Nobody wants to deal with a clogged toilet. We break down the ins and outs of toilet clogs – why they clog, simple home solutions that don’t require a plunger, and how to prevent clogs in the future.
Why Do Toilets Get Clogged?
A clogged toilet is definitely a stressful ordeal. Yet, this is a very common domestic emergency that most of us can address without the help of a professional plumber or a plunger.
Yep, you heard it right! You can definitely whip out your DIY magic for this one.
However, if the toilet clogs up so often, this could be an entirely different situation. There could be other more serious reasons behind it. It could be attributed to a dysfunctional vent pipe or a damaged waste pipe due to hard water deposition.
Before you go deeper with the steps on how to fix a clogged toilet, here are some reasons why your toilet just won’t drain:
- Blocked vents are one of the most overlooked parts of a plumbing system. Yet, once vent blockages occur, it spells a major problem – clogging. Blocked vents can be attributed to ice, leaves, or bird which blocks the main vent found in the roof. If the air cannot go through the pipes, it causes a disturbance in the negative pressure within, which results in a slower flow of water. This will then result in the possibility of sediments settling within the pipes easily.
- Some toilets are just prone to blockage. There are toilets which have been manufactured from 1994 to 1997 that are known to frequently experience clogging. Replace it as soon as you can. You can refer to the date stamp located inside the tank to determine the manufacturing date of your toilet. Furthermore, if you have old toilets, there’s a chance they can be heavily stained by mineral (specifically lime) deposits, which can somehow be clogged along the inlet holes and the underside of the rim. This will render the toilet flush to be slow and incomplete. Unfortunately, it can also clog up the waste pipe and the internal trap.
- Be mindful of what you flush down the toilet drain. You can’t just flush down anything. Hair may seem to be harmless, yet it can cause a major disaster once a ball of hair starts to build up. Remember this: anything that congeals or solidifies in cold water, like grease and oil, may settle along the pipe works.
- Neglected septic system maintenance. Sediments can settle within the septic tank. The same thing happens when the septic tank freezes. The incursion of shrubbery and tree roots into the plumbing system can definitely cause the toilet drains to clog.
Is There Anything You Can Do To Deal With Emergency Toilet Clogs?
A clogged toilet upon waking up in the morning can be a stressful situation. You might be compelled to seek the help of an emergency plumber. Before you pick up your plunger or call for professional help, you should at least try to resolve the dilemma on your own.
Nobody enjoys dealing with a clogged toilet. It is even worse when you do not have an available plunger in your comfort room.
Removing a clog with liquid soap and warm water
One popular home method involves liquid soap and warm water. Follow the steps below exactly:
- Fill out a pot with at least 1 gallon of water and bring it to a boil over medium heat.
- Fill ½ cup of liquid dishwashing liquid soap and pour it into the toilet while the water comes to a boil.
- The soap dish will mix within the bowl and begin disintegrating the source of the clog almost immediately. Once the hot water hits the dishwashing liquid, a chemical reaction might occur, so don’t get too close.
- Repeat the entire process until the clogs are gone – firmly stay in front of the toilet bowl and pour in the hot water steadily.
Remember: avoid pouring boiling water into the toilet. Once the water hits the toilet surface, the scalding water can cause the porcelain toilet to crack.
Removing a clog with white vinegar and baking soda:
You can combine baking soda and white vinegar to get your clogs away. Make sure you have ¼ cup of baking soda on the toilet boil. For severe clogs, you can increase the amount by ½ cup afterwards.
- Pour in the vinegar with the exact same amount of baking soda.
- Once a fizzing sound occurs, the chemical reaction begins, which can remove the clogs.
- Wait after a few minutes before you pour in a kettle of hot water. This will intensify the removal of the clogs to dislodge.
- Repeat the process until the flow of the toilet returns back to normal.
What is the Best Type of Toilet That Will Not Clog?
No toilet is ever clog-free. However, toilets with a powerful and forceful flush are more effective at pushing through waste. This will definitely result in fewer clogging situations. Gravity toilets were built with jetted and direct-fed bowls that come with a forceful flush. You will see that this type of toilet jets water around its rim and right into the trapway coming from the tank itself before allowing gravity to pull the wastewater down into the toilet drain.
Another factor is the size of the trapway and the valve. A toilet built with a large flush valve (more than 4 inches in diameter) releases water faster than a toilet with a smaller valve. You should invest in a trapway that measures 2 and 3/8 inches, which can permit more water through the drain, avoiding clogging.
How Can I Prevent A Clogged Toilet In The Future?
It is better to maintain the toilet rather than stress yourself into fixing the clog or leak. A clogged toilet is really messy and would require much effort to have it fixed (not to mention it can be another expensive household emergency to deal with).
Here are some tips to keep in mind when dealing with clogged toilet emergencies in the future:
- Make use of natural and mild cleaners for your toilet. Clean the toilet on a regular basis to keep it more hygienic. You can make use of vinegar, baking soda and mild soap for your regular and daily toilet cleaning regimen.
- Try to inspect the toilet’s inner parts every six months to make sure that the components are functional.
- Always address the leaking toilet immediately. Toilet leaks can be silent and undetected until such time a puddle of water appears on your bathroom floor.
- Train kids on how to take care of the toilet. When you are potty training your kids, this is the best time for you to tell them that they should be mindful of the things that they flush down the toilet drain. Avoid flushing other than human waste and toilet paper.
- Try to look into the type of toilet paper that you use. There are sewage systems that will not favour your super ultra soft cushy toilet paper, which is too hard to break down. For toilet paper, which does not decompose well, it can cause a build-up in the long run.
With ample and religious maintenance, your toilet will definitely last for a longer period of time. Remember that toilets are made of porcelain. Although it is easy to repair the internal parts, any type of damage to the tank or bowl means you will need to purchase a replacement.