The Unflushables: Weird & Wild Things Our Team Finds (and Why They Don't Belong!)
The Toilet is Not a Trash Can: A Humorous Guide to What Not to Flush
At Taplin Septic, we pride ourselves on keeping things flowing smoothly for homes and businesses across Glover and the surrounding Vermont communities. Our work isn't always glamorous – let's be honest, it's often quite literally dirty. But in this line of work, you truly see it all. And sometimes, amidst the grime, we stumble upon discoveries that make us scratch our heads, chuckle, or simply say, "Well, that's new!"
You see, a septic system or a portable toilet isn't a magic portal. It's a carefully designed system meant for specific types of waste. But evidently, not everyone gets that memo. So, pull up a chair (maybe not too close to the screen), because we're about to unveil some of the most bizarre and bewildering items our dedicated team has encountered.
The Septic Tank's Hall of Shame: Bizarre Bathroom Blunders
Our septic technicians are true detectives, often called in when something has gone seriously wrong. And when they investigate, they sometimes uncover the culprits behind the clogs and backups – and they're rarely what you'd expect! Welcome to the septic tank's "Hall of Shame":
- The Tiny Toy Invasion: Action figures, rubber ducks, toy cars, even a full set of plastic farm animals. Kids (and sometimes pets!) are notorious for flushing things, but these miniature adventurers wreak havoc on baffles and pumps.
- The Unflushable "Flushables": Oh, the dreaded "flushable" wipe. We've seen entire septic tanks filled with what looks like matted sheets of these so-called flushables. Spoiler alert: they don't dissolve. Ever. They cling together, forming monstrous clogs.
- Lost & Found (Eventually): Wallets, cell phones, car keys, prescription glasses. In a moment of panic, grief, or perhaps just extreme clumsiness, some unfortunate souls have watched their valuables disappear down the drain. While we've occasionally reunited an owner with their lost item (after a very thorough cleaning!), most become permanent residents.
- Kitchen Calamities: Dish rags, sponges, plastic cutlery, even a rogue potato peeler! The kitchen sink drain isn't meant for solid waste, but sometimes things take an unexpected dive.
- The "Mystery Material": We've seen everything from cat litter (nope!) to construction debris (how?!) to large chunks of unidentifiable fabric. Each new discovery poses a fresh challenge to our team and a greater risk to your system.
The Portable Potty Vault: Things Found on the Job
Portable toilets are designed for convenience, especially at events and construction sites across Northern Vermont. They're a simple solution for a basic need. Yet, even here, our service team has found some head-scratching items that definitively do not belong:
- The Daily Commute Drop: Cell phones, wallets, keys, sunglasses – sometimes things just slip out. Our drivers often return forgotten items, but we've seen enough to know that a quick check before you exit is always a good idea!
- Miniature Museums: We've found various forms of trash that somehow missed the trash can (which is usually nearby!). This includes food wrappers, empty cans, clothing items, and even small tools.
- The Unexpected Visitor: While rare, occasionally an animal (or evidence of one) has found its way into a unit. Let's just say a startled squirrel is not what our service techs expect when they open the door!
The Bottom Line: How to Avoid Being in Our Next Blog Post!
While these stories give us a good chuckle, the reality is that flushing or placing inappropriate items into your septic system or portable toilet can lead to serious problems:
- Expensive Backups: The most common and unpleasant result is a sewage backup into your home or yard.
- System Damage: Foreign objects can clog pipes, break pumps, damage baffles, and lead to premature failure of your entire system.
- Environmental Hazards: When systems fail, untreated wastewater can leach into the environment, contaminating groundwater and local waterways.
The rules are simple: If it's not human waste or toilet paper, it doesn't go in the toilet. For portable toilets, please use the waste bin for all trash.
At Taplin Septic, we're here to help keep your systems running smoothly. If you've got a mysterious clog, a suspected issue, or just need a routine pump-out in the Johnstown area, don't try to find out what's in there yourself. Call the experts at Taplin! We've seen it all, and we're ready to tackle whatever "unflushable" challenges come our way.
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