The Impact of Your Toilet Drain
The parts of a bathroom are rarely thought about unless something goes wrong. This is certainly true for toilet drains. On a regular basis, toilets are used without a second thought. That is until they begin backing up, overflowing, and wreaking havoc. Clogged toilet drains are more than an inconvenience.
In fact, a clogged toilet drain can be a health hazard and potentially cause thousands of dollars in damage to wood flooring, support beams, baseboards, paint, decor, and walls. If left unattended, a toilet clog can impact the drainage from your shower and bathroom sink and potentially cause a backup that overflows into clean-water pipes in your home.
A clogged toilet drain won’t fix itself and getting it corrected is of utmost importance so you can get back to living your life without worrying about what your toilet is going to do. In this article, you’ll learn some common reasons why toilet drains can clog, how clogs are removed, and how to present them in the first place.
How Does Your Toilet Flush
No matter what type or style of toilet you have in your home, the toilet drain is an essential part of the plumbing. The toilet drain is a hole that sits directly below the toilet to collect water and waste and flush it out into the sewer pipe in your house. It’s a simple system that must remain completely free-flowing in order to function properly.
These days, there are several types of toilets you can purchase that all use the same type of toilet drain. The most widely-known toilet is the two-part toilet. This has a tank and a toilet bowl that need to be attached together. A one-piece toilet is a single unit with the tank built in one piece with the bowl. Wall-mounted toilets are ideal if you’re short on space with a tank hidden inside the wall.
Finally, smart toilets can provide the ultimate comfort with heated seats, motion-activated lighting, and hands-free flushing. No matter what type you own, however, you’ll need the toilet drain to be clear, no matter what.
How Professionals Handle Clogged Toilets
Clogged toilets seem to appear out of nowhere, but they often have a specific reason for clogging. One of the most common reasons for toilet drain clogs is people mistakenly flushing items that should not be flushed.
"Flushable” wipes are a common cause of clogs. Even if something says it’s “flushable” it is strongly advised against. Pipes were only made to handle toilet paper. Another common issue that backs up toilets is using too much toilet paper.
Use only what is absolutely necessary to ensure that it flushes down instead of getting caught in the piping. Foreign objects are also a cause for clogs, so if you have children, be on the lookout for small toys accidentally getting placed in the toilet bowl.
For any clog, plumbers will first determine if their auger can force the clog through and out to the main sewer line. If this is a possibility, they’ll use a hand crank or an electrical push auger to do the job. Depending on where the clog is, further examination might be needed through the use of a camera snake that helps the plumber assess the problem inside the pipe.
Preventing Clogged Drains
Prevention is always worth the cure. So, in order to prevent clogged drains, the most important thing you can do is to ensure only an appropriate amount of toilet paper is being flushed down.
Watch the little ones in your home and make sure toys and small parts don’t get placed in the toilet bowl. Finally, if you notice anything amiss, call a plumber right away before you encounter a serious problem.
Friendly, Neighborhood Plumbers
Lodder Brothers Limited proudly serves the Guelph, ON, area for all their plumbing needs. Lodder Brothers Limited provides a 2-year guarantee on plumbing repairs, upfront pricing, and fast and accurate solutions.
