What is the Secret to Preventing Toilet Clogs?
No one wants to have to make an emergency call to the plumber after a Valentine’s Day dinner. Toilet clogs can put a real damper on romance. Fortunately, a toilet clog will be much less likely if the proper procedures are followed. Drain cleaning is not just for when clogs happen but should be part of regular maintenance. There are also a few tips and tricks to keep everything running smoothly, at least from the mechanical aspect.
Tip # 1: Know What Is Flushable
The toilet is often abused in what is sent down the commode. Sewer pipes are meant to remove excrement and wastewater from the home, but that does not mean that they can be used like trash cans. What should be flushed is a much shorter list than what should not be flushed. The only thing that should be sent down the sewer pipes besides the obvious is toilet paper. The following items are not flushable and often cause either immediate or persistent clogs:
- Baby wipes (not even “flushable” ones)
- Paper towels
- Feminine hygiene products
- Cotton pads
- Cotton balls
- Q-tips
- Anything that isn’t toilet paper
Use the toilet and the garbage can for their purpose, and a homeowner is less likely to be stuck holding the plunger.
Tip #2: Go Easy on the Toilet Paper
As mentioned above, toilet paper is the only product that should be put in the toilet. However, this does not mean that every toilet can flush a whole roll of toilet paper. Homeowners and their guests should use the minimum toilet paper necessary for the job. Use the double flush (or a multi-flush), one for waste and one for toilet paper.
Tip #3: Keep Up With Sewer Line Maintenance
If the toilet works just fine, the problem might be with the sewer line. Sewer line clogs will cause toilets to clog and back up through no fault. A professional plumber should do sewer drain cleaning because of the problem with misdiagnosis. If a homeowner thinks it is a clog, but it turns out to be a collapsed pipe, they will have to turn to a professional anyway. Pipe snaking and hydro-jetting are two main ways to clear a sewer line clog.
- Pipe Snaking: This method uses several names, including pipe augering and rooting. This uses a flexible metal tube with a rotating head that can scrape the sides of the sewer pipe and break up the clog. It causes little to no collateral damage to the pipes.
- Hydro-Jetting: This uses a silicone water balloon with a valve that opens when a certain pressure threshold is reached. A high-pressure water jet is forced down the pipe to break up the clog. This is the gold standard in drain cleaning.
About Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning
With 24-hour emergency response and fully-stocked trucks, Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning is the company to call in Sun Prairie, WI, and all of Dane County. Call for more information about their membership plan. Also, learn more about this article's author here.
