Managing a commercial or municipal facility comes with countless responsibilities, and restroom maintenance might not always be top of mind. But what gets flushed in your bathrooms can have a major impact on your pipes and your budget. Keeping your plumbing healthy protects your facility from clogs, overflows, and costly emergency repairs.
When problems do occur, solutions like commercial pipe relining provide an efficient and cost-effective way to restore your plumbing without disruptive excavation. But prevention is always the best first step.
Here’s a practical guide for property managers: a few common items that should never go down the toilet in commercial or municipal restrooms.
Common Non-Flushable Items in Commercial and Municipal Settings
1. Paper Towels and Industrial Wipes
It’s easy for staff or visitors to assume paper towels and industrial wipes can be flushed but they’re not. These products:
- Don’t break down in water
- Can quickly accumulate in pipes
- Lead to serious clogs in both building and municipal sewer lines
High-traffic restrooms like those in office buildings, schools, or municipal facilities can quickly see large amounts of these materials, making preventative disposal critical.
2. Sanitary and Feminine Hygiene Products
Pads, tampons, and other feminine hygiene items expand in water, making them a major cause of restroom blockages. Ensure these items are properly disposed of in covered trash bins to prevent costly plumbing issues and emergency call-outs.
3. Disposable Mop and Cleaning Wipes
Janitorial wipes used in hospitals, restaurants, and large commercial buildings may seem harmless, but flushed wipes:
- Clump together in pipes over time
- Cause major sewer blockages
- Increase maintenance costs and water inefficiency
4. Cotton Products and Industrial Paper
Cotton balls, Q-tips, and other industrial paper products can expand and combine with other debris, creating severe clogs in commercial and municipal plumbing systems.
Preventative Solutions for Commercial Pipe Relining
For commercial restrooms, only human waste and commercial-grade toilet paper should go down the toilet. Even with the right materials, regular inspections and staff education go a long way in preventing long-term issues.
Even when everyone follows proper flushing practices, commercial pipes are still subject to wear, aging, and unexpected blockages. That’s where trenchless pipe relining comes in.
Our specialized trenchless techniques:
- Repair damaged pipes without excavation
- Extend the life of sewer and drainage systems
- Minimize downtime and disruption to your facility
Whether it’s an emergency caused by improper flushing or routine maintenance, our team helps protect your commercial and municipal plumbing infrastructure efficiently and cost-effectively.
Protect Your Commercial Plumbing and Prevent Costly Repairs
What gets flushed in your restrooms matters. Protect your building’s pipes, prevent emergency pipe repairs, and reduce downtime by educating staff, enforcing proper disposal practices, and relying on professional pipe maintenance solutions.
Our trenchless commercial pipe relining services help repair damage, extend pipe life, and prevent emergencies, all with minimal disruption to your operations.
Contact our experts today to schedule a commercial pipe inspection or learn more about trenchless pipe relining for your facility. Keep your plumbing running smoothly and your restrooms stress-free.
