Clogged toilets are nothing short of unpleasant. They are also extremely common.
Don’t ignore the warning signs. The first clue that a clog may be in the works is often a slow flush or gurgling sound when the toilet is flushed. Calling a plumber at the first indication of a problem can help you avoid the more unhygienic side effects and effectively diagnose the root cause of the problem.
Common Causes of Clogged Toilets
Backed up toilets are more than just inconvenient, they can be unsanitary, messy, lead to costly repairs and render an entire bathroom useless.
If you are dealing with a clogged toilet, it’s important to address the problem quickly, find out why the toilet clogged and take action to prevent future occurrences. Here are some of the most common causes of clogged toilets.
Excessive Toilet Paper
Whether it’s a result of toilet paper that doesn’t disintegrate well or a child that wipes a little too generously, too much toilet paper is a common cause of a backup.
Plungers can generally remove these types of clogs, but toilet paper can combine with other debris and form a bigger obstruction. Severe clogs will need the assistance of an experienced plumber to open the sewage pipes and remove the clog.
Flushing Non-Flushable Items
There are really only two things that should be flushed down the toilet, toilet paper and waste. Small kids seem to be captivated with watching their toys swish around the bowl and disappear down the drain, which is why you should be proactive in talking to your kids about proper potty procedures.
Adults can be guilty of abusing the flush as well. The following items should never be flushed down the toilet:
- feminine products
- hair
- grease
- paper towels
- wipes
- cotton balls
- Q-tips
- and other items commonly mistaken as “flushable”
Additionally, keeping the area above the tank clear can help eliminate the risk of accidentally flushing foreign objects. Shelves over the toilet seem like a good use of space for extra storage, but items can unintentionally fall into the toilet and down the drain without being noticed.
Hard Water Problems
Hard water calcifies to form a mineral build-up that is tough to remove from a toilet. The problem with hard water is that it restricts the flow of water and waste through your plumbing system.
An easy, short-term remedy is for a plumber to use a specialized solution to flush out your toilet system. For a permanent fix, you may want to consider installing a water softener to prevent build-up so that your water is treated before it can even result in a clogged toilet.
Main Drain Clogs
An obstruction in your home’s main drain can cause a backed up toilet. Our plumbers can examine your drain pipes using a number of inspection methods, including video technology, and isolate the cause and location of the clog.
Main drain clogs aren’t necessarily caused by improper use of your pipes, but by a buildup of leaves, rocks, sludge and other debris.
Leach Line Congestion
Homes that utilize a septic tank use leach lines to filter water out of the tank and into the ground. The cycle can be disrupted if the leach lines get blocked by sludge or nondecomposable material, which, if left untreated, can create a back-up in the whole system. A plumber can clear the inlet and outlet baffles after pumping out the septic tank.
How to Fix a Clogged Toilet
Knowing the common causes of clogged toilets, as well as following best bathroom practices, can reduce the likelihood you are faced with this messy, inconvenient plumbing problem.
If your toilet is clogged, you can try a plunger and attempt to resolve the issue on your own. For more serious clogs, whether caused by foreign objects or the natural design of your plumbing system, you’ll need the expertise of a professional plumber to get you going with the flow.
