Toilet blockages are a common nuisance caused by too much toilet paper, non-flushable items, tree roots, cracked pipes, and other drainage issues. Call a professional plumber to safely unblock your toilet and prevent future clogs.
Many households and businesses in Cherrybrook experience the frequent frustration of toilet blockages.
Toilet clogs disrupt daily routines and prevent proper toilet function.
Our team at Cherrybrook Plumbing has witnessed the common causes clogged toilets present over the years, servicing the local community with keen insights. Keep reading to learn what causes waste to get blocked and fail to flush down the toilet, and how to stop it from happening again and again.
This article will explore common causes of clogged toilets, provide prevention tips, and advise when to seek professional plumbing services.
We’ll address causes from non-flushable items to tree root intrusions and low water pressure, so you’ll recognise when to call a plumber. Understanding the reasons behind toilet clogs can encourage better habits, helping to avoid costly repairs. For unresolved drainage issues, our qualified plumbers are ready to assist.
Flushing wipes and paper towels down the toilet is a major cause of drain clogs and plumbing issues. Unlike human waste and toilet paper which break down, wipes and paper towels are not designed to disintegrate when the toilet isn’t clearing them properly. When flushed, they tend to get tangled and accumulate in your pipes, leading to nasty clogs.
Unlike toilet paper, wipes and paper towels do not degrade easily and tend to snag on pipe irregularities, leading to clogs.
As more wipes and paper towels build up, they form blockages that can lead to backed-up drains, slow flushing, and standing water in the toilet bowl.
A wipe or paper towel clog located in the main sewer line can be the root of a significant toilet blockage affecting the whole neighbourhood. Homeowners often remain oblivious to the perils of improper flushing until they experience the frustration when your toilet keeps clogging. By then, extensive plumbing repairs may be needed for items that end up stuck in the pipes.
To reduce plumbing issues, only flush toilet paper and human waste down your toilet. Never let wipes, paper towels, or other non-flushable products go down your toilet. Educate children not to flush toys or other objects as well to prevent the moments why your toilet keeps clogging.
Properly disposing of only toilet paper and bodily waste can prevent the distress of a backed-up drain and maintain your plumbing’s condition.
Excessive use of toilet paper, particularly the thicker and quilted types, is a prevalent cause of toilet clogs. When pondering 'does my toilet handle excessive toilet paper?', consider that flushing large amounts can create dense masses that clog up your plumbing.
Thicker varieties of toilet paper linger before breaking down, making their move through the drainage system more problematic. Flushing large quantities at once can overwhelm the system and lead to blockages in the toilet trap. Toilet paper needs water to break down as it moves through pipes, but excessive use does not allow enough water, which can impair proper saturation.
This allows wads of dry toilet paper to form and pass through toilet drain, leading to clogs often caused by inadequate flushing pressure. Repeated overuse of toilet paper can easily result in significant blockages over time.
The best practise is to reduce amount of septic-safe, rapid-dissolving toilet paper, ensuring it’s suitable for your home’s plumbing system.
Only flush your toilet with as much force as is necessary to dispose of waste. Avoid flushing voluminous bundles of paper, particularly when your toilet keep struggling with such bulk. Following these simple usage guidelines can prevent many toilet clogs due to excessive waste toilet paper.
Where low-flow toilets may clog more often, older toilets with higher water use provide greater flow through your home’s septic tank. However, these outdated high-flow toilets waste immense volumes of water.
Modern water-conserving toilets use no more than 6 litres per flush, but if not used correctly, reduced flushing power can lead to more frequent clogs.
Low-flow toilets require precision engineering to work effectively. Older units often have design flaws that impede their flushing capabilities over time.
Opting for a new toilet and upgrading from an outdated high-flow or poorly designed low-flow model can significantly improve flushing power and help prevent annoying clogs.
Consider replacing your toilet with a WaterSense certified high-efficiency model that uses just 4.8 litres or less per flush. Newer low-flow designs enhance syphoning and waste removal compared to earlier models.
With a modern low-flow toilet designed to handle hard water, you can save on bills and avoid frustrating clogs due to insufficient flushing.
Obstructed or improperly installed toilet vents can be hidden culprits behind persistent toilet clogs and drainage problems. Toilet vents allow air to enter the plumbing system, which helps waste water ader homes in Cherrybrook often have venting problems due to the original building standards and materials. Cracked, disjointed, or eroding plumbing vent pipe conditions are unpleasantly common. Trees growing through roof vents and drain vents, as well as animal nests blocking exterior vent openings, can frequently contribute to toilet blockages.
