Common Causes of Toilet Clogs

A toilet clog is one of the trickiest and most embarrassing plumbing concerns. There are a variety of causes for a toilet to clog and back up. Knowing these reasons will help you prevent your toilet from clogging in the future. Here are some of the more common culprits of toilet clogs.

Flushing Down the Wrong Stuff

The main reason for toilet clogs is the flushing of non-flushable objects. While the toilet is built to flush human waste, most are guilty of flushing items (such as excessive toilet paper, wet wipes, feminine hygiene products, and others) that can restrict proper water flow in the drain line and cause toilet backups.

The best way to address this concern is to set a strict rule in your household about which things are safe to flush and which are not. Placing a trash bin next to your toilet will also encourage proper waste disposal.

Human hair can also clog a toilet. Although a chemical solution could easily remedy this, excessive blockage of the toilet may require the help of a plumbing professional. Diamondback Plumbing can help you with all your bathroom plumbing needs.

Diamondback Plumbing has provided service in the residential and commercial sector for over 20 years with a well-known reputation for excellent service and competitive pricing.

If your toilet doesn’t flush, it could be because the trap is clogged. The trap is the U-shaped curved pipe found below the toilet. It blocks foul odors and gases from the sewer line from entering the home.

Since this part of the drainpipe is curved, it is prone to clogging. Items that are difficult to flush, such as excessive toilet paper or baby wipes, can clog up the trap. Using a plunger usually clears the trap.

Blocked Plumbing Vent

If the toilet’s drain pipe is not the clog culprit, then the toilet’s vent may be blocked. Toilet roof vents help fresh air circulate into the plumbing system to increase flushing pressure.

Since toilet vents are openings on the roof, it is susceptible to clogging with leaves, twigs, and other debris. When this happens, the flushing pressure is decreased, causing the drains to stop and the toilet to clog. Clearing out the toilet vent should be consulted with a plumbing professional to prevent further damage.

Use of Older Low Flow Toilets

While low-flow toilets use less water, an older version of a low-flow toilet may be why your toilet is backing up. Older low-flow toilets may have weak flush pressure that is insufficient to suck up waste for every flush.

A professional plumber can help you with toilet clogs caused by low-flow toilets. However, should you have persistent toilet clogs, you might want to consider replacing your toilet with a more efficient one.

Sewer Line Problems

If the toilet, drainpipes, trap, and vent are not blocked, chances are, the sewer may be the cause of the problem. Debris in the sewer line can potentially cause blockage.

Since sewer lines are placed underground, there are other reasons for sewer line problems aside from pipe blockage. Even tree roots can be the culprit. Too much pressure or weight being carried on top of the sewer line may cause them to break.

Sewer-related concerns not only affect your toilet but can also cause major issues to your home. For these complicated concerns, it is advisable to hire a professional plumber like Diamondback Plumbing that specializes in sewer drain cleaning.

Each cause of toilet clogs has its own solution. Most clogs can be avoided through regular maintenance and checking. Simply plunging the toilet can clear up minor clogs. However, there are stubborn clogs that would require more than just a plunger.

When these difficult situations happen, you can call on your local plumber for help. The professional plumbers at Diamondback Plumbing can help you unclog your toilets with their high quality workmanship. Help for your plumbing concerns is only one call away — get in touch with Diamondback Plumbing at (602) 674-3255.

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