Common Causes Of Toilet Clogs And How To Fix Them
There are few things as inconvenient as a clogged toilet! If you’re noticing your toilet clogging, then it’s important to know what’s causing it so you can address the problem right away. Here are the common causes of toilet clogs and how to fix them.
1. Flushing Non-Flushable Items
One of the most common reasons for a clogged toilet is flushing foreign objects. Even “flushable” wipes can lead to clogs and blockages. However, other items such as cotton swabs, paper towels, and feminine hygiene products aren’t great for your plumbing either. If you have kids, it’s also not uncommon to find strange items down there – like toys!
How To Fix It: To avoid clogs, avoid flushing anything that isn’t waste or toilet paper. If you’ve run into a clog as a result of flushing foreign items, you can try a plumbing snake or a plunger, and call a professional if you don’t have any luck.
2. Using Too Much Toilet Paper
Are you or someone in your home using more than just a few squares of toilet paper in a single flush? Using too much toilet paper can lead to toilet clogs.
How To Fix It: Consider doing multiple flushes to avoid clogs. If you’re dealing with a clog, though, using a plunger is a great trick to unclogging a toilet backed up by too much toilet paper. If that doesn’t work, boiling hot water and dish soap is another great alternative.
3. Older Toilet
Your toilet may be clogging for no other reason than it’s an old toilet that can’t keep up. Older low-flow toilets might have a weaker flush pressure than your newer models, which will prohibit it from clearing material through the drain.
How To Fix It: Replace your older toilet with a newer model. In the meantime, use a plunger to unclog your toilet.
4. Sewer Line Issues
If you’re noticing your toilet, trap, and drain pipes aren’t blocked but your toilet is still clogged, then chances are your sewer line is the issue. Debris in your sewer line can cause blockages. Not only that, but things like tree roots can cause this too. Unfortunately, sewer line problems not only impact your toilet, but can impact the rest of your home if not addressed quickly.
How To Fix It: When it comes to your sewer line, it’s best you leave that to the professionals and contact a plumber to help.
5. Hard Water
Hard water does more than just make your water taste bad, but it can also cause toilet clogs. The minerals found in hard water can calcify and form that white substance you might see on drinking glasses or in your shower. Hard water can cause blockages and make it difficult for waste and other things to travel through it, which can lead to toilet clogs.
How To Fix It: Consider getting a water softener to remove the hard water from your home. Contact a professional for guidance on how to clear hard water from your toilet to avoid clogs in the meantime.
6. Clogs In The Toilet Trap
Using too much toilet paper or flushing non-flushable items can cause a clog in your toilet’s S trap. This trap is what keeps your toilet bowl partially filled and prevents sewer gases from coming out of your septic system. However, if debris gets trapped and clogged inside, it can back up and lead to toilet clogs.
How To Fix It: Avoid using too much toilet paper and flushing foreign objects. Use a toilet plunger to fix the trap clog, or try a toilet auger if that doesn’t work.
Contact Weeks Service Company Today For All Your Toilet Repair and Replacement Needs In League City, TX and Surrounding Areas!
Since 1972, Weeks Service Company has been providing quality, professional plumbing services to people in League City, Houston, and the surrounding areas. If you need to schedule your toilet repair, replacement, or other service, give Weeks Service Company a call today. You can reach us at 281-738-1362 or contact us online here.