Toilets are often an underappreciated part of your home. Few people take the time and effort to think about how they work until, of course, they stop working. There are many reasons why a toilet clogs many times; The need to identify the main problems causing bottlenecks is the best way to ensure that the problems are eliminated in the future. If you’re dealing with a clogged toilet, read on.
1. Your Low-Flow Toilet Isn’t Strong Enough
Low-flush toilets are a great way to reduce the amount of water used to flush the toilet, which keeps water bills and usage as low as possible and can prevent toilets from clogging. Although they save money, we often find that these types of toilets cause problems with low water pressure. Toilets created from 1994 to 1997 are referred to as the first generation low-flush, which has little power to push waste into the drains, causing the toilets to clog.
Recommended action: Be very careful how much toilet paper you try to remove in one go. To avoid toilet clogging issues, you may also consider upgrading your toilet to a newer model that saves water without loss of efficiency.
2. Your Drain Line Is Clogged
In some cases, the age of a drain line can go against it, and the drain line can often become clogged even when just washing normal waste and paper products. Hair, paper, and foreign objects are other common culprits that strain aging drain lines and clog toilets.
Suggested action: Call a plumber near me serice to clean your drain lines. If the problem persists, you may need to have your drain and/or sewer pipes repaired or replaced.
3. There Is Not Enough Water In The Tank
Waste from the toilet should be pressurized. If the toilet tank is not fully filled when the toilet is flushed, there will not be enough pressure to flush the toilet bowl, causing the toilet to clog.
Recommended action: Check to make sure the supply valve is in the open position, then check the water line supply for leaks. If both are OK, try replacing the prime valve.
4. Formation of Hard Water
Hard water is a very common problem in Southern California. While hard water is not dangerous to drink or wash, it can calcify and form a hard-to-remove white substance from your toilets, narrowing the space through which water and waste can pass. The harder your water, the more minerals will build up in your plumbing system and the more likely you are to experience a toilet blockage.
Recommended action: A quick solution is to have a plumber use a solution to flush your toilet system. A long-term solution is to install a water softener to purify your water before you go to the toilet to reduce problems in your toilet by preventing mineral build-up.
5. Plugged S-Trap
S traps, the S-shaped piece of pipe at the back of your toilet, aim to prevent sewer gases from entering your home through the toilet drain. While useful in this respect, they can also be susceptible to blockages.
Suggested action: A plunger may be all you need to clear a small clog this far up the drain line.
6. There is a Congestion Elsewhere in Your Plumbing System
Some problems are caused by lines that carry other water to the sewer. For example, washing machine blockages can cause problems affecting the entire plumbing system, including toilets.
Suggested action: Call a plumber to inspect your drain lines and pinpoint the exact location of the blockage.
7. Washing “Washable” Wipes
Believe it or not, baby wipes are not meant to be washed. It seems logical that anything used to wipe a baby’s backside could go to the toilet, but unfortunately that’s not the case. These convenience items are the number one cause of clogged toilets and can cause expensive damage to your plumbing. Although toilet and baby wipes often carry a logo indicating they’re safe to flush, they can easily make a big backup, especially if a drain is already a bit clogged.
Recommended action: Never wash so-called washable wipes, especially if you have a septic system. Throw it in the trash to avoid clogged toilets.
8. Washing Foreign Objects
Children love water. They also like water that mysteriously transports objects to another realm. The toilet is endlessly fascinating for toddlers and young children. This is why toys and other objects that children put in the toilet are the next common cause of blockages. Many items are large enough to fit in the chamber, but when they reach the pipes they get hit.
Suggested action: Only waste and toilet paper should be flushed down the toilet; never throw it in the trash or any other item. Be sure to monitor young children and instruct them to keep toys and trash out of the bathroom.
9. External Factors
Clogs happen, but common maintenance issues also create clogs. Pipes outside your home can cause drain blockages that can cause your home’s toilet drains to slow down or stop moving.
Suggested action: Talk to your installer about a duct maintenance program.
10. Slow Septic Systems
Slow-moving septic systems or systems that slow down and don’t spin fast enough can cause clogged toilets in your home. Maintaining a healthy septic system is important; with a suitable balance for ideal drainage flow.
Recommended action: Pump your septic tank regularly. Depending on the size of your home and tank, you may need a septic tank cleaning every one to three years.
11. Older Piping
Collapsed pipes can also create clogging problems. Usually the first sign is backwashing of sediment, but slow drains in multiple toilets or other drains in your home are a clue that the problem may be larger. This can be costly over time and is a sign that a professional is needed.
Recommended action: Have your plumbing checked by a professional. If an inspection reveals that your piping is damaged or in danger of failing, you may need to consider re-piping.
12. Awareness of How Your Toilet Works
The most important thing for a host is to know your system well, to avoid any ongoing problems that may arise with it. Find out if your toilet is connected to a sewer system or connected to a septic tank to function. Septic systems have specific concerns about how they work and need certain chemicals to speed up the waste treatment mechanism and prevent certain materials from being washed away.
Suggested action: Consult your plumber for specific ways to maintain your plumbing system based on the age, location, size and other aspects of your home.
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