I’m Grossed Out By A Clogged Toilet. What Can I Do?
There are few things in life that look as gross and smell as bad as a clogged toilet. The bad news is, clogged toilets are among the most common home plumbing problems. The good news: in most cases, a clogged toilet can be cleared without having to call a plumber. Here are a few tips on how you can clear a clogged toilet as well as ways to help prevent your toilets from getting clogged in the first place.
You Have a Clogged Toilet. Now What?
That clogged toilet isn’t going to clear itself. There are three ways to unclog a toilet: you can use a plunger, a toilet auger, or a drain cleaner.
You may be tempted to try and flush the clog away. This could backfire and cause the toilet to overflow. A clogged, overflowing toilet is one of the few things that is actually grosser than a mere clogged toilet.
Using a drain cleaner is the easiest way to clear a clog, but it may take up to an hour to do the job. Chemical drain cleaners are effective, but they can damage your pipes and may not be safe for the environment. You can make several non-toxic alternatives using baking soda, vinegar, salt, boiling water, and other materials.
A toilet plunger can be used to quickly clear a clogged toilet, although it takes a little effort to do so. Augers remove materials clogging a pipe by forcing through the blockage and breaking it up.
If you find yourself having to clear a clogged toilet on a regular basis, it may be time to call a plumber. Persistent toilet clogs could be a sign of a damaged sewer line or other serious plumbing issues.
Preventing Clogged Toilets
One of the best ways to avoid a clogged toilet is to be careful about what you flush down it. Here is a partial list of items that should NEVER be flushed down a toilet:
- Too much toilet paper
- Baby wipes and sanitary wipes
- Q-Tips, cotton balls, cotton pads, and other cotton products
- Food
- Hair
- Cigarette Butts
- Menstrual products
- Diapers
- Condoms
- Cat litter
- Gum
- Dental Floss
- Paper towels, napkins, tissues, and other paper products
- Plastic product wrapping and other plastic products
- Medications and other hazardous materials (such as paint. bleach, and some cleaning products)
- Bandages
- Cooking fats, oils, and grease
- Dead pet fish
Your First Choice for Home Plumbing Repairs in Encinitas, CA
If you are experiencing problems with a clogged toilet, kitchen sink, bathtub, or shower, give 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration a call. We’ve been the first choice for outstanding plumbing services in Encinitas, CA, and surrounding communities since 2012. Our team of licensed Encinitas, CA plumbers have the experience and equipment to clear any clog, even a blocked sewer line. We’re available 24/7 to handle any plumbing emergency you may experience.
You can contact us through our website, or call 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration at 866-437-0205 to schedule a visit from a licensed Encinitas, CA plumber. In most cases, a plumbing professional will be onsite within an hour of your call.
