Is your toilet constantly clogging? Plumbers walking in and out of your home every other day? Read this blog post to find out why your toilet could be clogged, and some of the best ways to fix a clogged toilet depending on the cause.
Toilets can be fickle, there’s no doubt about that. Most of the time, homeowners can ill afford a temperamental toilet. There are plenty of reasons why your toilet could be clogged, and they range from bad to awful, to downright devious. If you’ve ever wondered what causes toilets to clog, then read on. This blog post will give you a better understanding of how toilets work, what causes them to clog, and what you can do to fix clogs and prevent them in the future.
Because… even though Western Rooter & Plumbing offers drain cleaning services, we know you don’t want to see us every day. So make sure you don’t flush away this valuable resource!
How do toilets work?
Essentially, toilets work by sucking up waste and debris through a hole in a pipe. Sometimes, things can get stuck and become a clog. There are many reasons why this might happen, but it is important to remember that not all clogs are created equal. Some may be easy to unclog, while others… no such luck.
Your household plumbing system is nearly entirely made up of PVC or ABS pipes that carry water and waste away from your home. Every time you flush the commode, waste is sucked down the drain. If all of this piping were metal, clogs would be a lot more common because these types of pipes are much harder to clean out.
Why is your toilet clogged?
There are a variety of things that can clog a toilet, from hair and debris to external sources that you have no control over. There are even some things that we do every day, such as improper flushing or dropping foreign objects down the drain without thinking, which can cause clogs in a single flush! Let’s get into some of the most common reasons for clogged toilets, and ways you can prevent them from happening again in the future.
1. Your toilet is too weak
The number one leading cause of recurring clogged toilets is simple – a weak toilet. Low flush toilets are often good for saving money on your water bill, but when it comes to performance, they aren’t exactly the best.
The water level of a low flush toilet is typically about an inch or two from the top, and while this may be fine for liquids, it doesn’t quite cut it when you’re trying to get rid of solid waste. If you notice that your commode has been clogged with regularity – even after plunging – then it’s likely because your toilet just isn’t powerful enough to remove all debris in one go.
What can you do?
If your household uses low-flush toilets, consider upgrading them to either high efficiency (HET) models or dual flushing systems so they will have more power behind each flush and unclog easier! Dual-flushing toilets operate two buttons: a small button for liquids and a larger button for solids.
2. Flushing things that should not be flushed
Toilets were designed to do one thing, and one thing alone – flush away waste and suck it down into a sewer system or septic tank. When you try to flush things other than that, you are likely to create a clog.
This is especially true for foreign objects – think sanitary wipes, paper towels, and cotton swabs. While they may seem harmless enough when you drop them in, they can cause a blockage and lead to an overflowing commode.
What can you do?
You should never flush anything but human waste or toilet paper down the drain! If you need to get rid of something that is not in one of those two categories, dispose of it with your trash instead.
Although many people use items such as disposable wipes because they are “flushable”, these products often aren’t able to break down quickly enough when introduced into a sewer system.
3. “Flushable” wipes
If you’ve ever used flushable wipes or baby wipes and then flushed them, then chances are you’ve experienced a clog or two in your toilet’s life. This is because flushable wipes are not really flushable at all!
These products were designed to be disposable, and they even say so on the label. Although many manufacturers claim that their product will break down quickly, it often takes a lot longer than advertised – leaving what looks like a very large piece of cotton in your commode for weeks or months until it finally develops into a clog that’s large enough to stop your entire sewer system from working.
What can you do?
While some companies now make “flushable” baby wipes specifically aimed towards septic tanks (which is usually where these things end up after passing through your toilet), none of them should ever go into standard toilets as clogs are, basically, inevitable with them. Instead, dispose of these items in a trash can. We know – it’s gross! But it could save you thousands of dollars over the next few years.
3. Mineral build-up in your sewer pipes
Have you ever heard of “hard water”?
If you haven’t, then you should know that it’s exactly what we’re talking about when we mention mineral build-up in your water system.
While some minerals are actually good for us to consume (such as calcium), too many of them can lead to clogs and blockages within a sewer or septic tank – including those inside your toilet!
What can you do?
There is no way around this one other than using products specifically designed to fight mineral buildup on the inner walls of pipes! These solutions usually come in liquid form and work by reducing the amount of calcium and magnesium found within city water lines and toilets so they don’t stick around long enough to cause damage while passing through.
(Tip: Install a whole-house water softener with Western Rooter & Plumbing to solve hard-water build-up once and for all, everywhere in your home.)
4. Old, corroded pipes
If your home is more than 30-40 years old, then your sewer pipes probably aren’t the shiniest. This is because they are made out of what’s known as “iron pipe” – a metal that corrodes over time, especially when exposed to water on a regular basis.
This leads to recurring toilet clogs because the metal rusts and flakes off the inner walls of your pipes, leading to blockages that can stop up not just toilets but also showers and sinks.
What can you do?
While we aren’t going to say that it’s always easy or cheap, replacing these old sewer lines is certainly cheaper than unclogging a toilet over and over again! If you want peace of mind in knowing that your drains are clear all day every day – then contact Western Rooter & Plumbing today for more information on what kind of plumbing services we offer.
