Flushing Hair Down The Toilet Could Be A Huge Mistake

After a shower, you may know the importance of not allowing hair to go down the shower drain. The same applies to the sink, but what about the toilet? Flushing hair down the toilet isn't okay either, and you should avoid doing it whenever possible. Though some people may believe there's no big deal to doing this since the toilet's pressure seems to be enough to make it flow down, it's a concern because hair doesn't break apart or break down once it hits the water like toilet paper does. Even waste products will disintegrate significantly before traveling through the drain lines and out to the sewer.

Imagine hair traveling down the same path, slowly moving down the drain lines. If there are any areas of interior damage to those lines, the hair can get caught easily on them, creating a clog. Picture a clump of hair, like what you may pull off a brush every few days, getting caught in the line. Not only does that mass work to stop the flow of product, but it even works like a net, capturing material as it is trying to flow through the line. It doesn't take much for this to become a big problem, so much so that your drain lines and sewer can back up, creating the need for a flood in your home.

Some believe flushing hair down the toilet isn't a big deal, and perhaps they've even done so quite often. Any hair strands, especially those more than a few inches in length, are a risk to the pipes and drains and can easily cause clogs. If you are shaving your legs or face, for example, and some hair lands in the toilet, that's less likely to be a concern since the pieces are too small to latch onto the edges of the pipe and instead will flush down. However, it can become embedded in the sidewalls of your pipes and, over time, create a slowing of the drain.

Also, take into account what happens with hair that ends up in the septic tank. This could be an even bigger problem since hair doesn't break down easily. This can lead to a blockage in your septic tank and make it difficult to empty the tank if that hair bunches up significantly over time.

Considering all these risks, it's often best to wrap hair in a tissue or paper towel and toss it into the waste bin. Doing so will keep your drain lines freely moving and the hair easily cleaned up and out of the way. 

Let's say you're ready to change your ways and avoid flushing the hair, but you've already done it for a long time. Now what? If you are experiencing any clogs or a slow-moving drain, it's best to contact a plumber who will snake out the drain and push any stuck-on material, including clumps of hair, out and into the sewer. It's also possible that the plumber will recommend flushing the lines, which is a process that uses highly pressurized water to push through the hair and other materials from the pipes into the sewer.

However, you may be able to snake the drain yourself. You can rent a plumbing snake or purchase one from the home improvement store. Then, follow the manufacturer's directions. This can be a bit tricky if you've never used these tools before, and it's possible to damage the lines. Also, note that you shouldn't use any corrosive chemicals to clear a line. It isn't likely to do much good in cleansing the lines, but it will damage the interior of the pipes, which may make for a bigger plumbing issue down the road.