You rely on working toilets in your home. With proper care,
you will never have toilet trouble to cause stress. Severely-clogged toilets
can overflow, damaging your home and resulting in costly repairs. If you run
into trouble you can’t handle on your own, call a plumber promptly to address
the issue.
Preventing Toilet
Clogs
Your toilet may seem like a convenient trash receptacle, but
its plumbing is not meant to handle most manmade waste. Toilet paper is
designed to break up in water to prevent plumbing clogs, but other paper
products do not have the same properties. Never flush tissues, paper towels, or
baby wipes down your toilet, even if they claim to be flushable. Waste such as
dental floss, hair, packaging, cigarettes, and food should not be flushed down
your toilet. These items are too large to travel through your toilet’s
plumbing, causing clogs and backups as they accumulate in your pipes. Other
items that should never be flushed include condoms, cat litter, diapers, and
feminine hygiene products.
Clearing a Clogged
Toilet
If your toilet is clogged and will not drain, you can take
steps to clear away the clog yourself. If the toilet is overflowing, first
close the water shutoff valve to prevent further damage. The water shutoff valve
is typically a silver handle located on the wall behind your toilet’s tank near
the floor. Once the water has been turned off, you’ll need a toilet plunger to
clear the drain. Place the plunger over the drain in the toilet bowl so it is
completely covered. If there is not enough water in your toilet to cover the
lip of the plunger, add water from a sink before proceeding. Depress and pull
up on the plunger’s stick about ten to twelve times in a row without lifting
the plunger away from the drain. Next, pull the plunger up out of the bowl in
one smooth motion and see if the water drains away. If not, try again—it may
take a few rounds with the plunger before the water will drain. Once the water
drains properly from the bowl, turn on the water intake by rotating the water
shutoff valve in the opposite direction and flush the toilet to check that it
is working. If plunging does not clear out your toilet, it’s time to call a
plumber to assess the situation. Never pour chemical drain cleaner down your
toilet, as it may overflow and cause skin irritation or damage to your home. If
you don’t have a plunger, you can try a few additional tricks to clear
your toilet without a plunger before calling your plumber for help.
These tips should keep your Memphis home’s toilets in
excellent condition for years to come. If you’d like more plumbing information
from the pros, we invite you to check out the Mrs. Rooter blog. When it’s time to call in an
experienced professional plumber, visit the Mr. Rooter website to find out more or
schedule a visit.
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