Do you have a plumbing nightmare story to share?
If so, you’re not alone. Many homeowners struggle with clogged toilets on a regular basis.
In this article, I will explore the most common causes of repetitive toilet clogs and offer some solutions that might help prevent them in the future.
Read on.
Reasons Why Your Toilet Keeps Clogging
There are a few reasons why your toilet might be prone to clogging despite the repetitive diagnosis and unclogging processes. Check if you fall in any of these categories-
Flushing the Unflashables
The number one reason toilets become clogged is because people flush things that they shouldn’t.
These include:
- Cigarette butts
- Paper towels
- Sanitary napkins and tampons
- Hair
- Diapers
While these are the most common things plumbers find when they remove the clogs, the list isn’t exhaustive.
People throw-away unimaginable things in the toilet and flush them down only to find out that it caused the whole plumbing system to break down.
I’ve seen cases where the toilet was clogged with plastic bags, undergarments, electronics, jewelry, toys, and many more.
Too Conservative in Water Usage
We’ve all heard the saying, “if it’s yellow, let it mellow, if it’s brown, flush it down.” but it’s not a thing you should follow always.
For one, it’s gross. Second, if you have a septic system, this can actually backfire on you and cause your toilet to clog more often.
Here’s why-
If there isn’t enough water in the bowl, the waste doesn’t get flushed down completely. It gets stuck to the sides of the bowl and hardens with time.
This results in an even bigger clog that is difficult to remove.
Faulty or Old Toilet Parts
A faulty or old fill valve can also cause your toilet to keep clogging. If the fill valve is set too low, it won’t allow enough water to enter the bowl and flush the waste down.
This is a common problem in older toilets. The same goes for a faulty flapper. A flapper that doesn’t seal properly will also lead to incomplete flushing and clogging problems.
Plus, the old plumbing pipes are prone to more clogs than newer plumbing systems just because the wastes and water contents that go down the pipe leave a small amount of residue along the pipe’s internal wall.
This small amount can grow bigger and bigger as the days progress, causing repetitive clogs.
Hard Water
Hard water contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals can build up in your plumbing pipes and cause clogs.
While this won’t cause the issue instantly or in a month or two, you’ll have to face issues after a few years of using water with too much mineral content in your toilet.
The mineral deposits can make your toilet tank inefficient in flushing the wastes and narrow down the drain pipe by accumulating inside the pipe. End result? repetitive clogs.
Clogged Vent Pipe
The vent pipe is an important part of the toilet and bathroom plumbing. It helps in releasing the sewer gases from the septic system.
It also equalizes the pressure inside the drain pipes so that water can flow freely. If this pipe gets clogged, it will cause a backed-up toilet.
A blocked vent pipe is usually caused by leaves and twigs falling into it and getting stuck. This happens mostly during autumn when there are too many dry leaves around.
Puncture or Obstruction in the Drain Pipe
Tree roots are another common cause of clogged toilets. If you have trees in your yard, their roots can invade your sewer line and cause blockages.
Apart from tree roots, many other things can puncture, obstruct, or damage the plumbing pipe causing your toilet to clog.
If you think the pipe got punctured or is obstructed by something, it’s better to call a professional than to try fixing things yourself.
How to Prevent Toilets from Keep Clogging
Now that we’ve explored some of the most common causes of clogged toilets, let’s take a look at some solutions that might help prevent them in the future.
Avoid Flushing Random Things into the Toilet
This one is pretty straightforward. Don’t flush anything down the toilet except for human waste and toilet paper.
Even if the label on a product says it’s “flushable,” there’s a good chance that it’s not and will only cause problems down the line.
Flushing feminine hygiene products, plastics, hair, jewelry, toys, etc can cause serious clogs in your toilet and should be disposed of in the trash instead.
If you have a family member or houseguest who is prone to flushing these types of items, be sure to provide them with a wastebasket next to the toilet so they know where to dispose of them.
Use Enough Water
As I mentioned before, using too little water can actually lead to more clogs because the waste doesn’t get flushed down completely.
To avoid this, make sure you’re flushing with enough water. This is especially important if you have a septic system.
While most modern toilets come with quality dual flush setups, you should ensure that the unit you have is functioning properly.
In some cases, I’ve seen that the dual flush mechanism wasn’t working properly so there wasn’t enough water for the human waste to go all the way down to the septic tank.
So, the waste accumulated inside the pipe somewhere and caused unpleasant issues for the homeowner.
This kind of clog tends to move as well making people think that the clog is gone until it comes back stronger than ever.
Replace Old or Faulty Toilet Parts
If your fill valve is set too low or your flapper isn’t sealing properly, this can lead to incomplete flushing and eventually, clogs.
It’s important to inspect your toilet regularly and replace any old or faulty parts as needed.
If you’re not sure how to do this, you can always follow my site to learn about these things.
Fix Hard Water Issue
The best way to prevent hard water from causing any damage to your house is to install a water softener or use a descaling solution specifically designed for toilets.
You can find these solutions at most hardware stores. Just be sure to follow the instructions carefully so that you don’t damage your toilet.
Unclog the Toilet Vent
If you have a clogged vent pipe, the first thing you need to do is unclog it.
Next, ensure that this doesn’t get clogged down the line again.
You can prevent this from getting clogged by trimming the trees near your home regularly and making sure that there are no branches hanging over your vent pipe.
Or simply use a small net to cover up the vent area in the autumn season so that leaves can’t get through yet the airflow remains consistent.
In Conclusion
There are many different reasons why your toilet might keep clogging. However, most of them can be prevented with some simple maintenance and by avoiding certain things being flushed down the toilet.
Do you have any other tips on how to prevent toilets from keep clogging? Let us know in the comments below!