As any good drain cleaning plumber can tell you, toilet clogs are a very common problem. Just about everyone has had to deal with a toilet that flushes too slowly or one that overflows and makes a mess of their bathroom. It’s easy to think that this is practically unavoidable with as often as it happens, but avoiding toilet clogs is easier than you think! It does involve routine maintenance from a drain cleaning service that can fix any problem you might have with a snake drain cleaner, but there are also plenty of things you can do yourself to avoid plumbing problems in the future.
Watch What You Flush
A common mistake that people make is treating their toilets like a garbage disposal. They think that anything can be flushed safely, and that they never have to worry about anything that goes down their toilets ever again. This misconception is one of the leading causes of toilet clogs. As a rule, the only things that should be flushed down your toilet are human waste and toilet paper. Toilet paper may not seem any different from paper towels or facial tissue, but it is designed to break apart when it is flushed away so it doesn’t create clogs. There are some other cleaning and hygiene products that can be flushed safely, but they will be advertised as such on their packaging. If this isn’t made clear from the label, then throw them in the trash, not your toilet.
Know How Much You Can Flush
Toilets can only handle so much waste with one flush, so don’t be afraid to flush twice for larger jobs. It is possible to clog a toilet entirely with human waste, but most clogs are caused by someone trying to flush large wads of toilet paper. If you find yourself using a lot of toilet paper and you will still need to use more, flush before you’re finished. This should take care of about half of the toilet paper you’re using, which shouldn’t tax your toilet too much.
Fixing Slow Drains
No matter how safe you are with your toilet, you’ll probably have to deal with a clog or slow drain at some point. You should be able to fix most of these problems yourself with a toilet plunger. These are plungers that have a neck like end and fit directly into the toilet’s drain to form a tight seal. Simply plunge the toilet until it starts to drain quickly again. You can also use a snake drain cleaner for more stubborn clogs, but chemical drain cleaners should be used only as a last resort as they can damage your plumbing.
If All Else Fails, Call a Plumber
If you have a clogged toilet that you cannot fix with what you have in your home, don’t hesitate to call a plumber to fix the problem. Trying to do too much on your own could cause more issues that will result in higher repair bills down the road. There are plenty of plumbers and drain cleaning services near you, so make sure you have one that you can call at a moment’s notice if something goes wrong in your home.
Speaking of calling a plumbing service to fix a pesky blog, why not give Mister Sewer a call. At Mister Sewer, our team of Pittsburgh plumbers understands clogs happen and sometimes they are simply unavoidable. That is why we offer fast, affordable and efficient solutions to stop the problem at its source. Clogs are no match for Mister Sewer’s service. To this day we have yet to run into a clog that our team cannot fix. So whether you’re looking to unclog your toilet or just a proper checkup for your plumbing system, call the experts at Mister Sewer for all your residential plumbing service needs today.
Sources:
http://www.rotorooter.com/blog/three-tips-for-preventing-toilet-clogs/
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/prevent-clogged-toilets-39450.html