DIY Wet Wipes (Why Flushing Regular Wipes Will Clog Your Drains)
Both homeowners and water treatment plants have more and more problems with flushable wipes causing clogs and backups in drain pipes and end equipment. Their failure to disintegrate causes congestion in the lines, which can be a serious and expensive undertaking.
Problems may require professional attention to prevent sewage from backing up in toilets, sinks, and showers. If this happens often enough, flooring, walls and cabinets may suffer mold, mildew, and buckling. Clogged drains may call for toilet repair, replacement, or digging up pipes to make necessary repairs, which is a more expensive option.
Problems with Flushable Wipes
Flushable wipes, whether for babies or adults, are wreaking havoc on sewer pipes and wastewater stations across the country. Sales of these products have skyrocketed in recent years spurred on by advertising campaigns touting the benefits of these hygienic products as the best way to maintain freshness.
Some companies have extensive testing processes and claim to meet industry guidelines, but the question becomes, “Are industry standards sufficient to meet the onslaught of users of flushable wipes?” Consumers may use them in lieu of toilet tissue or in addition to it, giving them an extra feeling of cleanliness.
Drains and pipes are not made to break down the fibers in wipes as they are in toilet tissue. Millions of dollars are spent every year by residential and municipal companies to clean out clogged pipes and drains.
Even if the package says “flushable,” it does not necessarily mean the wipes actually are biodegradable, and manufacturers have to bear the responsibility of this misrepresentation through lawsuits being filed by individual homeowners as well as municipalities, whose equipment is damaged by trying to process massive amounts of wipes.
These lawsuits allege that a lack of proper labeling caused problems requiring expensive repairs. As these suits are settled, hopefully, other makers of flushable wipes will work on a solution to the problem and find a way to make actual biodegradable ones. Labeling is not regulated by the Federal Trade Commission, so manufacturers are not always honest in their determination.
Flushed wipes eventually end up at a treatment station even if they move easily through household pipes and through the pipes underneath the streets. All other kinds of debris also end up there, and the combination is detrimental to the equipment that is used to handle it, causing it to jam and break down frequently.
Older drain pipes may have rougher interior surfaces which give wipes something to hold on to. It causes them to snag and prevents them from moving along, as well as causes other debris to catch, creating a conglomeration of debris. Newer pipes are plumbing-grade PVC and have a much smoother interior so that debris can pass more easily through them.
Possible General Solutions
As more and more families are using wipes and having major plumbing bills, homeowners should be extra careful about what they put in their toilets. Repairs can be expensive, so it is much more sensible to avoid problems by being proactive and flushing only what is made to flush.
In addition, it is prudent to educate all family members on the issue as well as refrain from placing wipes in guest bathrooms where people who have not been informed about house rules will have access to them.
If grinders, which cut up non-flushable waste, were added to the current system, it would help take care of the ubiquitous problem of wipes congealing and clogging up the system.
This is an expensive option, and municipalities do not feel it should be their responsibility to foot the bill.
Major backups can disrupt whole communities while crews work to dislodge items that should not have been put in the drain. It is not always wipes; most often it is other types of debris, such as female sanitary items, children’s toys, and many other items that do not biodegrade.
Toilet tissue is made from soft pulp that is crinkled to make it even softer so that it disintegrates easily in water, or it is made from recycled paper. Generally, it is produced with either one- or two- ply sheets with the two- ply being stronger and more absorbent. While two-ply sheets are standard, some companies make four-ply and even six-ply.
Depending on how sensitive the system is in residential areas, the thicker paper can pose a problem with clogging. The lower ply tissue is normally less expensive, but the best choice is tissue that breaks down easily and slides through drain pipes without snagging while allowing the user to manage it without having fingers breaking through.
Personal Awareness
An awareness program may be a viable approach for introducing the best method to dispose of wipes. In addition to manufacturers being held accountable for labeling correctly, the public needs to be educated on which wipes to flush down the drain and which ones they should not. The familiar design of a circle with the intersecting bar, large enough to be seen easily, and saying “do not flush” is suggested by some.
Actually, the fix is very simple. Wrap all wipes in toilet tissue and throw them in a wastebasket instead of flushing them. Also, be mindful of local public facilities and do likewise. Perhaps we will not see as many toilets with “out of order” signs on the door.
Drain cleaning can be done by the homeowner or by a qualified plumber. If you find you are in need of professional drain cleaning services, you should not hesitate to do it immediately. Delaying may multiply problems that could have been fixed expeditiously and inexpensively if taken care of in a timely manner.
Whether your problem is a toilet repair caused by a clog or a blockage caused by grease, a professional plumber has the tools and equipment necessary to make the needed repairs.
For quality services in your Mason, OH, call Nixco Plumbing Inc. at (513) 445-5142.