The 5 Most Common Clogs in Toilets
While everyone enjoys the convenience and hygiene of toilets and indoor plumbing, it is important to remember that some objects and substances are too much for the system to handle.
Plumbing experts know well what happens when the wrong objects are introduced into toilets and the damage that can potentially occur from stubborn clogs and blocked pipes.
Below are the 5 Most Common Clogs in Toilets that plumbers have seen:
Toilet Fresheners
Ironically, toilet fresheners are often accidentally flushed down toilets. Some homeowners install toilet fresheners that hang on the rim of the toilet, but neglect to replace them after extended use, allowing the hard freshener bar or disc to slip free into the toilet below.
Hair
Many people instinctively know that hair shouldn’t be flushed down toilets, but wrongly think that occasionally using the plumbing system to dispose of hair is relatively harmless. Hair can build up in critical pipes and joints and one day compact into a dense clog that may require professional help to remove.
Feminine Hygiene
Thankfully, more women are learning that most feminine hygiene products are not meant to be disposed of by flushing down a toilet. Tampons and sanitary pads, engineered precisely to absorb liquids, can swell inside of tight joints or pipes until they become a serious clog.
Oops-A-Daisy
Experienced plumbers have unclogged many toilets after accidents and mishaps in the home where ordinary objects like toothbrushes, razors or toys are accidentally dropped into the bowl and flushed. Some homeowners have dropped valuable electronic items like phones and tablets into the bowl, and then instinctively flushed the toilet against their better judgment.Triple Ply, Triple Threat
Homeowners and guests should be carefully aware of how they dispose of toilet paper. While all toilet paper is designed to be flushed, introducing large quantities of toilet paper at one time can form a dense ball and clog the toilet. Large wads or “balls” of crumpled toilet paper should never be introduced into the toilet.
If you can see the dense ball of toilet paper at the bottom of the bowl, you may be able to remove the clog yourself by using a toilet plunger, available at local stores.
If the thick wad of toilet paper becomes lodged further up the drain, it may become a job suitable only for a trained plumbing professional to fix.
How to Prevent Clogged Toilets
In addition to being messy, toilet clogs can damage plumbing pipes and flooring, leading to costly repairs. Knowing what to flush, how to prevent unsuitable items from going down the drain and when to plunge are the main components to preventing toilet clogs.
Proper flushing: Sometimes clogs will occur even when you flush only what’s supposed to be flushed down a toilet: toilet paper and waste. This may be caused by flushing too much of this material. For instance, flushing excessive amounts of toilet paper can create problems over time.
Clear the area around the bowl: While the space over the tank may seem like a great place to put a shelf where you can store items such as soaps, extra toilet paper, brushes and combs, it actually increases the risk of clogging. These items can easily get knocked into the bowl and fall down the drain eventually leading to a clogged toilet drain.
Addressing slow drains: A weak or slow flush is a common sign that a clog is forming in your toilet drain. Rather than waiting until the problem worsens, deal with the issue immediately. Have your plunger ready to handle slow of weak-flushing toilets as soon as possible.
Don’t be afraid to call the plumber: Some jobs are just too complicated even for the experienced DIYer to handle. If you suspect any serious problem with your toilet, don’t be afraid to seek professional help.
Problems with the clogged toilet in your home? Don’t panic, just Call Nixco Plumbing Inc. at (513) 445-5142, and we’ll take care of business.