With a focus on cleanliness to keep the spread of viruses down, many people in Etobicoke and Mississauga stocking up on items such as toilet paper and Lysol wipes. But we are not here today to talk about panic buying. We are here to talk about these specific items. One is OK to flush down the toilet, while the other is not.
When using disinfecting wipes, baby wipes, etc., they should be disposed of in the garbage and never by flushing them down the toilet.
Flushing wipes down the toilet can lead to clogged pipes and, most likely, a costly repair job. And while plumbers are considered essential workers, it does not help your social distancing efforts when you have to call tradespeople into your home – especially over something that was easily preventable.
Don’t believe them when they say they are “flushable”!
At D. Jason Plumbing, we have conducted a number of repairs in Etobicoke and Mississauga after members of a household repeatedly flushed so-called flushable wipes. Homeowners are often surprised to learn that theses “flushable” wipes are really not flushable at all.
In fact, when multiple households are flushing wipes down the toilet, they can get caught in the main sewer line and accumulate into large clogs or masses called “fatbergs.” Does that sound gross to you? It should! They’re nasty!
But they are more than nasty; they are expensive. It is estimated that every year municipalities spend about $250 million on unclogging sewer lines of these fatbergs. That is $250 million of your tax dollars that might otherwise have been spent repairing roads or improving social services.
And now with more and more people buying disinfecting wipes as we all do our best to sanitize and stop the spread of COVID-19, there is the very real danger municipalities will have to have these clogs cleared more often and the cost for that clearing will increase.
Help protect essential workers during COVID-19.
Residential and commercial plumbers, as well as water and wastewater utility workers, provide essential services in Etobicoke and Mississauga. They help ensure that we all have running and safe water, which is particularly crucial during this pandemic.
But when these workers get called on to deal with clogs caused by disinfecting wipes, it takes them away from their primary duties and can put undue stress on the entire system. It also potentially exposes them to increased contact with other people, which in turn increases the likelihood of COVID-19 being spread.
These workers need to remain on the job during this time, but we can all do our part to help protect them. Damage and blockages to plumbing and sewer lines caused by flushing wipes is 100% preventable. So, let’s keep the wipes out of the pipes!
D. Jason Plumbing is here for you during COVID-19
Even though we are under quarantine, there may still be a time when you will need to call a plumber – because some plumbing problems simply can’t wait. Whether you have a leaky pipe, are in need of a hot water heater repair, or yes – even if someone in your household has mistakenly been flushing Lysol wipes and has caused a clog – we are here for you. Call us today if you need a plumber in Etobicoke or Mississauga.