Wet wipes, while useful and nice to have, can become a plumbing hazard when disposed of incorrectly. According to statistics in the United States, in 2012 around 75% of all drain and sewage blockages were caused by wet wipes. Some people still prefer using them over toilet paper because of comfort and convenience. Companies aware of this issue have devised a “safer” alternative for this issue: flushable wipes. Do flushable wipes live up to their claim? Can they damage our plumbing like wet wipes or are they safe? In this article, we will take a closer look at the subject.

What are flushable wipes?

Unlike regular wipes that take a long time to disintegrate since they are mostly synthetic and designed to be constantly saturated with fluids, flushable wipes claim to be made with a high percentage of cellulose fiber (most brands claim that this percentage is higher than 90%) making them similar to toilet paper in composition, with the added benefit of being moist and scented. The downside of these wipes is that they don’t seem to be as sturdy as regular wipes, so they must be used more delicately, but they can still be used for the same things

Can flushable wipes damage your plumbing?

As stated before, flushable wipes are made almost entirely of cellulose fiber, much like toilet paper; and should break down quickly inside our pipes. But three elements make flushable wipes potentially dangerous: one is in the compounds and additives they have, the second one is inside your plumbing and you might be personally responsible for the third.

Ignoring the cellulose fiber, most flushable wipes use heavy minerals for whitening; such minerals form deposits inside drains and pipes, creating rough surfaces in which larger objects like strands of hair can lodge into, and slowly build up to form clogs. Also, some ‘flushable wipe’ brands use small amounts of synthetic fibers to hold the cellulose together, which in larger quantities can get lodged or strengthen previous buildups inside your pipes.

The other element that might turn a seemingly safe product into a disaster is the size of your plumbing; flushable wipes do degrade but take a long time to do so, and you can only flush a certain amount depending on the size of your pipes and sewage pressure before they start to cluster together, obstructing what would otherwise be a clear pipe.

The last element stems from your waste management habits. Substances like cooking oil and other oil-based substances are not meant to be discarded through any drains, as these can congeal and form solid obstructions; what makes matters worse is since flushable wipes take longer to degrade than more common options like toilet paper, they can absorb the discarded oil and become more resistant to disintegration, forming a solid hazard for your plumbing.

 

For more information, contact Vinny’s Jersey Plumbing, located in Wayne, New Jersey.  We also service other towns in New Jersey, such as West Orange, Paramus and Livingston.