Everyone is familiar with that anxiety-filled, embarrassing moment that a clogged toilet can bring. There can be a variety of reasons that cause toilet clogs or clogged drains leading to an overfilled toilet. Keep reading below to learn more about the common reasons and how you can prevent this from happening to you in the future. We will also discuss what you should do if you find yourself dealing with a clogged toilet on a common basis, and where to find help for this.
Someone flushed something they shouldn't have
This is easily the most common reason and the most preventable reason that a toilet may be clogged. Most people are guilty of flushing things other than human waste, such as feminine products, wet wipes, or an excessive amount of toilet paper. If you find that your toilet is clogging often, you may need to evaluate what people are flushing.
Having a garbage can set up next to the toilet, will encourage people to make the proper choice on what to flush. You may also find it helpful to create a sign in your bathroom to inform users to kindly only flush human waste and use the garbage can for all other items. After all, this reason for a clog can be prevented, and warning your guests is a considerate gesture if your bathroom is prone to toilet clogs.
Plumbers have also experienced clogged drains due to excessive hair causing blockages. You can opt to use a chemical product, to eat away the blockage, but some hair blockages may require a professional's assistance.
Your toilets trap is clogged
All toilets have a commonality: a U - shaped pipe that sits below your toilet. This pipe has a great purpose, as it eliminates any odor from the sewer from entering your home. However, if your toilet is clogged you may be dealing with a clogged trap.
This happens quite frequently, due to the shape of the pipe making it prone to clogging if you have flushed excessive toilet paper or wet wipes. Having a plunger next to the toilet is critical if you are hoping to un-clog the trap on your own. These can usually be taken care of with a toilet plunger.
The plumbing vent is blocked
Perhaps you have tried a plunger and released that your drainpipe is not the issue. It may be possible that your vent is blocked. This means that your toilet is unable to access air to circulate through the plumbing system to create flushing pressure.
You may have no idea what a plumbing vent is, and that’s due to the fact they are usually located on the roof of your home. They can be clogged with leaves or other natural debris. It is important if you are dealing with this type of toilet issue, to consult a professional to avoid any damage to yourself or the vent.
It’s just an old toilet
Your toilet may be a problem if you have an older style of a low-flow design. These are meant to reduce your water use, however, some of the early models lacked enough pressure to correctly flush.
There are new options on the market that can offer low flow but high pressure to meet your needs, while still being an efficient option for those looking to be environmentally conscious.
If you are finding common clogs and you suspect it may be due to your toilet, a professional can help you identify this and help to unclog any issues you may be facing.
You have issues with your sewer lines and may need repairs
This is the last thing you want to resort to, but it may be the reason for your clogging nightmares. No one wants to be told they need to do sewer line repair, but someone must deal with it. These can be caused by years of slow build-up, or from failure in the system itself. Since these pipes are located underground, you may even find mother nature is the reason for your issue, with tree roots or burrowing animals potentially being the issue.
Sewer backups are not fun, they can affect much more than just the inconvenience of a clogged toilet. If left untreated, they can cause massive structural issues to your home, and even compromise the safety of the air quality. If you have eliminated all the above potential causes for a toilet clog, you may be dealing with a more in-depth issue.
Contacting a professional is the best cause in this situation, as they will be able to diagnose your problem, and help you with any sewer line repairs or replacements if needed.
Summary of the above
If you have made it this far, you likely need to know how to identify these types of issues that could lead to a clogged toilet. It’s safe to say that many of these can be prevented, such as by avoiding flushing large quantities of toilet paper, feminine products, and wet wipes. You should also make sure to make your bathroom friendly, by having a garbage can, and a toilet plunger close by if needed.
If you are facing issues that seem to be recurring, do not hesitate to contact a professional. We know how crappy it can be to deal with clogged drains, and a professional can offer you an unbiased opinion on what the deep root of the problem may be. You can find a professional in your area by going online or searching the yellow pages in your city.
Referrals are also great, so feel free to ask family and friends if they have any experience with a local plumber in the area that they may be able to recommend.
If you are renting, make sure to contact your landlord with any issues related to the plumbing, as they may have a preferred company.
