Co-Owner · October 11, 2024
Walk down the toilet paper aisle at your local grocery store and there's an imposter hiding among the regular rolls. It looks harmless, but anyone with a septic system should be wary of it: “flushable wipes.”
Despite their name, these moist wipes wear a mask of deception. The last thing you should do is flush them down your toilet.
“But why are they called flushable if they shouldn’t be flushed?” you might be asking through the wireless miles between my screen and yours.
The answer is frustratingly simple: they’re marketed as “flushable” because they can physically go down and l-the toilet. It’s a technicality that allows brands to dodge truth-in-advertising regulations despite the damage they can cause.
To put it into perspective, it’s like a company selling regular cactuses and advertising them as “wearable” just because you can stick them into your skin. Sure, it’s possible, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. This example is a fitting metaphor, considering the harm it does to your septic system.
Why companies are allowed to sell them this way is beyond us. The best we can do is help you keep them from backing up your system.
Our rule of thumb for customers is simple: don't flush anything but toilet paper. That's how you stay out of the nightmare scenarios.
Why you shouldn't flush them
Have you ever heard of a “fatberg?” It’s a disgusting mass of fat, oil, and grease held together via flushed, stringy, non-biodegradable solids, such as “flushable” wipes.
Picture this: there's a rough spot somewhere in your plumbing.
Nothing major, just a tiny bulge in the pipe, maybe from a very slight molding flaw. It’s so minor that the contractors didn’t even notice it when installing your system.
But that little imperfection is enough to snag and tear “flushable” wipes, causing bits of stringy material to get stuck. Things only go downhill from here.
Now say you're cleaning up after supper. Maybe you didn't get all the grease out of the pan after browning beef, or a little bacon fat went down the drain. That fat floats along and grabs onto the stringy stuff stuck in your pipe. As it cools, it hardens, layer after layer.
Repeat this cycle a few times, and before you know it, you’ve got what’s scientifically called a “fatberg.”
Also, the pulpy mass of non-biodegradable wipes starts to build up. Before long, your septic system is clogged with synthetic material. So if you don’t have to deal with fatbergs, you have to deal with the buildup of synthetic material in your septic tank, clogging the vents, intakes, and outtakes.
At best, you get slow drains. At worst, a plumbing disaster.
Wet wipes vs flushable wipes
The first wet wipes were invented in the United States, with a man named Arthur Julius being credited with their invention in 1957. A year later, the product was trademarked as “Wet-Nap.”
Originally designed for the cosmetic industry, Julius made a bold career move by pitching his product to none other than the great Colonel Harland Sanders for use in his growing chain of KFC restaurants. By the 1970s, technology allowed for mass production of wet wipes.
They caught on fast because they're easy, clean, and they work.
However, despite this convenience, wet wipes should never be flushed. But what makes them different from their adult-marketed cousin, the “flushable” wipe?
Surprisingly, not that much. Flushable wipes are thinner, often have added scents or moisturizers, and cover a larger surface area. But beyond that? They’re just as problematic for your plumbing and septic systems.
How to tell what's safe
Here is a simple way to test whether a bathroom product is safe to flush: take a glass of water and drop it in, then swirl it around with a pencil for about 30 seconds.
Now check the result: Did the item begin to dissolve or break apart?
If the answer is no, it's not flushable. Your toilet might handle it for now, but your pipes and septic system won't be so forgiving down the road.
Unlike toilet paper, designed to break down quickly in water, items like “flushable” wipes, feminine hygiene products, and paper towels hold their shape and strength for far too long. When these products end up in your pipes or septic system, they don’t just cause clogs; they can also lead to expensive repairs and nasty backups.
If it doesn't pass the swirl test, it goes in the garbage.
The Impact
When “flushable” wipes get into a septic tank, they cause real trouble. Slow drains, backups, and in the worst cases, a full blockage. Those usually mean an expensive repair call. They can happen even if you keep up with maintenance.
The main culprit is the buildup of wipes. As discussed above, they simply don’t break down fast enough, if at all.
Over time, this leads to clogs in critical areas, like your septic system’s inlets, outlets, and filters. When these components get gummed up, their effectiveness plummets, making it an environmental hazard to your drainage field.
Beyond the damage to your home’s plumbing, a clogged septic system can pose serious environmental risks. When a system becomes blocked, untreated wastewater can leak into the surrounding soil. Over time, this polluted water can seep into the groundwater supply, contaminating it with harmful bacteria, chemicals, and viruses. For homes that rely on well water, this can pose a direct health risk to families who may unknowingly consume this water.
The environmental impact doesn’t just stop there, though. If the blockage becomes severe, untreated wastewater may overflow into nearby streams, lakes, or rivers. This can lead to water pollution.
In the worst-case scenario, excess wastewater nutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorus, can contribute to harmful algal blooms. This leads to depleted oxygen levels in the water, introducing fish kills and ecosystem imbalances.
Keeping wipes out of your septic saves you a repair bill. It also keeps that mess out of the ground and water around you.
Conclusion
Ultimately, “flushable” wipes are a bane of the septic and plumbing industry. The term “flushable” lulls consumers in with a false sense of security, convincing them that these products are safe for septic systems.
However, the reality is far different. Even though some genuinely flushable and biodegradable wipes exist on the market, they are in shorter supply and often more expensive than the standard wipes found in stores.
So if you use them, throw them in the trash when you're done. It's a little extra hassle, but it can save you thousands in repairs and a lot of service calls.
Want something easier on your septic and the environment? Try a bidet, so you don't need wipes at all. It costs more up front, but it saves you septic repairs down the road and it's kinder to the environment.
Protecting your septic system and the environment comes down to making smart choices about what you flush. While “flushable” wipes may seem convenient, their hidden costs outweigh the benefits.
A small change today can save you a big headache tomorrow. So the next time you reach for a “flushable” wipe, toss it in the garbage instead. Your septic system will thank you!