One of the most commonly used fixtures in your home is the toilet. When this gets clogged, not only can it be stressful but also pretty messy, leading to a sewage cleanup requirement. Understanding what causes a toilet backup can help in preventing blockages/clogs in the future. In this blog, you will learn which are the 5 most common culprits of a toilet clog.
FIRST GENERATION LOW FLOW TOILET
Many older low flow toilets lack the required pressure to clear the internal trap and drain, leading to frequent toilet clogs. Check the back of your toilet for a stamped date. If your toilet was manufactured in the mid-1990s, it’s possible you have a first generation low flow toilet. If this is the case, don’t hurry into getting it replaced. You can easily reduce clogs in your low-flow toilets by limiting the usage of toilet paper and avoiding items that can clog it.
FLUSHING OF NON-FLUSHABLE ITEMS
Your toilet is specifically designed for the disposal of certain types of materials. For instance, toilet tissue rarely causes trouble as it quickly dissolves in water. But disposable tissue or paper towels do not work for your toilet. Similarly, items like wet wipes, cotton balls, dental floss, etc. can limit drainage causing frequent backups in your toilet. It’s important to speak with your family members about what items are flushable and what are not. If you have younger kids in the house, you can prepare and keep a list of items that are non-flushable around the toilet area. Placing a large trash can in your bathroom can help build a habit of disposing hard-to-flush items in it and not down the toilet.
CLOGGED TOILET TRAP
Your trap is a curved pipe, which is built into the lower bowl unit of your toilet. It holds water and prevents sewer gases from rising up through the toilet and entering your home. Toilet paper, paper towels and other non-flushable items can block the trap, resulting in a toilet backup. With the help of a plunger, you can easily loosen the blockage and remove the clog. To keep your traps clear, reduce the use of toilet paper and keep hard-to flush items out of your toilet.
BLOCKED PLUMBING VENT
Modern toilet systems use roof vents to channel fresh air into the plumbing system, enhancing the flushing pressure. With time, the vents can get clogged due to leaves, sticks or bird’s nest. When the toilet vent is blocked, it will affect the drain flow/flushing pressure and cause clogs regularly. To remove such a blockage, it’s wise to hire a pro to clear your vents as blockages can be pretty difficult to spot and will require special tools to remove.
PROBLEMS IN THE SEWER LINE
Frequent clogging in toilets and drain are generally signs of sewer line problems. These blockages are caused by a buildup of non-flushable items, waste material and toilet material. At times, tree roots can also cause a puncture in the sewer line, letting in blockage causing debris and sediments. Problems in the sewer line can lead to serious issues inside and outside of your home and even affect your family’s health. It’s best to call in the professionals to deal with any sewer related issues.
If you’re facing issues like toilet overflow or sewage backup, we understand the kind of mess you have to deal with. Leave the challenging task of cleaning to Bio Cleanse Services. We have an expert team to remove and clean up the sewage mess and sanitise the affected area. Speak to our experts on 1300 774 631.