The use of flushable wipes has been on the rise since Richmond homeowners have been spending a lot more time at home and stores have been having a hard time keeping toilet paper on the shelves. While these wipes are labeled as flushable, that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily good for your home’s plumbing system!
What it means to be “flushable”
The wipes are technically flushable, in the sense that they’ll make it through your toilet’s piping and into the three-inch drainage pipe in your home but so will golf balls, cellphones, keys and – as any parent can probably attest – children’s toys.
Although common sense will tell us not to flush our cellphones down the toilet, when it comes to flushable wipes we often don’t think twice. This is because we don’t see the impact these wipes have on the system!
The breakdown of breaking down
Moisten a square of toilet paper and rub it on a hard surface and you’ll see that it falls apart very easily. That’s what happens as it travels through your home’s plumbing system: It breaks down completely, quickly dissolving into small fibers.
Try the same with a flushable wipe and you’ll notice that it does a better job of holding together. Consider then what happens when these wipes enter the pipes! Each wipe takes a lot longer to break down, if they break down at all, and the more you flush the greater the chance of blockage or clogging.
Woodfin’s plumbers have been responding to many blockages and clogs that have been caused by flushable wipes. We want our customers to be aware of the risks that come with using flushable wipes, especially over an extended period of time. If you can avoid using them, you should! Not only will it save you from the headache of a clogged plumbing system, it can save you from having to deal with costly plumbing repairs in the future.
Remember, Your Home Team at Woodfin is here for all of your home plumbing needs! Contact us online today or call 804-730-5000 to discuss how we can improve your year-‘round home comfort with our wide range of services.
