Category: Toilet repair

Are flushable wipes really flushable? This is a question that many of us have asked ourselves while standing in the bathroom with a fresh pack of wet wipes in our hands. Let’s be real: using wet wipes to clean up after using the toilet has become a popular trend. They’re marketed as “flushable” and “septic-safe,” which means it’s perfectly fine to flush them down the toilet, right? Wrong! In this blog, we’re going to explore whether or not flushable wipes are actually flushable, and why they can cause serious damage to your home’s plumbing.

So, Are Flushable Wipes Actually Flushable? 

Oh, flushable wipes claim to be sewer-friendly and septic-safe, giving us the illusion that we can flush them down the toilet without a second thought. But are they really flushable? Spoiler alert: not exactly. 

Despite what the label on the packaging may tell you, flushable wipes take longer to break down than good old-fashioned toilet paper. This means that these seemingly harmless wipes increase the risk of clogged pipes and blockages, which could result in some hefty plumbing bills. So, flushable wipes can potentially leave your bank account drained (pun intended).

And, if you think that flushing them down the toilet is the end of the story, you’re in for a surprise. These sneaky wipes can team up with other items in your sewer line, such as thick toilet paper, cotton swabs, paper towels, dental floss, sanitary pads, and toilet cleaning pads. Together, they can create a monster of a blockage known as “ragging” that can wreak havoc on your plumbing. So, you might want to think twice before you flush that wipe next time.

But don’t just take our word for it. Even though manufacturers may claim that flushable wipes are safe to flush, the evidence suggests that they can increase the risk of clogged sewer lines and require more frequent septic tank pumping. And let’s face it; nobody wants to deal with a sewer backup or sewage spill in their home. It’s a messy and costly situation to clean up.

How Flushable Wipes Can Damage Your Home’s Plumbing

The accumulation of wipes in the sewer line between the house and tank can cause a blockage, leading to backups and even flooding in your home. Additionally, wipes can build up at the inlet of the septic tank, reducing its ability to remove solids from the water discharging to your leach area. This can ultimately lead to the failure of your entire septic system, resulting in expensive repairs and replacement bills.

The issue with flushable wipes goes beyond just clogging pipes and septic tanks. In fact, flushing any chemicals, wipes, or other items into your septic tank can cause the waste-eating bacteria to die, leading to the breakdown of the entire system. This means that regular septic tank inspections and pumping become even more important when using wipes, as the bacteria in your system will need to be replenished more frequently.

I Have a Septic System. Are Flushable Wipes Septic Safe?

Plumbing and septic tank service companies are in agreement on this one – flushable wipes are not so flushable after all. Despite what the packaging may say, these pesky wipes don’t dissolve in septic tanks and can cause serious damage in the long run. It’s like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off in your pipes.

One plumbing company even said that flushing wipes down the toilet are one of the worst things you can do to your home’s plumbing. Yikes, that’s like inviting a pack of angry raccoons to your backyard BBQ. Trust us; you don’t want to deal with that mess.

Sure, the manufacturers will tell you that these wipes are safe to flush, but the evidence suggests otherwise. Flushing them can increase the risk of clogged sewer lines and require the pumping of septic tanks more often. And let’s be honest; nobody wants to pay for more frequent septic tank pumping. That’s like paying for a gym membership you never use – a waste of money and resources.

So, what’s the solution? Stick to good old-fashioned toilet paper, folks. It may not be as fancy as those flushable wipes, but it gets the job done without causing any damage to your septic system. 

What to Do If “Flushable” Wipes Clog Your Plumbing

Are flushable wipes really flushable? Don’t take the packaging at face value – those seemingly harmless wipes can cause serious plumbing issues. If you’re experiencing frequent clogs in your home, it’s time to call in the experts. Our 24-hour emergency plumber at Custom Plumbing of Arizona is always on standby, ready to tackle any size clog. So don’t let the problem linger any longer – call us at 602-866-2665 to schedule an appointment and end those stubborn clogs for good!

Posted on Author webdevCategories Toilet repairTags , Leave a comment on Are Flushable Wipes Really Flushable?

