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Toilet paper and human waste belong in the toilet, while wipes, paper towels, feminine products, grease, food, hair, and other household waste need another disposal route. Knowing what not to flush keeps material that does not break down easily from collecting inside your drain and sewer lines.

The same rule applies even when a package says an item is flushable. Campbell & Company works on clogged toilets and drain lines throughout Yakima and the Tri-Cities when something gets stuck and the water has nowhere to go.

Signs You May Have a Drain or Sewer Line Problem

A single slow sink points us toward that fixture first. Several drains slowing down or backing up at the same time puts the main drain or sewer line higher on the list.

Watch for:

• A toilet that keeps clogging
• Several slow drains at the same time
• Gurgling from a toilet or drain
• Water backing up into a sink, tub, or shower
• Sewage odors from drains
• The same clog returning after it has been cleared
• Toilet bowl water rising or dropping without being flushed

A toilet that will not flush can have a blockage in the trap, too much material in the bowl, or a clog farther down the drain.

What Not to Flush Down the Drain

Some materials stay intact in the pipe. Others stick to the inside or catch debris moving past them. You can prevent clogs by avoiding flushing or dumping these items down the drain.

• Flushable wipes: Wipes do not break apart like toilet paper. They can travel beyond the toilet and collect at bends, rough pipe surfaces, or existing blockages.
• Paper towels, tissues, and napkins: These products are made to stay together when wet rather than break down. Put them in the trash instead of the toilet.
• Feminine products: Pads and tampons absorb liquid and expand, getting stuck in piping systems. They belong in the trash.
• Hair and dental floss: Hair catches inside drains, and floss can wrap around other debris. Both belong in the trash rather than a sink or toilet.
• Grease, fats, and cooking oil: Grease coats the inside of drain lines as it cools. Food particles then stick to that buildup and narrow the path through the pipe. Let grease cool and dispose of it in the trash.
• Food scraps and coffee grounds: Scrape food into the trash or compost instead of washing it down the sink. Coffee grounds collect with grease and other debris rather than dissolving in water.
• Cotton swabs, cotton balls, and similar bathroom waste: These items stay intact after they enter the drain. Throw them away.
• Cat litter: Litter absorbs moisture and clumps. Put used litter in the trash according to the product's disposal directions.
• Medications and household chemicals: Do not use a toilet or sink as a disposal route. Follow local disposal instructions for medications, cleaners, paint, automotive fluids, and other chemicals.

Why Flushing the Wrong Thing Can Lead to Plumbing Problems

Toilet paper is designed to soften and break apart in water. Many of the items people put down drains are not.

A wipe or paper towel can catch inside the pipe and give other waste a place to collect. Hair does the same thing in bathroom drains. Grease sticks to the pipe wall and builds up as food and debris move through the line.

Pipe openings get smaller as material collects. Water starts draining slowly, toilets clog, and eventually wastewater can back up through a lower fixture such as a tub or shower.

Knowing what not to flush is especially important in a house that already has old or rough drain lines. Debris has an easier time catching and sticking when the inside of the pipe is corroded, scaled, or damaged.

When to Call a Licensed Yakima and Tri-Cities Plumber

Call a plumber when the same clog keeps returning, several fixtures back up together, or sewage comes into the house. Those symptoms give us a reason to look beyond one sink or toilet and check the main drain or sewer line.

We can clear the initial blockage and, when the problem keeps coming back, inspect the line to see what is catching waste. A sewer camera helps us find damaged pipe, heavy buildup, roots, or another obstruction farther down the line.

Campbell & Company serves homeowners throughout Yakima, the Yakima Valley, and the Tri-Cities. If your drains keep slowing down or a toilet keeps backing up, we can find where the blockage is and determine what needs to be cleared or repaired. Schedule an appointment online or call us (509) 412-3146 today for drain cleaning or camera inspection services.