Five Most Common Causes of a Toilet Clog. A Phoenix Plumber Explains.
There are a few simple ways to avoid costly toilet repairs and by far the easiest is to avoid flushing potentially trap clogging items.
What causes a toilet clog?
Courtesy Flush
The primary cause of a toilet clog is toilet paper. If you tend toward using large quantities of toilet paper, it is best to first flush the waste than follow with a flush to remove the toilet paper. Also, fold your paper to provide the desired thickness, rather than creating a ball. The tightly bound balls of toilet paper often are too large to fit through the narrow diameter trap. By minimizing toilet paper used and breaking the “balling” habit, you can virtually eliminate toilet paper clogs. Should you wind up with a clog, start by giving it a good plunge with a toilet plunger. Especially stubborn clogs may require bringing in professionals to snake the drain. The specialists at Plumbing Masters can clear any clog from your toilet.
Feminine Hygiene
Sanitary napkins (pads) and tampons are a common cause of a toilet clog. Because tampons are designed to absorb moisture and expand, the product will do just that in the trap. Additionally, most sanitary napkins have plastic linings that will not dissolve and the sheer size of most pads prevent passage through the narrow diameter trap. Should your toilet become clogged from these products, call a plumber as the only sure fix is to snake the drain to remove the offending product.
Hair
Large clumps of human hair or pet fur can both cause a toilet clog. If you have developed the habit of flushing the hair from your brushes down the toilet, break the habit now. If your toilet is clogged by repeated flushing of clumps of hair, you will need a professional plumber to snake the drain.
Accidents
Perhaps the most stubborn clogs are caused when random objects are accidentally flushed. For example: toothbrush falls off sink; little Johnny (or Sally) drops a toy; a razor drops in while you’re shaving. So, the last thing you may want to do is go fishing in your toilet, but that’s the best solution! Although there are times when such items are flushed before you even realize – chances are, if large enough, the item will cause a toilet clog nearly instantaneously. The toothbrush may seem to go through, but can act as a trap and eventually clog the toilet. Snaking the toilet’s drain is the only way to remove “hard clogs” such as these.
Fresheners
Another “hard clog” item is toilet fresheners. If you use the type freshener that hangs over the rim of the toilet, the hooks can deteriorate over time and the freshener will fall in the toilet. Choose a freshener that is more stable or is placed in the tank to avoid this problem. Snaking the toilet’s drain is the only way to remove a flushed freshener.
Need a Phoenix Plumber to Fix your Toilet?
Follow these steps and you can help avoid costly toilet repair down the line. If you are experiencing a clogged toilet because of these or any other issue, give Plumbing Masters a call today at (602) 296-1127 or schedule online today.
