There are many things you shouldn't flush down the toilet, including grease, fat, condoms, and flushable wipes. But one thing that can cause damage to your plumbing is feminine products such as tampons. Here are four reasons not to flush feminine products down your toilet.

1. Tampons are absorbent by design and don't break down.

Why are tampons bad for plumbing? Tampons must be able to absorb water and not quickly break down in order to serve their purpose. Even biodegradable pads can take several weeks to months to break down. If you flush a tampon and it passes through your plumbing, it will either end up at the sewage plant intact or sink to the bottom of the septic system, creating a blockage with other tampons. Tampons are designed to "clog" your plumbing in a way.

2. Pipes are clogged by tampons.

Tampons can be soaked in liquid for up to ten times their original size due to their absorbency. If there is any corrosion in your pipes or roots growing into them, tampons could get stuck in the pipe. This can cause a dam effect. The cog can eventually become so severe that it causes human waste to rise through the drains.

3. Tampons damage septic systems.

Flushed tampons can cause further problems if they make their way into your home's plumbing. They don't decay, so they can take up space in the septic tanks, block distribution tubes, and cause sewage to seep through your drains.

4. Water utilities spend billions of dollars on maintenance and repairs due to tampons.

This is not a fair statement. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies states that tampons and other items that should not be flushed are the main culprits in tax-payer losses of billions of dollars. These items need to be removed from the water by using screens and chemically treated.

They are then sent to the landfill after being removed from the water. It doesn't matter if you flush it or wrap it in tissue paper and toss it in the trash; it will all end up in the dump. However, tampons flushed can cause damage to plumbing and increase costs to our already stretched infrastructure.

It's not a good idea to flush a tampon or similar item down the toilet. Human waste and toilet paper -- these are the things that can only be flushed down. All other items can go in the trash or be recycled. Toilets aren't trashcans.

We can help if you have concerns about the contents of your toilet, slow drains, or gurgling pipes. We will arrive at your home and fix the problem.