An alternative solution is to have a professional plumber install an epoxy lining system designed specifically for iron piping! These systems coat the inside walls with chemicals and prevent future damages from occurring in your home (and save you money in the long run!). This is not always recommended, though, as it reduces the internal diameter of your pipes, potentially leading to more clogs down the line. The best thing to do is call us today to talk about your options.
5. Hair and other miscellaneous debris
Hair is a notoriously common cause of clogged toilets, and that’s because it never really goes away!
If hairs or other debris gets into your sewer pipes and never makes its way through to the drainage system, then it will eventually clog up over time because there’s just too much material for the system to handle!
What can you do?
The best thing to do is to take a preventative course. Try your best not to flush hair, dirt, and other debris not intended specifically to be flushed down a toilet. You can also try and carefully remove hair or other clogs from your drains using an auger or a drain snake every once in a while to prevent them from building up over time.
6. A clogged S-trap
Oh – you’ve never heard of an S-trap before?
That’s alright – let us explain: an S-trap is a plumbing mechanism that prevents sewer gases from entering your home (because… who would want that?), while also stopping water in the sink or tub from draining into the toilet.
These traps are usually found under porcelain sinks and bathtubs in most homes – and they’re supposed to be filled with a small amount of water at all times! If they ever run dry, then it can allow for dangerous sewer gas to enter your living area (which is why having an S-trap overflow kit is so important).
Furthermore, if you don’t have any standing water within yours at all when using these fixtures – this could lead to clogging problems as well.
(Tip: Learn more about plumbing terminology here).
What can you do?
A plunger is probably all you need to unclog an S-trap, although in some cases you may want to use a plumbing auger. This will help to clear away any debris that may be stopping the water from entering your pipes – and it’s also a good idea to check for cracks or signs of wear around this area regularly.
7. Tree roots invading your sewer line
Ever wonder what the “rooter” in “Western Rooter” means?
Well, it’s actually short for “rooter service” – which is what our company specializes in!
That being said… tree roots are also a pretty common cause of clogged toilets. The reason for this is that they will grow through your sewer system over time and form massive blockages within the pipes or even beneath your foundation (which can really slow down drainage). This can become incredibly expensive to repair if ignored for a long time, so the best thing to do is to call a plumber immediately if you suspect this could be a problem.
What can you do?
If this is the case, then there’s not much that you can do! Your only real course of action is to call a professional rooter service technician so that they can clear out your sewer lines and ensure that they’re working properly.
If you notice any drain clogs, toilet leaks or problems with your sewer system – it’s best to get in touch with Western Rooter & Plumbing for fast and affordable service! We will come to your residence and perform a sewer video camera inspection to confirm whether or not the problem is roots, and tell you how we can solve it.
8. Poorly-maintained sewer systems
If you live in an apartment or HOA complex and many of your neighbors regularly complain about recurring clogged toilets, then you may want to get in touch with your property manager or HOA committee.
Chances are that the sewer lines are being neglected, and that could cause major problems for everyone living in your community!
What can you do?
If this is the case, then it’s best to contact someone who has authority over sewer maintenance. If that isn’t possible, then try talking with other residents about how they are affected by poor drainage – and hopefully, you’ll be able to push through together as a group. A good idea is to recommend a good commercial plumber, like Western Rooter!
We specialize in helping multi-family complexes and HOA communities solve pesky plumbing problems.
Clogged toilets happen more often than most people realize… but at Western Rooter & Plumbing we have all the tools necessary to fix them quickly so that you don’t have to live without working plumbing fixtures any longer than absolutely necessary.
9. Improperly installed toilets
If you’ve read our blog post about hiring handymen for plumbing jobs, then you know how dangerous it can be when an unlicensed person performs complicated plumbing work in your home. The results can be disastrous and long-lasting.
If you a toilet has been improperly installed, then you may notice that it doesn’t flush correctly. Furthermore, if you’ve noticed water around your foundation – then there’s a good chance that the wax ring on the toilet wasn’t installed properly and is allowing for leakage between the fixture and its base.
What can you do?
The best course of action here would be to hire a licensed plumber to come out and install an entirely new toilet in place of what was previously there. They will ensure everything is connected securely before they leave so that you won’t have any problems with clogged toilets or sewage leaks later on!
10. Your tank isn’t full enough
If there isn’t enough water in your toilet’s tank, then it won’t have enough pressure to force waste down the toilet bowl! Tanks are designed to empty into the toilet bowl every time you flush and then refill with water a few seconds or minutes after flushing.
Sometimes, things can happen that cause the tank to not fill up all the way, leading to insufficient pressure.
What can you do?
The best thing to do here would be to simply add more water into your tank. Be sure that it fills up just enough so that the float will kick on and start refilling when necessary – but not too much or else there won’t be any pressure left for flushing!
If you suspect that your tank is not filling up as much as it should, check out our blog post about diagnosing and fixing issues with your toilet running.
Is your toilet still clogged?
It’s not always easy to tell if your toilet is clogged or what the cause of the issue may be. However, it can become an expensive problem quickly – so you want to address any problems as soon as they arise. Toilets are designed with a system that prevents them from becoming blocked by waste (usually) but sometimes things happen and blockages can occur due to reasons like poorly-maintained sewer systems, improperly installed toilets or simply insufficient water in the tank.
If you’re experiencing issues related to these causes then contact us today! Our team will provide fast service at competitive rates for all your plumbing needs – including unclogging toilets.
