Farnley mum-of-three issues warning after home floods from baby wipe blockage

Farrah Marie Smith, 26, was forced to rip up her modern kitchen after discovering flooded waste under the floor from the leak.

After investigation, a drain specialist told Farrah the leak was caused from a baby wipe blockage in the waste pipe.

Farrah told the Yorkshire Evening Post she knew she wasn't meant to put the wipes down the toilet, "but didn't really understand the actual problems they could cause".

She said: "I smelt something for a few days but didn't think much of it, there was no blocked toilet that we knew of.

"I lifted my little rug up to put it in the wash as I do weekly and noticed it was wet.

"I then noticed the corner of the floor was wet underneath where the rug was, I realised there was a leak.

"The smell was horrendous.

"I got in touch with the landlord and pulled the bottom cupboards off to then see all the waste underneath.

"Yorkshire Water was out for six hours with no luck, our landlord got a drain specialist out who managed to unblock it after two days.

"The blockage was found in the waste pipe.

"He said it was down to putting baby wipes down the toilet."

Farrah has now bravely spoken out to warn other parents of the consequences after spending more than two days ripping up layers of flooring to fix the issue.

She said: "I am sure many others use baby wipes not knowing the severe consequences unless it happens to yourself.

"I know we weren't meant to put wipes down but didn't know the extent of the consequences due to this.

"I'm sure many others out there still use baby wipes despite them saying not to be flushed down toilet and I know this because the drain specialist stated its his most common call out problem and seen many families in our situation.

"Many people could have this happen and not have the money to rectify it.

"We're very lucky we had funds available as I hate to think the situation people would be in with no funds to fix the disaster we are now in.

"We have now spent two days getting our damaged flooring up as it is all ruined with the leak and human waste."

Farrah said her family - including children Lily, 7, Harry, 4, and two-year-old Evie - had not been able to use the kitchen for more than two days.

She said: "We have lifted up four floors from previously until we have come to concrete and now trying to dry it all up after mopping and scrubbing with endless bleach disinfectant and Zoflora."

Farrah is now in the process of trying to fix her kitchen following the ordeal.

She added: "We have had to purchase new installation and flooring."

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