One of the questions many residential plumbing repair professionals get is whether it is truly safe to flush the moist wipes that are utilized in many American bathrooms. There has been an ongoing debate about whether marketing them as “flushable” is in the public’s best interest. The debate has even gone through the courts and a slated law to remove the claim was halted, not because the wipes were found to be flushable, but because a federal judge ruled that it would impinge the first amendment rights of the manufacturers. So, we are likely to continue seeing the wipes advertised as flushable, but that still leaves the question about whether doing so will lead to residential plumbing repair.

The fact is that these wipes do break down in the sewer system, but they take quite a bit longer to do so than toilet paper does. This can be more of a concern if you are on a septic system and want to avoid needing the tank pumped more frequently. The wipes are also more susceptible to getting stuck on other products in the sewer or septic lines, leading to clogging and backups. This would put them in the same non-flushable classification as dental floss, cotton balls, feminine products, paper towels, and toilet roll tubes. There are enough cases of flushable wipes leading to residential plumbing repair problems that law firms are investigating lawsuits on behalf of consumers.

In the end, you be the judge about whether you believe it is worth the risk to flush “flushable” wipes. Should you have a problem related to flushing them or any other cause that has led to needing residential plumbing repair, give us a call at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Hendersonville. We’ll take care of your plumbing issue promptly and get it right the first time.