Toilets are one of the most fascinating and beneficial inventions of modern life. As simple as they appear, they solve an age-old human problem: how to prevent contact between us and the unpleasant wastes our bodies constantly produce.
According to Keyrenter Miami West, our ancestors would marvel at the wonders of a modern toilet; to be able to sit on a toilet seat to do their business and simply walk away without looking back after flushing the contraption. But you and I don’t value our toilets as much because we take them for granted.
All of that stops the moment the toilet in your home stops working normally. Nothing brings home the value of a toilet more than when it stops flushing or becomes clogged. Only then do you know how much you rely on this simple plumbing fixture in your home.
In this post, we explore why your toilet clogs and what you can do to resolve the issue.
Why does your toilet keep clogging?
If your toilets clog frequently, the root causes of the problem may be found in one or more of the following issues:
- Flushing the wrong items
Your toilet will clog frequently if items are blocking the drainpipes. These can be things that we intentionally or accidentally flushed into the toilet. Most products labeled as flushable will clog your toilet, including wipes, paper towels, diapers, feminine hygiene products, dental floss, cat litter, Q-tips, latex condoms, etc. Even toilet paper can clog your toilet if there is too much of it. It is also possible that your kids have accidentally flushed a toy or small object into the toilet. You should be able to dislodge the items blocking the pipe if you snake the toilet.
- A blocked plumbing vent
A clogged plumbing vent can cause your toilet to clog because the vent helps to balance air pressure inside your home’s drainage system. However, if the vent is blocked by bird or insect nests, pine cones, leaves, twigs, and other kinds of debris, it cannot play this role effectively. Air that should escape through the vent will become trapped inside the pipes. These pockets of air will prevent water from entering the pipes when you flush your toilet. A common sign of blocked plumbing vents is gurgling each time you flush your toilet. You can get a professional plumber to inspect your vent and unclog it.
- Hard water buildup
Homeowners in areas with very hard water, such as Chicago, often experience toilet problems due to the buildup of hard water minerals in their toilets. Calcium and magnesium deposits slowly form inside the toilet, creating rough spots that trap debris or hard crusts that break off to block the pipe channels. This problem can be prevented by installing a whole-house water softener in your home. But this will not remove the existing buildup inside your drainpipes. To clear limescale and other mineral buildup in your pipes, the best option is to clean the pipes by rodding or hydro jetting.
- The flush jet/siphon jet is blocked
The flush jet is the small hole at the front of the toilet bowl. It helps the toilet empty completely by giving the contents of the bowl a push when you flush. This opening can become clogged with debris and limescale. If, in the bid to save water, you follow the advice to “keep it mellow if it is yellow and if it is brown send it down,” you may inadvertently be encouraging your toilet to clog. That is because the mineral buildup from urine can clog the flush jets in the toilet, reducing the volume of water available for flushing. To fix the problem, clean the toilet with a toilet bowl cleaner and let it sit instead of flushing right away.
- The flapper is damaged
The flapper inside your toilet tank may be damaged. This component tends to break down with age. When this starts to happen, the flapper will close too soon before sending down enough water to fully flush the toilet. If the toilet doesn’t have enough water to soften the waste inside the bowl and also empty the bowl, the toilet will clog frequently. The simple fix for this problem is to replace the flapper.
- The main sewer line is blocked
If your main sewer line is blocked, you will see the signs in your toilet. The most common signs of a blocked sewer line are multiple fixtures that drain slowly in your home and chronic clogs that keep returning after you solve them. If more than one drain is slow in your home, you may want to have your main sewer line inspected. This is typically done using a sewer camera inspection. After inspecting the sewer line, the plumber will need to clean it by using hydro jetting or sewer rodding to clear the debris inside the line.
Which of these problems is the root cause of your clogged toilet? If you’re unsure because you are having trouble checking the toilet, you may want to talk to a professional plumber in Lincoln Park.