What You Should And Shouldn't Flush Down Your Toilet So You Can Prevent Plumbing Clogs
Toilet clogs can be a major nuisance. It's frustrating when a toilet backs up and spills water on the floor, and it's very inconvenient to have a toilet in your house out of service. A major cause of toilet clogs is the type of products you flush.
Wet wipes, in particular, can cause the toilet line to clog up, but anything that won't dissolve fast, such as paper towels, diapers, and menstruation products will clog up the line too. Here's a look at what you should and shouldn't flush when you want to avoid problems with plumbing clogs.
Look for Toilet Paper That Dissolves Fast
Try different brands of toilet paper and check how fast they break apart. Some brands start dissolving as soon as they get wet. If you have a septic system, a quick-dissolving brand of paper is a good option to use. If you have young kids who may use more toilet paper than needed, quick-dissolving paper could be the best choice even if you're hooked up to the municipal sewer.
Other types of toilet paper break apart too, but it just takes them longer, and the longer it takes, the greater the chance there is of a clog forming if there is other debris stuck in the line.
Avoid Flushing Wet Wipes
Wet wipes are convenient when you have kids, and you may prefer them for personal use too. Even though they are now made to be safer for flushing, they take a long time to break down. It's still possible for a clump of the wipes to get caught in the plumbing drain and lead to a clog that a plumber has to break through with a snake. Wipes can even build up in the municipal sewer system and cause problems for the city.
You may want to avoid flushing wet wipes whether you have a septic system or if you're connected to the city's sewer line. You could still use them and dispose of them in a diaper pail or trash can rather than flush them down the toilet.
If you're curious about testing wipes and toilet paper to see how fast they dissolve, you can hold a sheet under running water or drop a piece in a glass of water and see what happens. This gives you an idea of how long the wipes will sit in the tank or drain until they break apart and dissolve.
Don't Flush Anything But Toilet Paper
It may be tempting to use the toilet for disposing of things like dental floss, scooped out waste from a kitty litter box, menstruation products, or even cigarette butts. However, this is just asking for trouble since the risk of clogging increases when you flush anything but human waste and toilet paper. The risk is even worse if you have your own septic system.
Keep a trash can in the bathroom so you can throw all waste in it and keep your toilet drains clear of debris. Keeping your toilet line clear doesn't take much effort, and the steps you take pay off by reducing the risk of clogs and the need for a plumber to snake out or hydro jet the sewer line.
If you do have a clog, reach out to a local plumbing service.