Tag: toilets

Toilet bowl with water and a plunger, featuring bubbles, illustrating common plumbing maintenance by Scott Plumbing.

A Homeowners Guide to Avoiding Clogged Toilets

Common Problems with Toilet Clogging

Toilets are a very common fixture in most homes. They get a lot of use but also cause major inconvenience when something goes wrong. It’s a hassle nobody wants to deal with, yet it happens. Toilet clogs are a part of life, but we need to note them when they are persistent or lead to bigger issues. Here, explore ways to help reduce the possibility of a clogged toilet and give the sewer pipes a break, too. 

Flush Carefully

toilet paper One of the best things a homeowner can do is learn better flushing habits and educate everyone in the home on better flushing habits, too. For example, avoid flushing these items: 

  • Wipes (including flushable wipes)
  • Diapers
  • Tissues
  • Paper towels
  • Hygiene products
  • Dental floss

These things can lead to buildup in the toilet because they are not designed to be flushed and do not properly degrade in the system as toilet paper does. Using any of these will likely do more than cause a toilet clog. At some point, it will likely lead to a clogged sewer line. 

Instead, teach the household how to properly dispose of these items and keep a trash can in the bathroom for easy disposal. 

Too Much Toilet Paper? 

toilet papaer Another common issue is using too much toilet paper for the flushing capability. While toilet paper is necessary, avoid flushing too much at once. Large wads will not dissolve as quickly as they should, which can cause a blockage or partial blockage in the sewer line. 

Here are a few helpful tips for toilet paper usage: 

  • Use smaller amounts and avoid overly large wads
  • Try thinner or biodegradable toilet paper that breaks down better
  • If more toilet paper is required, try multiple flushes in between toilet paper use

These little things might not seem like a big deal, but they will help substantially. Once again, this leads back to changing habits and informing the household. Some people simply don’t realize they are using too much or that they should add some extra flushes. 

Being aware of the potential of a clog and adjusting habits to account for toilet paper use will reduce problems.  

Protect the Sewer Line

Consistent toilet clog issues can lead to a clogged sewer line. While everyone in the home should follow these tips, proper habits are also important to protect the sewer pipes. Even proactive maintenance can help keep lines clear. 

Check out these tips: 

  • Install drain screens to catch hair or other debris
  • Don’t pour oil or grease down the drain
  • Hire regular drain cleaning and plumbing maintenance
  • Call a plumber when issues do occur

If drains seem slow or there is a persistent clogged toilet, call a plumber to help resolve the issue.

About Scott Plumbing 

Scott Plumbing is a local, family-owned plumbing company with award-winning service. They use trusted and certified technicians who are always on time and never leave a mess after they finish their work. Contact Scott Plumbing for plumbing services in Huntsville, AL.

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Hand using a plunger in a clean toilet, addressing plumbing issues for Scott Plumbing's local services in Huntsville, AL.

Simple Tips to Help Prevent Clogged Toilets

Avoid Toilet Clogs With Good Habits

Homeownership would be much easier if every home came with an owner’s manual. Unfortunately, there are very few resources where all the valuable information homeowners need is boiled down into simple and easy-to-understand terms. Sure, books are available to help, and YouTube can give some insight, but homeowners often have to learn by doing and make some mistakes along the way. 

Here to help are some local experts. Clogged toilets are a common problem in the home, and they are often avoidable with a little knowledge and good habits. This article is a quick and concise guide to help homeowners better understand how to prevent toilet clogs so they can avoid the hassles that clogged toilets bring. 

Pay Better Attention to What Gets Flushed

flushedIf toilets are frequently clogged in the home, bad habits are often to blame. Except in cases where sewer lines need repairs, clogged toilets commonly occur when operator error occurs. In many cases of clogged toilets, something that should not have been flushed down a toilet has been flushed. The only thing people should flush is toilet paper and human waste. 

A simple device that most people ignore is the toilet lid. Leaving the lid down keeps foreign objects out. This is especially useful when shelves are above the toilet, or there are children around that might want to take a few action figures for a swim. It doesn’t take much for something foreign to fall in and be flushed unbeknownst to the homeowners. 

Apart from keeping the toilet lid down, paying attention to what is intentionally flushed is important. Many things that people think are okay to flush actually aren’t and will clog toilets, so never flush things like:

  • Wipes (even ones that claim to be flushable)
  • Paper towels
  • Tissues
  • Feminine products
  • Cotton swabs and other hygiene products 

Pay Attention to How Much Toilet Paper is Flushed 

toiletToilet paper is flushable because it’s made to break down in the water, but flushing too much at once is still a common cause of clogged toilets. To prevent toilet clogs, homeowners should get in the habit of using less toilet paper. Or, if more toilet paper is needed, people can flush the toilet multiple times during a visit to the bathroom instead of letting massive amounts of toilet paper build up in the toilet basin.

These easy tips prevent the accumulation of too much toilet paper and the subsequent clog that is sure to form. This is especially important in homes with low-flow toilets since not as much water is used to move waste and toilet paper through the toilet drain and down the sewer lines. 

Don’t Forget About Sewer Line Clogs

A popular misconception is that clogged toilets are the toilet's fault, but in many cases, the problem lies deeper, down in the sewer line. The sewer line is the main pipe that removes waste and used water away from home. As such, it is responsible for handling all the liquid waste in the house. 

When too much grease, hair, or soap scum is allowed to deposit on the sewer line walls, flow is restricted to the point that solid waste stops flowing. A clog forms, and that causes toilets to back up and get clogged. To prevent sewer line clogs, homeowners should never put cooking oil or grease down any of the home’s drains. Homeowners can also call a professional for drain cleaning to help prevent clogs. 

About Scott Plumbing

Scott Plumbing is a local family-owned and operated business serving its neighbors in Huntsville, AL, and the surrounding areas. They offer straightforward pricing, same-day service, and a no-mess promise. Call them today for drain cleaning or clogged toilet repair services in Huntsville, AL.

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