Updating ageing and faulty vent pipes is crucial for optimal toilet function. Our licenced Cherrybrook plumbers can inspect your plumbing vents and make all necessary repairs to improve drainage. Properly installed, clear, and freely venting pipes are vital for plumbing health, so reach out to us today for assistance.
Tree roots infiltrating sewer pipes or soil stacks are among the common causes of tenacious drain blockages. Roots seek out cracks or loose joints in the house drain or exterior drainage pipes. As the roots grow, they swell up through the pipe, eventually obstructing the flow.
Managing vegetation near drainage lines helps minimise the risk of root intrusion as roots can travel underground and infiltrate pipework, thriving in moist, nutrient-rich environments.
Progressively, roots can multiply, choking pipes and causing symptoms such as gurgling drains, frequent clogs, sewage backups, and slow toilet flush times.
Tree root-induced blockages necessitate professional drain cleaning or pipe relining to remove obstructions and repair the pipes. Attempting to cut roots yourself provides only temporary relief before they grow back. Contact our Cherrybrook plumbers to properly address root intrusions for long-lasting drain health.
The accumulation of fats, oils, and grease in drain pipes is a major contributor to toilet clogs. Even when used sparingly, cooking oils, fried foods, sauces, gravy, butter, and meat fats all get washed down drains on a regular basis.
These substances, while liquid in hot water, can also solidify and form a coating inside of the pipes as they cool. The grease sticks to and builds up on drain system walls, capturing material through toilet pipes, progressively constraining the pipe’s capacity.
Hair, food scraps, wipes, and other debris are often clogs caused by getting trapped in the layer of grease. Blockages formed from grease obstruct proper waste flow, forcing out your drains to gurgle, and toilets to flush slowly or clog.
To prevent grease buildup, always dispose of cooking oils and fats in containers rather than down the kitchen sink to avoid plumbing clogs. Use sink strainers to catch food scraps. Over time, small measures like these can help avoid major grease blockages.
The accumulation of fats, oils, and grease in drain pipes is a major contributor to toilet clogs.
Hair, food scraps, wipes, and other debris can become trapped by grease, leading to clogs. Below are tips to prevent items from going down your drains:
Diligent upkeep and prudent usage are paramount in maintaining a free-flowing drain line and to prevent toilet clogs. Here are some best practises:
By following these simple toilet care guidelines and using your toilet properly, you can avoid many common clogging issues and keep your plumbing operating smoothly.
While some minor toilet clogs can be cleared with a toilet auger or plunger, there are occasions when professional help is indispensable.
Contact Cherrybrook Plumbing if you’re dealing with:
Our Cherrybrook plumbers have the know-how and equipment to clear obstructions and prevent future clogs by diagnosing and fixing the underlying issues.
For a blocked toilet or drain, call (1300 349 338) or email us. Our Cherrybrook plumbers are ready to assist you 24/7.
In summary, toilet blockages often result from improper usage like flushing non-flushable items or excessive toilet paper, as well as plumbing system issues including outdated or low-flow toilets, and problems with vents, pipes, roots, and grease buildup.
Awareness of these causes is key to preventing clogs. Proper toilet paper use, regular cleaning, and flushing only human waste and toilet paper are simple yet effective preventative measures.
For persistent or severe clogging, our licensed Cherrybrook plumbers use advanced technology to diagnose and permanently solve drain, sewer line, and plumbing issues.
If you’re dealing with persistent clogs, contact Cherrybrook Plumbing to resolve the issue. Call 1300 349 338 or email [email protected].
Our friendly, local plumbers are always here to help restore smooth flushing to your toilets and healthy drainage to your plumbing system.
Depending on the cause, unblocking a drain can take 10 minutes to a few hours. An experienced plumber will typically get the job done in 1-2 hours using boiling water, caustic soda or a drain snake. Call Cherrybrook Plumbing now for fast drain unblocking service.
Read MoreThe average cost to repair or replace a burst pipe is typically between $200-$1000 depending on the pipe location and extent of damage. Factors like accessibility, pipe material and labour can influence price. Call Cherrybrook Plumbing on 555-0123 for a free quote.
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Read MoreCherrybrook, 2126 NSW
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