The Main Reasons For A Clogged Toilet
The humble toilet is a frequently used necessity in every home. When a toilet becomes clogged, it can very quickly turn into a household emergency. Not only can a clogged toilet lead to a messy clean-up, but it can also cause family members to become frustrated. There are many reasons why toilets can get clogged. Here’s how you can identify what’s causing your toilet to clog up and how you can prevent any toilet clogs in the future.
Low-Flow Toilets
Older toilets, particularly those built in the mid-1990s, are known as first-generation low-flow toilets. Low-flow toilets don’t have the same flushing power as newer toilets. The older design produces less flushing pressure which causes drains not to be cleaned effectively. How do you know if you’ve got a low-flow toilet? You can usually identify the production date of your toilet by looking at the date stamp on the back. If you have one of these older toilets, the only solution is to replace your toilet with a newer one.
Blocked Toilet Trap
The toilet trap is the S-shaped tube or curved part of the porcelain fixture which connects your toilet to the drain. The toilet trap is designed to prevent sewage gases and nasty smells from escaping out into your home. Various items such as toilet paper and sanitary items can easily clog your toilet trap. Particular culprits such as toothbrushes and combs can cause a real headache. If they are flushed by accident, they can easily become lodged in the toilet trap, causing any flushed debris to get wrapped around these items during every flush. In some cases, a toilet plunger can help to unclog a toilet trap, but chances are that you will need to get a qualified plumber to fix the clog.
Flushing The Wrong Stuff
The easiest way for a toilet to get clogged is when we flush stuff that shouldn’t be flushed. The only two items that should be flushed down the toilet are human waste and toilet paper. Toilet paper is specially designed to break down when flushed which helps it to be flushed effectively.
Here are some common items that you should never put down your toilet:
- Tampons
- Condoms
- Dental Floss
- Diapers
- Cotton Swabs
- Facial tissues
It’s best to place a small garbage basket next to your toilet to encourage these items to be disposed of responsibly.
Broken Flapper
Your toilet flapper is the part that allows water to flow from between the tank and the toilet bowl. This movement of water is what creates the flush. Sometimes the flapper can be faulty and not open fully, which means that there isn’t enough water being released. This results in a weak flush that won’t dispose of the debris effectively. The flapper can be fixed by adjusting the chain that connects the flapper to the flush handle to ensure that it opens completely during flushes.
Sewer Line Issues
Sometimes the problem lies beyond your toilet and in the main water lines. Sewer line blockages can be caused by waste build-up, toilet paper, and even overgrown root systems in some cases. Invasive root systems often allow for sediment and soil to accumulate in the sewer line causing a blockage. It’s best to bring in the drain cleaning professionals to deal with sewer-related problems. The best way to prevent sewer line blockages is to make use of a professional plumbing maintenance service. By doing this, potential problems will be identified before a full-on sewer line blockage takes place.
We Clear Any Drain
At Art Rooter, Sewer & Drain Cleaning, we clear any drain. Whether it’s a toilet clog or sewer line blockage, we are the drain cleaning experts in South Florida. Why not call our emergency hotline at 1-888-773-1524? This will ensure that one of our experienced technicians will be dispatched to sort out your toilet trouble quickly and effectively.
