Flushing Wipes Down the Toilet - Is It Safe?

May 05, 2020

flush wipes

In New Jersey and around the country, people are wondering whether or not it’s safe to flush wipes down the toilet. With “flushable” wipes and other products on the market, it’s easy to think that other things are safe to send down the pipes, besides toilet paper.

Proper toilet maintenance is essential to avoid frustrating plumbing problems. Here are some tips from our experts at A.J. Perri to help prevent you from dealing with a toilet clogged with wipes , potentially causing major plumbing repairs.

Do you need help with your toilet immediately? Call us now!

ONLY Flush Toilet Paper

Toilet paper is specifically designed to dissolve in water. Your toilet and plumbing pipes can handle human waste and toilet paper, but other materials will build up to cause a toilet clog; this includes:

Tissues,
Paper towels,
Napkins,
Diapers,
Disinfectant or baby wipes,
And other items.
It may seem convenient to flush trash or other used items, but your toilet is not a garbage can. Some people have the notion that you can dissolve wipes or items in the pipes, but this usually doesn’t work and could cause more damage to your plumbing and sewer systems, as well as expensive repairs.

Proper Flushing

Be sure to remind everyone in your household about proper flushing procedures—especially with children. Make sure that they know what an appropriate amount of toilet paper is to use, and explain why you can’t flush wipes or other items.

Avoid using large wads of toilet paper, both to conserve paper to reduce environmental impact and to prevent clogs. These wads of toilet paper can ball up, causing only the outer paper to dissolve while the inner portion creates a clog. If you must use a large amount of toilet paper, try to avoid flushing it all at once.

Clear the Area and Shut the Lid

Avoid installing shelving above the toilet or using the tank for extra storage/decoration. With more people at home, smaller items can go down the drain without you even noticing, and cause major clogs or severe damage to your toilet.

If you have young children in your family, you may also want to make a habit of keeping the toilet lid down and the bathroom door shut. Playing in the water or flushing toys down the drain can be a “fun” activity for little ones that won’t be fun for you to deal with later.

How to Unclog Your Toilet

Is your toilet functioning properly? A slow or weak-sounding flush can often mean that a toilet clog is forming and a sewer backup may be in your future. You can use a good-quality plunger with a tight seal to help clear the drain if you have a slow flush or fully clogged pipe.

When to Call a Professional

If you cannot remove the clog on your own, then it is time to call our expert plumbers at A.J. Perri, who can use professional equipment to get your system back up and running. Our plumbers handle a multiple range of plumbing services, including serious clogs, toilet installations, and bathroom remodeling, so you can trust us to get the job done right the first time!

If you live in New Jersey and are having issues with your toilet, don’t hesitate to contact A.J. Perri at (732) 733-2548 or schedule online. We are here and ready to help with any of your plumbing or HVAC needs.