DON'T LET A CLOGGED TOILET SPOIL VALENTINE'S DAY
Dan Wood Company • 17 February 2023
Portage, MI Plumbing Contractors Share Top Tips to Avoid Clogged Toilets.
Why do Toilets Continue To Clog
Clogged toilets can be embarrassing for any household. Unfortunately, unclogging the pipes may not always prevent future blockages. Certain tips can help keep toilets working throughout the entire year.
What Does “Flushable” Mean?
Toilets may provide the same service but they aren’t all the same. Even brand-new and up-to-date toilets may still only flush certain materials.
For instance, low-flow toilets are designed to use less water. This is beneficial for the environment as well as overall savings. While low-flow toilets are increasingly popular, not all toilet paper is flushable. Using thin paper and flushing twice is recommended.
Regular-flow toilets are not immune to blockages. Although baby wipes or sanitary pads may say “flushable” on the packaging, this is not true for all toilets. Toilet clogs are likely to happen in any toilet if the paper is thick enough. Sanitary napkins, tissues, and paper should never be flushed.
How Much Bath Tissue Is Too Much?
This question varies depending on the brand of toilet paper. Thin paper can usually be doubled without clogging the pipes. For thicker bath tissue, the number of squares should be reduced to only what’s necessary.
Flushing twice is another way to help completely flush toilet paper. Low-flow toilets may need to be flushed twice anyway. Waiting a moment after the first flush is recommended so the plumbing system is not overwhelmed.
How To Prevent Sewer Line Clogs
Toilets that continue to clog after proper usage may have an underlying issue in the sewer line. A problem with the main sewer line can cause major health concerns and should be taken care of as quickly as possible.
If the main sewer line is blocked a waste backup can occur. This can cause water to fill floor drains and bathroom fixtures. Homeowners are advised not to use sinks, toilets, or showers if there is an immediate sewer line crisis.
Homeowners can usually tell if a sewer line clogs because all drains will clog at once. Kitchen sinks, bathroom showers, and toilets will drain much slower than regular ones and may not drain at all. Unusual sounds like gurgling can also indicate a main line clog.
For new homeowners, landscaping can significantly impact the sewer pipes. Trees and bushes should be planted away from the plumbing line to prevent regular clogging. Tree roots are known to find nutrients within the pipes and can permanently damage the plumbing system.
In addition to using thin bath tissue and flushing multiple times, professional cleaning is recommended yearly. Professional cleanings are not the same as pipe clearing and they do not include using grocery-store cleaning products.
A specific type of hydro-jet is used in professional sewer drain cleaning that removes hard-to-access clogs. When pressurized water is released into the sewer system, blockages deep within the pipe can deteriorate from a powerful drain cleaning. To prevent multiple clogs throughout the year, a trained plumber can do in under one day.
About Dan Wood Company
Dan Wood Company provides 24-hour plumbing services for local residents. Call Dan Wood today to learn more about their flat-rate pricing in Portage, MI.
