Your toilet is probably the most underappreciated part of your house. You likely don’t think about how this vital component functions until you face serious issues such as clogging. Toilet clogs are among the most prevalent plumbing concerns that most homeowners experience. Clogging can quickly mess up your home as the toilet starts to overflow. This can be one of your home’s biggest and most expensive hassles.
The most effective way of dealing with toilet clogs is through prevention. This way, you’ll keep this vital part of your home fully functional throughout the year. Here are some tips to eliminate the nightmare of dealing with toilet clogs.
1. Be Careful What You Flush
The most effective way of eliminating toilet clogs is to practice proper flushing. Avoid flushing anything that isn’t toilet paper or doesn’t come from your body. Don’t treat your toilet like a garbage can. You might be surprised to know that there are several items you shouldn’t flush, including:
- Dental floss
- Baby wipes
- Disposable diapers
- Condoms
- Cotton balls and swabs
- Feminine hygiene products
- Pet waste and kitty litter
Even if some of these items are labeled as flushable, avoid taking chances with your drain. If are unsure about whether something could be safely flushed, put it in a garbage can or diaper pail that locks in unpleasant odors. You can also create a list of products that you, your family members, and your guests should never flush down the toilet, and place it in the bathroom where it’s visible to everyone.
2. Watch the Roots
Are there large trees in your yard or the area near your toilet? If this is the case, the tree roots may cause frequent backups and toilet clogs. As trees grow, their roots extend underground, all the way to the pipes. With time, these roots intrude into the pipes, leading to a buildup of sediment and debris that clogs them. The blockage also makes it difficult to flush your toilet. Key indications of tree root blockage are slow-flowing drains and gurgling sounds when you flush the toilet.
Dealing with tree roots is a complicated task that requires a professional. You need to call an experienced professional to inspect your plumbing and determine the best prevention measures. Our experts can quickly identify this problem and snake out the pipes. We can also schedule regular maintenance to ensure that your sewer line remains intact. To prevent roots from extending to your system, you can also use plumbing solutions that kill them. The instructions for using this solution are straightforward, and they appear on every package. Do this once annually to deal with this issue.
3. Clean the Toilet Regularly
Even if you spend little time in the bathroom compared to other parts of your home, remember to clean the commode regularly. Cleaning helps to eliminate any waste matter that may be stuck there, preventing possible clogging issues. After cleaning, you should also flush the toilet to see whether water is flowing properly through the system. If the toilet doesn’t flush correctly now, chances are that it will clog in the future. It’s best to call a plumber to rectify the issue immediately so that you can avoid problems later on.
Cleaning also increases the chances of spotting an issue early enough to catch it before it gets out of hand. For instance, you can detect issues such as a leak or water pooling on the floor. Call our experienced professionals to resolve the problem before it clogs your toilet. Our team will figure out the source of the issue and take action immediately.
4. Don’t Use a Brick to Save Water
You no longer need to use a brick to save water in a toilet. This was an old method used in toilet models installed in the 1990s or earlier. Back then, placing a brick in the tank lessened the amount of water that could fill it and lowered the amount used for each flush. However, modern toilets use about 16 gallons, or even less, in each flush. This is all it takes to properly push all the toilet’s contents down the drain and into the sewer system.
Using bricks in a modern toilet will make it difficult to flush and lead to clogging. Using a brick is not even a good idea for homeowners with an older toilet. With time, the brick will break down, and the particles will clog your pipes or even the entire plumbing system. If your toilet uses volumes of water that you think are too high, consult our professionals for the most effective solution.
5. Make a Double Flush
Sometimes, you may unknowingly have put too much toilet paper in your toilet. In fact, this is a common problem in most homes, but you can quickly deal with it by flushing. A single flush can manage the smaller jobs, but you can try flushing it twice.
Once you flush the waste, make the first flush, then throw the toilet paper into the bowl and flush it a second time. If you used a lot of paper to get the job done, flushing half the paper at a time will go a long way to minimize the chances of a toilet clog.
6. Check for Leaks
In many cases, the discharge outlets in your toilet are covered by water so that human waste can pass through quickly. If there are water leaks around your drainage area, it may be a sign that the flapper valve stops up easily, thereby increasing the chances of toilet clogs.
To prevent such issues with your toilet’s drainage system, ensure the flapper valve stays in tip-top condition. If you’re not sure whether the flapper is causing this problem, lift the handle on the right side of the toilet tank. You can then close the place where the water comes out using the ballcock valve. If you don’t notice any improvement after the adjustments, you might have to call our professional plumbers to make the necessary flapper valve repairs or replacements as soon as possible.
Let the Plumbing Experts Keep Your Toilet Clog-Free
When your toilet clogs, it messes up your house and is annoying and unpleasant to address. Although even waste and toilet paper can technically cause a clog, a little care and the proper preventive measures can keep clogs to a minimum. And when clogs do come along, you’ll still find it easier to eliminate them with the help of a professional plumber from Environmental Heating & Air Solutions. We are devoted to reducing frequent toilet clogs and keeping your toilet running smoothly without interruptions.
Since 2010, we have consistently delivered top-notch services to all our customers for every task, whether big or small. Our team constantly receives training to sharpen their skills and to keep them updated with all the changes in the plumbing industry. Even better, we have BPI and NATE certification, so you can trust us to provide top-level services every time.
Our comprehensive services in Roseville, CA include air duct cleaning, water heater installation, AC repair, water leak protection, heating maintenance, AC inspection, insulation, blower door testing, attic fan installation, heating repair, AC installation, and home automation. Get in touch with our experts at Environmental Heating & Air Solutions for whatever service you need.