The bathroom is supposed to be a place of peace and solitude, but when you have a toilet leaking water, scrolling on your phone is a lot less fun.

Leaking toilets are a problem for many reasons. When they malfunction, they don’t send you-know-what down to you-know-where. They can leave you with a mess. If the water leak goes unnoticed for even an hour, it can cause hundreds of dollars in damage.

Want to protect your wallet (and your sanity)? Here are a few solutions to some common scenarios.

Broken Seal at the Base of the Toilet

If you notice your toilet leaking water around its base, it is likely that you have a bad seal. The wax seal that connects your toilet to your home’s plumbing is a critical piece of equipment, and when it gets damaged, it allows water to leak from the bowl onto the floor. If you notice water pooling around the base of your toilet, you will need to remove the toilet and replace this seal.

Broken Flapper

While this problem does not usually result in your toilet leaking water onto the floor, it can be annoying. If your toilet doesn’t stop running after you flush it, a broken flapper is the most likely cause.

Luckily, it is also one of the easiest problems to fix on your own. All you need to do is remove the top of your toilet tank, remove the faulty part, and replace it with one that you purchased from your local hardware store.

Not sure how to fix your flapper? Our plumbers are standing by.

Bad Water Supply Connection

The water that fills your toilet has to come from somewhere. The supply line feeds new water into your toilet’s tank after you flush it. Before you remove your toilet to replace the wax seal, you could save yourself some trouble by checking the water supply line. Sometimes all it takes to fix a toilet leaking water onto the floor is to tighten the supply connection. Simply find the supply line leading into the back of your toilet and try to turn the connection.

Malfunctioning Fill Valve

If your toilet sounds like it is constantly running, has a weak flush, or doesn’t flush at all, the problem with your toilet could be a broken fill valve. One way to test whether your fill valve is causing your leaky toilet is to add a little food coloring to the tank. If food coloring leaks into the toilet bowl, you will need to replace the fill valve.

Turn off your toilet’s water supply, remove the tank lid, flush the toilet, unscrew the water hose, remove the current fill valve, install the new ones, and voila — problem solved! Because toilets are not all the same size, you may need to adjust your new fill valve’s height.

Is Your Toilet Leaking Water? Can’t Solve the Problem Yourself?

Got a leaking toilet? Get in touch with Custom Plumbing of Arizona today!

Posted on Author Vince VinceCategories Toilet repair, UncategorizedTags

What goes down must not come up! If you want to avoid the mess of a sewer backup, these tips are for you.

Whether you are doing laundry or using the toilet, the last thing you want to happen is for whatever you are sending down the drain to come back into your home. You don’t need an active imagination to picture what that would look like—just think of the damage to your carpets and hardwood flooring!

Fortunately, you have a chance to stop that from happening if you know the signs. Use these tips to avoid a major sewer backup.

Don’t Ignore That Bad Smell

Do your drains smell like sewage? That’s one of the signs that you have a possible sewer backup on your hands. When a drain gets clogged, whether from roots invading your main line or from something that just got stuck, the material that gets stuck in the pipes decomposes, which produces a foul smell.

It is possible that the smell is coming from a clog that is isolated to a single drain, but if conventional methods of clearing the blocked drain do not work, calling a plumber might be necessary to determine whether the clog is something more serious, like a clogged sewer.

Stop Believing in Coincidences…When It Comes to Clogged Drains

One drain clogged? OK, maybe things aren’t so bad. Two or more drains clogged at the same time? Now you might be at risk for a sewer backup.

To understand why two or more clogged drains are a sign that your sewer is backed up, let’s think about how your plumbing is structured. Imagine that your plumbing—from each drain down in your home to the main sewer line running up to your house—is a river system. The drains are smaller tributary rivers that feed into the larger river of the main sewer line.

When the sewer line is backed up, those tributaries have nowhere to send their water, which means they are going to force water out of other tributaries.

Give Your Toilet a Good Listen

The next time you flush the toilet, take a moment to listen to it. What do you hear? If you hear a bubbling noise, that might mean that a sewer backup is not far away.

