'Flushable' Wipes & The Impact On Your Sewage Line | Network Know How
Don't Flush It Down
Your Sewer Line!
Don't believe the spin. Don't buy into the hype. Even after all the press about the falsehood of 'flushable' wipes... our sewage systems are still suffering from blockages, environmental pollution and unnecessary damage. Unfortunately, some companies are still marketing their wet wipes as 'flushable'.
As a plumbing company that deals in sewage pipes day in, day out... let it be known, wet wipes are not flushable, take it from us! It's a convenient marketing phrase created in the 80's when the first round of wet wipes hit the market. What they deemed as flushable was a product small enough to flush. Not having anything to do with mimicking the same composition as toilet paper. Fun fact... toilet paper begins to break down within 1 minute of being exposed to water, the same can not be said for wet wipes or any other debris that might make it into your sewer lines.
We're still fighting the battle of misinformation and what should make it down your sewer line. Just because it flushes doesn't mean it should! Sydney Water spent over 8 million dollars in 2020, clearing non-flushables out of our sewage systems. Over 1 million people last year flushed wet wipes down the loo. The figures are staggering.
So, Network Plumbing are here to convince you of the importance of protecting your flush and the potential damage you could be doing to your sewage system without even knowing it.
We're also here to clear any sewer lines that may be suffering from a clogged or blocked section in your sewer line. Our trusty plumber is well equipped with the latest plumbing technology to effectively clear your sewer line.
The Damage Caused To Your Sewer lines By Non-Flushables
There is logic behind the composition of toilet paper. It starts to break down in water within 1 minute, disintegrate. This composition is intentionally designed to allow for smooth sailing of your sewage water from your household sewer system into the main sewer line. Flushing anything besides, the three 3s (poo, pee and toilet paper) should be avoided at all costs. Foreign items in your sewer line may lead to avoidable blockages and may require professional interventions and repairs.
What can happen? How bad can it be? The potential damage might include any of the below...
- The wastewater might backflow - hygienic issues can arise.
- Burst pipe - leading to sewer water damage on the property.
- Broken pipes - professional repairs or replacement of your sewer line.
Foreign items can exacerbate an existing plumbing problem (tree roots) or if the foreign matter is large enough, be the primary reason for the blockage. Our plumbers are equipped to effectively clear your sewer line. The quicker action is taken the less potential damage is caused.
Applied pressure on your sewer line can be sustained for a short period of time, but repeated behaviour and continual pressure will probably strain your sewer pipes creating major repairs.
The Do Not Flush List!
As a general rule of thumb, Network Plumbing has compiled a quick list of items to avoid flushing down your toilet drains. As mentioned above, sticking to the 3P's is the goal. The easiest investment a homeowner can make for their bathroom and their sewer pipeline is a waste bin.
Never flush the following
- Wet wipes
- Facial wipes
- Nappies
- Tissues
- Paper Towels
- Floss
- Cotton Buds
- Sanitary items
- Any foreign objects
We understand accidents happen. Life is full of adventures and little fingers are adventurous. From jewellery to children's toys... sometimes a blocked sewer line is unpredictable. Regardless of the reason behind the blocked sewer lines, Network Plumbing are successful drain clearers and are more than capable of clearing those sewer service pipes.
What Can I Flush Into My Sewer Pipes?
So simple... toilet paper and human waste. Yep, that's it. Protecting your sewer line in your house or on your property reduces after-hours emergency plumbing call-outs as well as repairs or damage. You're also playing a significantly important community role and reducing the amount of waste that will enter your main sewer line... benefits for all!
Sometimes you have unknowingly inherited a sewer line issue. Have you moved to a new property? Have you thought about a maintenance inspection of your sewer lines to see if there is an existing problem that might be fixed with a quick drain clean from our plumber? Knowing the state of your pipes helps to ensure the long term effectiveness of your system and in turn, reduce the overall cost you might have to invest if there are unresolved plumbing problems growing without your knowledge. Call Network Plumbing to organise a CCTV Camera Inspection on
9023 3232.
What To Do If There Is A Blockage In My Sewer System?
Our plumbers recommend,
- Firstly if you can... locate your water supply and turn it off. This will limit accidental flushes or the use of your sewer line while you are facing issues.
- Then, call Network Plumbing on 9023 3232.
Over the counter, drain-clearing chemicals will only get you so far. If it's a build-up of non-flushables, these can be stubborn and require more than over the counter chemicals.
Network Plumbing employs the use of a powerful drain clearing tool called a high-pressure water Jetter. The Jetter is effective, environmentally friendly and fast. You might only need one course of action before the problem grows.
All The Engineering For A Sewage System To Function
A sewerage system relies on many facets coming together to work seamlessly with one another. It takes several factors working together for a toilet to flush completely out and into the main sewer line. The impact of non-flushables on our plumbing system could result in potential damage to pump systems, city sewers and challenge your local wastewater treatment plant's ability to handle and treat some of these items. A well-working system is not at the forefront of a property owners mind unless there is an issue that arises.
But did you know? A well-working sewer line requires the following...
Proper Grade
Lines that are flat or back graded simply cannot flow matter completely towards the city sewer pipe. However, lines that are graded too much can increase the flow to the extent that the water and solids separate from each other, leaving solids behind that could potentially cause a clog.
A line free of defect
Common defects are age deterioration, a belly or slump in the line breakage, and root intrusion from trees or plant life. These problems can cause matter to get hung up in a drain and eventually build a blockage. Flushing the wrong items down the toilet can increase the odds of blockage dramatically.
A well-engineered toilet
In the age of low water consumption, reducing the gallons per flush (GPF) has also led to a quality flush for many brands. A toilet with a lesser flush and poor evacuation may need several flushes to evacuate properly, could cause a clog or incomplete evacuation within the toilet itself. This can impede complete drainage to the main sewer. We always recommend a professional grade toilet to greatly reduce and/or eliminate clogs within the fixture.
Installed per code and manufacture instructions
Drains sized improperly, vented incorrectly, installed wrong and/or with the wrong material all add to poor drainage. Fixtures, including toilets, have to meet certain code requirements and be installed per the requirements of the manufacturer. Deviation from his can cause trouble down the road and down the drain.
Adding the management of non-flushable items to the list can present the property owner with plumbing issues extending beyond a slow to drain sink. Internal damage could be happening to your pipes.
Underlying Issues In
Your Sewer Line
Often when a drain clogs, even with 'flushable items', there is usually another reason for the backup beyond something just getting stuck in the drain.
The question we always want to ask is; why did it get stuck in the first place? For this reason, we often recommend an inspection of the building drain with a sewer camera after the drain is cleared. This visual inside your sewer line can help determine defects in the drain and offer the correct solution before starting any other kind of repair.
Clearing a drain is great! There’s nothing like being able to flush your toilet again, and removing the smell of sewerage from your home. But clearing a clogged building drain without knowing if there is an unresolved problem with the drain itself, leaves the potential that this same problem could reoccur, an experience that no one wants to relive.
It's not only important to consider the proper use of your drain, but also the capability of your local wastewater treatment plant to handle and treat some of these items. So what can we flush down the toilet? If it isn’t toilet paper or doesn’t come from your body, don’t flush it down the toilet!
Specialising in blocked drains and pipe relining, Network Plumbing are your drainage professionals. Call 9023 3232.
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