4 Common Items That Should Never Be Flushed Down a Toilet

The primary reason people call out a plumber is to resolve a blocked drain or toilet. Often, there is a blockage because someone flushed, or attempted to flush, a non-flushable item down the toilet. The following are five items that should never be flushed down the toilet and if disposed properly, you will save yourself a lot of time, trouble and money.

Food, Fat and Oils

Fibrous food like potatoes, fruit, or even bones can cause harm to your sewer system. Food, fat and oils are a serious problem. Just as clay and straw bind together, these substances bind to anything that is flushed down the toilet. When warm oil and grease are poured down the sink or into the toilet, it will eventually cool and congeal creating a clog in the system. Small Pets Small pets, such as goldfish, are definitely among items that should never be flushed but commonly are.

Unfortunately, other larger pets like gerbils and hamsters have also been known to be found in sewer systems. Personal Care Items Cotton balls and tissues can take months to break down, and can accumulate in the pipes. As a result, they block drains.

Baby Wipes

Many baby wipe containers will say “flushable” on the packaging but baby wipes should be disposed of in the trash. They are thicker and sturdier than toiler paper and can also result in clogging your toilet.

At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues – especially HVAC and plumbing issues – so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.

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