Can Wet Wipes Block Drains?
One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to plumbing is that you can flush wet wipes down the toilet without issues. This assumption proves costly for countless Australians each year, as their pipes become clogged with wet wipes.
Can I Flush Wet Wipes?
The simple truth is that wet wipes block drains. Even wipes labelled as ‘flushable’ can cause major issues and should never be flushed.
Wet wipes are not safely flushable as they are made from materials that do not disintegrate when exposed to water. Toilet paper breaks apart while in the drain system, making it flushable, but this is not the case with wet wipes. Flushing wet wipes is a quick and reliable way to get your drains clogged, resulting in a call to your local plumber.
Tested by Choice
Given the growing popularity of ‘flushable’ wet wipes, more and more drain blockages are being caused by this misconception. Choice tested twelve brands of wet wipes—eleven marketed as flushable—and each of them failed to lose strength or break down in pipes.
Currently, there is no standard for what makes a wet wipe flushable. The label ‘flushable’ is meaningless, and the products are likely to cause significant issues if you continue to flush them.
How Wet Wipes Impact Drains
Because they don’t break down like toilet paper, wet wipes block drains more commonly than any other item. In fact, many wet wipes don’t even make it into the sewer system.
They simply get stuck in your own waste pipes causing all kinds of problems. To keep your drains clear, dispose of wet wipes properly in a rubbish bin.
What Else Can’t Be Flushed?
Unfortunately, many people think of their toilet as another rubbish bin. If you want to avoid a pipe blockage, only flush toilet paper and human waste.
Other common items we find blocking pipes include coffee grounds, bamboo toilet paper, cat waste and litter, paper towels and female hygiene products. Excessive amounts of toilet paper can also cause a blockage.
Have You Already Flushed Wet Wipes?
If you have already flushed wet wipes down the toilet and have a blockage, it is time to get the professionals involved. At Drainpro, we have all the equipment and experience to get your drains clear again.
Give the Drainpro team a call on 1300 620 273 for help with all your plumbing needs. Alternatively, you complete our contact form and we will get back to you soon.
Enquire Now
TESTIMONIALS
we are very happy with a job well done by Nick! With a fixed price, i knew exactly what it was going to cost me before he arrived. He assessed the problem quickly then dropped a camera in the drain and explained everything to us as he worked! We could see with our own eyes that the drains were free of roots and squeeky clean by the time he had finished! Thank you Nick for a job well done!
(Testimonial from Google)
Wouldn't call anyone else! Spoke with Jim on the phone, he was easy to talk to, honest and knew what he was talking about. Nick was here on time and did his work with pride and care. He explained everything as the work was done and had my problem solved in no time at all. He was even able to check out some other issues and help to fix them as well. I have no doubt that if any problems came up during the work, Drainpro would have the tools and experience to get the job done right the first time for a fair price!
Great company, Great people & Great service!
(Testimonial from Google)
I highly recommend Drainpro. A week ago Jim from Drainpro attended to my drain blockage issue. He took the time to diagnose the problem (due to tree roots), fixed the problem and gave me great advice on how to manage my drains instead of lining it or digging it out and replacing which are very time consuming, costly and not to mention not suitable recommendation for my drains which are still in a reasonably good condition. He took the time also to call and logged a job with my water authority to ensure that they come out to also clear the council drain of roots which is the main cause of the blockage. All this done at a very reasonable price. I have used other plumbers before but Jim from Drainpro is by far the best I have encountered. Jim is very passionate about his work, he is prompt, professional and friendly. I will definitely use him again for my drains issue in the future. Keep up the good work!
(Testimonial from Google)
Discussed problem with Jim on phone. Very rapid service. The blocked drain proved to be quite difficult. Nick was more than equal to the task and remained cheerful throughout. The result is excellent. I can happily recommend Drain Pro.
(Testimonial from Google)
Nick performed an excellent job on our blocked sewer line. He was very friendly and courteous! The flat rate may seem pricey compared to other plumbers, but after seeing Nick at work and how thorough he was I think it was a fair price. Traddies like Nick are very rare these days! Thank you!
(Testimonial from Google)
