How To Avoid Toilet Clogs

How To Avoid Toilet Clogs

One of the most frustrating plumbing issues a homeowner can have and a common service call for the specialists at Anytime Plumbing is a clogged toilet.  This is especially true if you only have one bathroom in the home and more than one family member uses it on a regular basis.  The toilet is one of most used plumbing elements in the home.  So, when it gets clogged, it can result in some messy, and sometimes costly, problems. We have helped hundreds of businesses and residents with similar issues and can be of emergency assistance 24/7.

What causes toilet clogs?

When it comes to clogged toilets, our plumbing specialists have seen it all.  Some of the objects that we’ve fished out of toilet drains in the past have had all of us shaking our heads at one time or another.  This resulted in a lot of unhappy clients that had to pay some expensive plumbing repair bills.  Consequently, we created the following list of the three things that you should NEVER, EVER flush down the toilet:

Chemicals – we recommend that you never use a chemical-based drain opener to unclog your toilet.  These products contain harsh, corrosive chemicals that can be harmful to your eyes and skin.  Furthermore, they can corrode the pipes in your system.

Food items – you should never flush any food remnants down your toiled.  This is especially true when it comes to coffee grounds, cooking oils, fats, and grease which can severely clog drains by hardening within your pipes.  Additionally, food items such as egg shells, fish bones, meats, and poultry will harden and form clumps that cannot be passed.  Finally, flushing grain products such as bread, pasta, and pizza down the toilet are also big NO-NO’s because they expand and cause blockages in the pipes.

Various odds and ends – this list is a mile long and includes items such as cigarette butts, cotton balls, fabric softener sheets, feminine hygiene products, food peels, hair, Q-Tips, wet wipes, and so on.  We’ve even seen children’s toys get flushed down toilets and cause some serious clogs. We know that this happens often when you have kids and that is why it is best to call us quickly and do not try to pull the toy out as it can get jammed further.

Why do my toilets keep getting clogged?

We understand why so many individuals don’t like having to deal with plumbing issues, especially when it’s a clogged toilet.  If you’re unsure of what you should do, this can be a scary proposition.  After all, you don’t want to be responsible for flooding your house and making everyone else’s lives miserable.  Some of the more common reasons that a toilet keeps getting clogged include:

• You have a blocked plumbing vent – roof vents are used with modern toilets to boost pressure by funneling air into your plumbing system.  When the vent gets clogged, there isn’t enough pressure to thoroughly flush the toilet.  The crew at Anytime Plumbing have seen vent clogs caused by leaves, sticks, and even bird’s nests.

• You have a clogged sewer line – if the sewer line has a blockage or gets obstructed, you’re going to experience frequent clogging.  This may be caused by large amounts of debris or tree roots and will require the services of a licensed plumber to fix the issue. We can send out a team of experts to assist with such complex issues and clear it up once and for all.

• You have a clogged trap – the S-shaped trap located between toilet bowl and the drain line often gets backed up or clogged with toilet paper, especially when someone uses too much of it.

• You have what is known as a first generation “low-flow” toilet – these are common fixtures in older homes.  In many instances, they lack sufficient water pressure and are unable to clear the drain or trap.  This results in frequent clogs. Proper and modern plumbing solutions can help you get the needed level of cleanliness.

If you’re having frequent toilet clogs, it could be anyone of the above causes.  In these cases, you will need to contact Anytime Plumbing to diagnose the problem and eliminate what is causing the problem. We are available to help you all week 24/7.

How can I prevent clogs and other toilet issues?

The key to preventing any kind of plumbing issues has always been and will always be preventative maintenance.  This is especially true when it comes to avoiding a clogged toilet.  If you want to prevent costly plumbing bills, clean your toilet on a regular basis, fix any constant running or leaking that occurs, inspect the inner tank workings twice a year, and teach your children proper toilet care and use.  For more information, contact Anytime Plumbing today.