If you use wet wipes in your bathroom, it’s more important than you might imagine to put used wet wipes into the trash can instead of flushing them down the toilet. Flushing wet wipes will have you looking up the number for a plumber and dealing with plumbing damage. To understand why the pipes and sewer system can’t handle wipes, keep reading.

3 Reasons Why Wet Wipes Can’t Be Flushed

1. They Don’t Break Apart

Although wet wipes may seem like they can break apart like toilet paper, they are actually much more durable and almost never disintegrate. While toilet paper and human waste all break down into small pieces for the sewer system, wet wipes can stick to other wet wipes forming massive buildups. Wet wipes have even been found sitting in drain pipes months after being flushed. Instead of tossing a used wipe into the toilet bowl, put it in the trash can to keep your pipes safe.

2. Creates Blockage

Not only can wet wipes not break apart, but they can also combine with other wipes and create blockages. Wipes are even known to combine with fat, grease, and other debris in the pipes and create huge clogs up to ten feet long or more. In older homes, tree roots can grow into the pipes and sewer systems that catch wipes and other debris, forming a wall that completely blocks the entry to the septic tank.

3. Causes Sewer System Damage

In the case that wet wipes make it all the way through the pipes and enter the septic tank, the wipes can damage both the tank and the city’s sewer system. Rather than clogging inside the pipes, they will clog inside the tank and make a backed up sewer. The sewage can even back up into your home through the drains in your sinks, showers, and other drains. Instead of having to call the plumber to deal with such an expensive and smelly problem, simply dispose of used wet wipes in the trash can. 

If you are dealing with clogged pipes or require a plumber for other issues, reach out to Pro-Fetick Plumbing in Lexington, KY. This small, family-owned and operated company services homeowners and businesses throughout Lexington, Versailles, Frankfort, Nicholasville, Richmond, and Winchester. Whether you need a plumbing contractor for your bathroom remodeling project or you are looking for an emergency plumber, their team is available for you. Call (859) 263-5727 to speak with a team member, or visit them online to learn more about their services.