10 Things You Should Never Flush Down the Toilet in Reading, MA or the North Shore
The toilet goes by many names: the can, the john, potty, commode, porcelain thrown. The list goes on. But even if we can’t all agree on what to call the toilet, we can probably all agree that this plumbing fixture is absolutely a household essential, and when the toilet is having problems something must be done ASAP. At Waldman Plumbing, we’re always here to fix your toilet troubles, but we also want to help you to prevent them in the first place. Keep these ten items out of your toilet, and you’ll be helping to prevent issues with your toilet and plumbing system.
What shouldn’t I flush down the toilet?
- Paper Towels – Many businesses have to call commercial plumbers multiple times a year because of clogged toilets caused by paper towels, but it can happen at your home as well. Because paper towels are big and thick, they’re likely to cause toilet clogs or sewer line backups. Your best bet is to keep a wastepaper basket available and teach your children about what not to flush.
- Wipes – Both “flushable” wipes and baby wipes are notorious for causing plumbing problems. Furthermore, cities worldwide are spending millions trying to filter wipes out of their plumbing systems. Regardless of whether it says “flushable” on the box, opt to throw these into the garbage.
- Medications – When medicines expire or are no longer needed, many people dispose of them down the toilet. Unfortunately, pharmaceuticals and hormones get into the water supply when they are flushed, endangering people and wildlife.
- Cigarette Butts – Like medications, cigarette butts release chemicals into the water supply that can be harmful.
- Dental Floss – It looks harmless enough, but dental floss isn’t biodegradable and can also bunch up causing a clog in your plumbing pipe.
- Kitty Litter – Because cat litter is actually designed to clump up when in contact with moisture, it is highly likely to clump up in your plumbing pipes.
- Cotton Balls & Swabs – It seems easy enough to drop these little items into the toilet, but these are likely to gather together in your plumbing system and cause clogs.
- Hair & Pet Fur – When hair and pet fur is flushed down the toilet, it can form into balls that cause clogs. Be sure to clean off brushes and combs into the trash.
- Band-Aids – These and any other sticky plastic items should be thrown away in the garbage. In plumbing systems, they tend to stick to other things and cause serious clogs.
- Food – While it may seem strange that food gets thrown away down the toilet, it does happen more than you’d think, and is likely to cause problems. Make sure the little ones know that the toilet is not the place to dispose of their sandwich crusts!
Now that you know what not to flush down your toilet in Reading, MA or the North Shore, you should be able to prevent some issues with your plumbing system, but for those unpreventable problems that arise, be sure to give Waldman Plumbing a call for fast, courteous plumbing service!