Flushing 101: What You Can and CANNOT Flush

We've all been there. Flush and then'¦ disaster strikes! Your home's plumbing is a delicate and complex system that

needs routine inspection and careful use. If you're unsure of what is and isn't acceptable to flush down the john, you're in luck. Performance Air conditioning, Electric, & Plumbing is here to help Tampa Bay homeowners with this ultimate flushing do's and don'ts guide.

Flushing Do's

If you want to enjoy peace of mind after a flush, stick to the absolute basics' human waste and toilet paper. You're gambling with your plumbing system if you attempt to flush anything other than that. Are flushable wipes really okay to put down the toilet drain?  A report out of California says no, but makers of such products say yes. Lack of quick disintegration can cause these wipes to clog a drain, so if possible, try to throw these wipes in the trash instead of the toilet.

Flushing Don'ts

• Wipes and Facial Tissues

• Band-Aids

• Napkins and Paper Towels

• Cotton Balls and Swabs

• Dental Floss

• Kitty Litter

• Swiffer Pads

• Hair

• Feminine Sanitary Products (Pads and Tampons), Condoms or Any Non-Organic Material

• Eggshells, Nutshells and Coffee Grounds

• Grease, Oil and Fat

• Medication (Vitamins, Prescription Drugs and Other Pharmaceuticals)

• Plastic of Any Kind

• Disposable Diapers

• Anything Radioactive, Flammable, Corrosive Poisonous or Hazardous

Flushing 101: The Flushability Test

Fill two bowls with water, placing toilet paper in one and an item from the list above in the other. Swirl both items, wait one hour and repeat. What will you find? The toilet paper will be essentially disintegrated while the other item will most likely remain intact. If the item hasn't eroded at the rate that the toilet paper has, you need to dispose of it in the garbage. Heeding the results of the flushability test will save you the headache of a major clog and potential plumbing repair costs.