard earned money and time.

The use of disposable wipes may seem convenient, but we warn against flushing these types of products. We plead with you — please stick to toilet paper!