Things You Think You Can Flush, But Really Can’t

Just because a product says it is “flushable” doesn’t mean you should flush it — sure it may go down the toilet, but that doesn’t mean it should be in your septic tank!

Not only do you run the risk of clogging up your plumbing, you also accumulate items in your septic tank that shouldn’t be there, and that the system cannot break down. This can affect the treatment of the wastewater and make the tank more expensive to pump and clean.

In rare cases, so many foreign items accumulate in a tank that they are impossible to remove in a single pumping. Continually sending these items down your pipes means more frequent pumpings, which can get time-consuming and expensive.

Don’t be fooled! Here are some of the things we see in septic tanks quite often that should not be flushed down the commode – even if the product claims to be “flushable.”

• Feminine products
• Q-tips
• Wipes (baby wipes, disinfecting wipes, make-up removing wipes, etc.)
• Condoms
• Cigarette butts
• Candy and gum wrappers
• Syringes
• Any sort of plastic

Need a rule of thumb? The only thing that should go down the commode is waste and toilet paper.

Learn about your septic system

If you’d like to learn more about how your septic system works — and ways to keep it operating properly for decades — download our free guide, Understanding and Maintaining Your Septic System.

For 86+ years, Van Delden Wastewater Systems has withstood the test of time as the leading Wastewater System company, providing San Antonio, Boerne, and the surrounding Texas Hill Country with services you can count on now and in the future.

Call us for any of your wastewater systems needs and let our professionals help you with your septic installation and maintenance requirements.