The Impact You Have With Every Flush

Being Mindful of What You Flush Down The Toilet

Right now, homeowners find themselves in a weird circumstance across the nation. With social distancing on the top of everyone’s schedule, stocking up on home supplies has become a must—one of those essential home products being toilet paper. There is no secret that the sudden urge to stock up on the T.P. has left many stores with a shortage, and for those who did not get the change to obtain a backup supply, might find themselves getting crafty with what they flush.

For us plumbers, this leaves us with an influx of household emergency calls, most that could have been prevented. So if you are trying to hold tight to your toilet paper supply, please remember the below preventative tips: 

Your Toilet is Not A Garbage Disposal

Remember this phrase: when in doubt, throw it out! Just because something can easily flush down the toilet, doesn’t mean it should be. For starters, if you’re worried about running out of toilet paper, use a bit less, don’t substitute it for paper towels or wipes. These items are made of thicker materials, ones that break down slowly over time. Because of this, they clump up in your plumbing and can leave you with a major clog and blockage, costing you an unnecessary repair. So remember the below items should never go down your toilet: 

  • Wipes
  • Paper towels
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Q tips
  • Cotton swabs
  • Dental floss
  • Kitty litter
  • Hair
  • Cooking grease
  • Food
  • Bleach 

Don’t Be Fooled By The Label

Those wipes that label themselves as “flushable”  are a big plumbing no. Yes, they can go down with ease and may break down eventually, but in specific plumbing systems, these wipes can take a while to decompose. In fact, once they get in your drain system, they interfere with sewage collection and treatment, too. So be sure to keep a garbage can next to your toilet bowls, and make everyone in your family aware of what they can and cannot flush.

Rely on the Professionals at Barker and Sons

If you do find that your toilet is continuously clogged or a sudden leak in your bathroom has occurred, The experts at Barker and Sons Plumbing are doing their part in ensuring our customer’s needs are met during any circumstances. Call us at (714) 630-8766 or request service online today!