When you have a clog in your sewer line, air often gets trapped in the pipe. As water flows past the clog (clogs do not always completely block water from passing through) the air can escape, causing bubbles and gurgling noises.

Sometimes you can even see these air bubbles escaping. To test it out, fill up your sink with a few inches of water. Next, drain it. As the water goes down the drain, look for small bubbles coming up from the pipes.

Don’t Let a Sewer Backup Ruin Your Day—Get Professional Help Before It’s Too Late!

The day your sewer backs up into your home is a day that no one wants to experience. Do you suspect that you might have a clogged sewer line? Contact us today so we can schedule a home visit.

Posted on Author Vince VinceCategories Emergency Plumber, Residential Plumbing Services, Toilet repairTags

Time doesn’t pass without a trace of buildup in the sewer pipes, which is manifested from the deposits of waste in them. Because of this, the properties and characteristics of the movement in the drain determines how fast they will appear. Due to the presence of these layers on the walls, the pipes acquire a smaller cross-section. This leads to a reduction in capacity and clogging of sewerage. In addition to this, due to sediment, there are difficulties with drainage. It turns into a favorable environment for sulfate-reducing bacteria, which are actively multiplying in it. At the same time, products that are not disposable exert a negative influence on the pipes, creating more clogging.

Prevention of blockages

Among the possible methods for preventing sewage sludge, there is no equal in reliability with the use of plugs-filters placed on drainage holes, and carrying out preventive measures that involve washing it.

The necessary effect can be achieved if weekly drain holes are cleaned with a cup of baking soda followed by vinegar. Once foam begins to develop in the pipe, pour hot water down the drain to clear it out.

Determine the clog

In the event of blockages, the order of actions is determined by the specific nature of the clogging.

If water cannot escape through the drain hole in only one plumbing device, it is clear that the resulting clogging has a local character.

If a similar pattern is observed with all plumbing fixtures, then it is likely that the main pipe has been clogged.

Elimination of local sewerage clogging

You can also clear a blockage by pouring boiling water down the drain. With this method, you can easily remove fat deposits.

An alternative solution may be to remove the siphon, whose main task is to filter the suspended particles, and clean it. In the course of dismantling it, it’s important to do everything very carefully and make sure that all the parts remain in place and are intact.

If this attempt isn’t success, it makes sense to resort to chemical preparations for cleaning the sewage system. Most of the cleaners contain the main active component – alkali. With the help of such cleaners, you can remove fat deposits.

If there is a suspicion that the sewerage is clogged because of a buildup of hair, then an acidic cleaner will help here. It is inadmissible to pour any of these preparations into the pipe when there is a serious clog. If the drain does not allow to the cleaner to go down into the drain, there is a risk that the cleaner can spill back, causing a burn.

clearing a clogged toilet
process of clearing toilet

It should be remembered that a simple plunger can be useful for fighting against clogs. To make it easier to deal with the clogs, it’s recommended that you apply a layer of Vaseline or other thick lubricants to the edges of the plunger and then start cleaning the sewer.

It is important that the whole cup is immersed in water. When placing it on the drain hole, first remove air from the bowl.

Plumbing cable

How do you handle the problem if all means were powerless when clearing the clog? In this case, there can be only one way out – use a plumbing cable. One end of this device provides a handle, and the other – a tip, made in the form of a drill or brush.

Plumbing cable

Figure 2: The plumbing cable

Cables are often used by professionals, and to achieve the desired results, you must have certain skills to work with it. It can bypass the curves of the pipe, but it’s important to understand that they can damage plastic piping. If you doubt whether you will be able to handle the blockages, or you do not have a cable, it is recommended to have a plumber do the work.

Elimination of blockages of main pipes

In principle, similar methods are used here to combat blockages. At the heart of industrial sewage pumping is the use of high pressure and temperature. Drainage cannot be a good reason for panic. With such a mood, people act rashly, as a result of it all ends with even greater problems.

Thats what ccp.services can recommend you!

Posted on Author adminCategories Blog, Emergency Plumber, Residential Plumbing Services, Toilet repair