Top 10 Things You Should Never Flush Down Your Toilet

If you want to keep your pipes clog-free then you need to learn about the things to avoid flushing. In today’s article, R.A. Biel Plumbing & Heating, Inc. discusses the things that you shouldn’t flush down the toilet if you don’t want a huge plumbing bill.

1. Dental Floss –  Dental floss can clog your pipes and cause environmental damage. This is because it basically turns into a net once you flush it. The dental floss will catch and hold other debris, forming a clog. Dental floss can also wrap around parts of your septic system, causing the motor to burn out.

2. Paper Towels & Flushable Wipes –  Paper towels and flushable wipes might look similar to toilet paper, but they are very different when it comes to composition. They are not designed to break down when flushed, unlike toilet paper. As a  plumbing repair  expert, we recommend disposing of these items instead of flushing them down the toilet.

3. Baby Wipes –  You shouldn’t flush baby wipes, even the ones that claim that they are flushable. Baby wipes frequently cause clogs because even “flushable” baby wipes don’t break down the same way that toilet paper does.

4. Cotton Balls & Q-Tips –  These items are definitely not safe to flush because they don’t break down once they enter the pipes. Eventually, they may clump together in your pipes and cause problems.

5. Hair –  Hair is just like dental floss in that it forms a kind of net when you flush it down the drain. It gets caught on basically everything and it will never dissolve in water. 

6. Gum –  This might be obvious, but chewing gum doesn’t break down in water either. It is also sticky. This means that it will easily adhere to the inside of your pipes. Always throw your gum into the wastebasket.

7. Bleach –  You shouldn’t use bleach as part of your regular toilet cleaning routine because it is actually too harsh a chemical for your septic system and toilet. You can remove stains in your toilet by using vinegar instead.

8. Medication –  If you have old medication that you need to dispose of, don’t flush it. Toilet water will not break down medication properly. The medication will get into the water where it can cause harmful environmental effects.

9. Cigarette Butts –  Cigarette butts contain toxic chemicals that you don’t want anywhere near water. They can also cause clogs, so just throw them away.

10. Kitty Litter –  There are some brands of kitty litter that claim that they are flushable. However, most toilets do not use enough water to move kitty litter along properly in the system. In addition, toilets are meant to flush water-soluble waste. Cat waste from the litter is dehydrated and not water-soluble.

R.A. Biel Plumbing & Heating, Inc. can help you with all of your plumbing needs. Our licensed and insured technicians can deal with any kind of plumbing problem and will complete their work with as little disruption to your schedule as possible. We also offer 24-hour emergency plumbing services. Call us at (505) 327-7755 to learn more about our services and products or to get a free estimate.

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