Common Causes of Toilet Clogs

What are Some of the Reasons a Toilet Gets Clogged

Clogged toilets can result in expensive plumbing repairs. Because of this, it’s important to avoid flushing certain items down the toilet. People should also perform routine maintenance on a toilet to prevent malfunction. Learn more about issues which may cause problems with your toilet and discover how you can avoid an expensive plumbing repair.

Feminine Hygiene Products

Feminine hygiene products are one of the worst items to flush down the toilet. Women should avoid flushing sanitary pads and tampons. Tampons soak up the moisture and inflate in the trap, creating a blockage. Sanitary pads are too large to fit through the trap. The best way to fix this type of toilet clog is to snake the drain. Call Spartan Plumbing at your earliest convenience if you are unable to operate a snake on your own.

Too Much Toilet Paper

Toilet paper is one of the most common reasons for a clogged toilet. Flushing too much toilet paper can prevent the material from passing through the trap. Plumbers recommend flushing the waste before the toilet paper. People should also fold the toilet paper instead of rolling it in a ball. Tissue paper rolled in a ball is often too large to fit through the trap. Many people use a plunger to fix this type of clog. Snake the drain if plunging does not work or research plumbing contractors to find professionals in your area.

Random Objects

People flush random objects down the toilet more often than you think. It’s common for people to accidentally flush objects down the toilet such as toys or jewelry, either because they don’t notice they have fallen in or because children will be children. Avoid placing objects on top of your toilets such as a toothbrush or razor. Some items might appear to flush down the toilet, but these objects often get stuck in the pipe, just out of sight, causing a clog. The best way to prevent this type of clog is to remove the object before the toilet is flushed. These types of clogs require a snake to resolve the problem.

Damaged and Old Pipes

Damaged or old pipes might be the cause of recurrent toilet clogs. Cracked or broken pipes require repair or replacement. There are a variety of things that cause a broken pipe such as wear and tear, heavy use, and severe temperature changes. Damaged pipes can decrease the flow of the drain and cause clogs. A plunger or snake is a temporary fix for the problem but the pipes need to be examined and repaired by a plumber. Broken pipes escalate into larger problems when the issue is not resolved quickly.

Unproductive Flapper

A flapper is a round gasket made of rubber that sits at the bottom of the toilet. The gasket is opened after the toilet is flushed and water enters the tank. A clog can occur if the flapper does not fully open, and waste is not pushed down the drain. If this happens, you can open the back of the toilet lid and shorten the chain link on the flush arm. The replacement of the flapper and flush arm is normal maintenance for toilets. The parts are inexpensive and easy to install.

Clogged Toilet Vent

Many toilet vents are installed on the roof. This allows the plumbing system to be filled with fresh air and replaces the vacuum of air after the water is drained. Toilets can become clogged when debris becomes stuck in the vent. Contact a plumber to remove the debris from the vent. An attempt to fix the problem on your own could result in injury or escalate into a more severe problem.
Clogged toilets require immediate attention to prevent the issue from escalating into a major problem. Many toilets can be unclogged with a plunger or snake but broken pipes and clogged toilet vents should be repaired by a plumber. Contact Spartan Plumbing today to resolve your plumbing issues.
Common Causes of Toilet Clogs is republished from www.spartantucson.com/