Think Before You Flush! The Perils of Flushing Food
Disposing of food waste properly is crucial for maintaining a healthy plumbing system. Flushing food down the toilet may seem convenient, but it can cause significant problems for you, your wallet, and your home! Understanding its impacts and adopting better disposal methods can help prevent costly plumbing issues.
Why shouldn’t I flush food down the toilet?
Food doesn’t break down
The only things meant to be flushed down a toilet are human waste and toilet paper. Food doesn’t break down in the same way, and the passages are often too small for food that hasn’t broken down. This can cause clogs in your sewer line, or even back up of sewage into your home.
Food congeals
You might think that certain foods are small enough to pass through the pipes, but the problem with food scraps is that the fat and oil in the food can congeal. These deposits can then harden and narrow your pipes or collect other pieces of debris to create large blocks in your line that can impact entire communities.
Food expands
Many types of foods absorb water and can rapidly increase in size, causing a large problem. These foods are also often starchy and contain sticky compounds that again attract other debris, making the clog grow and grow.
There’s not enough power to flush
Modern toilets simply can’t produce enough flushing power and water volume to move food particles through your pipes. When you flush food scraps, they might not even make it to your pipes before they cause a clog. Then you will have an overflow situation on your hands on a subsequent flush, which can be very embarrassing and cause damage.
Costs money
One of the best reasons to avoid flushing food down your toilet is that it costs money. You might be paying that money directly in repairs for a severely clogged line or a backup. Or you may be paying it in higher taxes to accommodate sewer maintenance costs because of disruptions to your community’s wastewater processes. Make sure to dispose of food waste properly to avoid a messy situation.
So, rather than flushing food down the toilet, consider these proper ways to properly dispose of it:
How to properly dispose of food waste
Composting: composting is an excellent way to protect your pluming system as well as the environment. It recycles nutrients back to the soil, which can reduce the need for chemical fertilizers.
Garbage disposal: if your home is equipped with a garbage disposal, it is a better option than flushing it down the toilet! However, use with caution and only for certain types of food waste.
Trash: for items that aren’t compostable, food waste should be disposed of in the trash, following local guidelines.
Keep these tips in mind the next time you are considering flushing food down your toilet! To protect your home and community, dispose of food waste through proper methods. These practices help maintain a healthier plumbing system and environment.