What Not to Flush Down the Toilet

On the surface, using the toilet in your home seems like a straightforward and simple task, but we all know that toilets are susceptible to clogs and other flushing issues over time. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at what you should avoid flushing to prevent problems.

What’s Okay to Flush (and What’s Not)

You might think it’s fairly obvious which items can and can’t go down the toilet drain, but there are a few things you may not realize should be tossed in the trash rather than flushed.

Facial tissues like Kleenex, for example, are designed to stay together and not break down as easily as toilet paper. For that reason, they’re considered non-flushable. Is it bad to flush tissues down the toilet? If done every day, yes. If it happens by accident on a few occasions, it shouldn’t cause much trouble. If they’re flushed regularly, however, a blockage could develop over time. Similarly, baby wipes, tissue paper, and paper towels should be thrown away, not flushed.

Another thing you may be tempted to flush are old, unused pharmaceuticals. Whether they’re over the counter or prescription drugs, flushing medications isn’t a safe method of disposal. Water treatment plants often aren’t capable of removing all of the chemicals in certain medications, which means that they persist in the water and may be put back into the local water table.

Be Mindful with Toilet Paper

One of the simplest ways to avoid flushing problems is to pay attention to exactly what you’re tossing into the bowl as well as how much of it there is. Using too much toilet paper at a time is one of the most common ways to create a clog. Usually, these can be dislodged with a plunger, but ongoing overuse of toilet paper could cause a blockage further down the line.

The Trouble with Toddlers

No matter how careful you are about the things you flush down the toilet, young children often aren’t as careful. Even if you tell little Daisy that her doll can’t breathe underwater, there’s still that chance that dolly will find her way into the pipes. Because of this, it’s important to make sure that small children are told what not to flush and that they don’t have the opportunity to put things into the toilet.

Of course, with kids, anything is possible. Should your two-year-old create a backup while you’re answering the door, the understanding experts at Christianson Air Conditioning & Plumbing are available to come to your rescue.

Get Your Toilet into Good Flushing Shape with Christianson Air Conditioning & Plumbing

 Should your toilet struggle to flush properly, the plumbing contractors at Christianson Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you bring it back to good working order. Whether you’ve got a clogged toilet or need a full toilet replacement, our plumbing experts will thoroughly inspect your situation and help you find the most affordable, complete solution.

Christianson Air Conditioning & Plumbing has four convenient Texas locations in Austin, San Antonio, Temple, and New Braunfels. If you’re having toilet problems and live in one of our service areas, contact us today to schedule a service appointment at your home.