Being a new homeowner as a single woman, I’m often left to fend for myself in even the not-so-fun areas of home repair like fixing a toilet clog!
Today I’m going to share with you what some common toilet blockage offenders are and how you can fix a toilet clog yourself!
Your toilet is actually one of the most important appliances in your home, although it is often unappreciated until you have an issue, right?
For most people, even the best of DIYers, this is one job that requires the services of a good plumber. In fact, if you haven’t already got the number of a good plumber Sydney, you need to get one now. In this type of incident, it is better to be prepared!
Of course, you may think it sounds like a simple issue and want to have a go yourself. In this case, understanding what causes a toilet to block will help you. It’s also worth knowing the main issues if you’re about to call out the plumber as you’ll have a better understanding of the issue and how to avoid it in the future.
It’s worth noting that a slow draining toilet indicates a blockage that needs to be resolved before it becomes worse. A toilet that won’t drain at all suggests a much more serious clog and potentially a bigger issue.
Toilet Paper Clog
The most common issue is simply that your toilet has got clogged. There is a sharp U-bend built into the toilet, followed by potentially several more bends before the waste reaches the main sewers. Each of these bends slows the movement of the waste, causing the potential for a clog.
Excess toilet paper, or disposing of things that shouldn’t go down a toilet, especially wet wipes or female sanitary products, will stick in the pipes.
Over a surprisingly short space of time, these items will build up and create a blockage. The problem is you’ll have to locate where it is in the pipes and release it.
It is important to note that a toilet auger can be safely used in your toilet but you shouldn’t use anything else. Poking the wrong thing into a toilet can make the problem worse.
Joins
If you take a look at the plumbing system in your house you’ll soon discover whether the toilet drains directly to the sewer, or if you have connections from other appliances, such as your sinks. If other connections are present then items going down these drains can stick as they emerge into the larger waste pipe, causing the blockage. Hair and anything absorbent is particularly bad for your pipes.
Taking Action
If you’re happy to use chemicals and the toilet is still draining slowly you can add a chemical unblocking to the bowl, this may help. It should take approximately 15 minutes to work.
If it doesn’t you can try plunging the toilet, but you’ll need a plunger designed for toilets as it must create an airtight seal. Make sure you use a steady, even force when using a plunger and consider where the splashback may go.
If the chemical, plunger, or auger hasn’t worked then you’ll probably be left with no other option but to call the plumber. They’ll trace the block with the aid of specialized equipment and deal with the issue for you.
Have you ever fixed a toilet clog yourself? How did you do it? Let me know in the comments below!
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Hot tap water and Dawn dish liquid works everytime. I learned that from guy blog 🙂