Dealing with a toilet that keeps clogging can be frustrating, especially if you’re not sure what’s causing the disruption in the plumbing system. Use this guide to narrow down the reasons why your toilet keeps clogging and reach out to Grasshopper Heating & Cooling for professional toilet repairs and drain cleaning services.
Common Causes of a Clogged Toilet
Frequent toilet clogs can happen for a number of reasons. You might experience water backup, slow drainage, and other issues due to the following scenarios, leading to toilet clogs.
Too Much Toilet Paper
If you have a toilet that keeps clogging, evaluate your toilet paper usage. Excess toilet tissue can cause sewer line clogs and prevent your system from flushing properly. Use limited amounts of single-ply toilet tissue to preserve your drainage system.
Flushing Non-Flushable Items Down the Toilet Bowl
Human waste and toilet paper are the only items safe for flushing. Sending non-flushable paper or hygiene products like cotton balls down the toilet can form a stubborn sewer line clog that affects other plumbing fixtures in your home.
Tree Root Penetrations
Say you take care of your plumbing system by flushing only appropriate objects down the toilet drain, yet you can’t seem to resolve your toilet clogging issue. Have an expert inspect your main sewer line for damage. Many homeowners have tree roots that obstruct their sewer pipes and create huge blockages.
Plumbers often recommend the following measures to repair the clogged sewer line:
- Hydrojetting
- Replacing the damaged pipe
- Removing the tree
Not addressing the underlying problem will mean the toilet keeps clogging as well as shower drains, sinks, and other essential plumbing fixtures.
Using a Low-Flow Toilet
Homeowners with older low-flow toilets tend to deal with clogs more frequently due to the poor flushing pressure. You can conserve water while experiencing a more powerful flush with modern toilets.
Blocked Toilet Vent
Every plumbing and toilet vent penetrates the roof to release gases into fresh air rather than through your home. Debris like leaves or twigs can fill the vent and prevent your toilet from flushing properly.
Clogged Toilet Trap
Similar to your sink’s P-trap, every toilet comes with its own trap that blocks the flow of harmful sewer gases. The toilet trap can fill up with bathroom waste and other debris over time, which makes it difficult for wastewater to flow through the drain pipe.
How To Repair a Clogged Toilet
When a toilet keeps clogging, it’s equally important to know what’s causing the issue as well as how to fix it. Below are essential ways to both fix and prevent toilet clogs.
Use Basic Plumbing Tools
Excess toilet paper or an obstructed toilet trap can leave you dealing with a slow-draining system. A flanged toilet plunger can usually resolve the issue and cause water to flush at full force through the drain. Sealing the plunger’s rubber base over the drain and pumping it up and down with the handle can remove the blockage with suction force.
A toilet auger, also known as a snake, can tackle clogs caused by foreign or non-flushable objects. Plumbers carefully send the toilet auger through the drain and can either break apart or remove the blockage once they reach it.
Replace Outdated Equipment
For clogs caused by damaged sewer pipes or ineffective low-flow toilets, your best bet is to replace your existing equipment. Plumbers will recommend replacing your underground pipe material when hydrojetting and other sewer line repairs don’t resolve the issue. They can also upgrade your older toilets if they don’t flush properly or require frequent repairs.
In some cases, you might need to install new equipment to safeguard your plumbing. Homes with hard water, for example, can deal with clogged drains because of the mineral buildup. Installing a water softener alleviates this problem.
Change Your Habits
Clearing the clog could only be a temporary fix if you don’t change some of your bathroom habits. For example, continuing to use too much toilet paper or flush unsafe items will require ongoing repairs. Installing a bidet in your bathroom can help you avoid toilet paper clogs, and keeping a waste bin nearby allows you to properly dispose of other toiletries.
Schedule Professional Plumbing Services and Repair Any Toilet Issue
If your toilet keeps clogging due to blocked toilet vents, damaged sewer lines, or any other issue, reach out to Grasshopper Heating & Cooling. We offer unbeatable plumbing services in Clifton Park, NY and the surrounding areas and can restore your drain line so the toilet flushes properly. Submit our online request form or call (518) 545-3271 to schedule repairs to your toilet and drain lines.
