Major Pipe Problems Arising from Flushing Disinfectant Wipes

Many people worry about pipe problems arising in their homes, as once these issues arise, they can become very costly and difficult to sort out. All sorts of problems can arise with pipes, from leaking pipes that cause huge amounts of water damage to frozen pipes and blocked pipes. All of these issues can cause serious issues that can have knock-on effects.

Of course, there are solutions you can consider for different eventualities. For instance, if you make your basement waterproof issues such as basement leaks won't cause so much damage to your home. However, it seems that there is now a whole new pipe problem that has become worse as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that is sweeping the planet - blocked pipes caused by people flushing disinfectant wipes.

Flushed Wipes Creating Huge Problems

As a result of the global pandemic, more and more people have been rushing to purchase disinfectant wipes in a bid to keep their homes as clean and hygienic as possible. While this is very admirable, it is also causing issues because many of those who are using the wipes are then flushing them down the toilet rather than putting them in the waste.

According to some experts, even the wipes that claim to be flushable can cause huge issues when it comes to pipe problems. However, people are continuing to flush both types of these wipes down the toilet. Obviously, with the huge surge in the sales of these wipes due to Covid 19, there are more people using them and more people flushing them down their toilets. This has made the problem with pipe blockages and sewer problems arising as a result.

In some areas, facilities have reported that there have been problems with sewers because of the mass influx of wipes being flushed in the matter of several weeks. If this continues, it will result in the problem getting worse, which could start to have an impact on entire towns and cities at what is already a very stressful and difficult time. Of course, the blockages that these wipes can cause will also cause issues for individual households, as many will have to try to get the problem sorted at a time when social distancing is in place, which makes getting a plumber out difficult.

One official explained that something that was described as being flushable would flush down your toilet. However, there are no guarantees that these products will not block up your pipes and there is a very real chance that they can cause sewer problems. This is because they are made from materials that are synthetic, and these then combine with other products and materials that have been flushed, which can cause what officials call 'fatbergs' in the sewer system. 

There are certain wipes that may be okay to flush, but in the current situation people are flushing all sorts of wipes without thinking, This could lead to serious issues, with officials warning consumers to put their used wipes in the trash rather than flushing them.