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How to handle a clogged toilet in your home?

In your daily life, you must have encountered many times when a clogged toilet makes your life upside down. A clogged toilet is a common problem that mostly occurs due to partial or complete obstruction in the pipe. Clogs are mostly produced from the overloading of toilet paper, hard water stains, and other objects that accidentally fell in the toilet. Identifying the main causes that usually block your toilet will help you prevent and solve the clogged toilet effectively.


The main cause of a clogged toilet


  • The cesspool is too old, and the storage capacity is not guaranteed: if your toilet is clogged regularly, your septic tank system might be too old. After a long time of using, the septic tank quickly filled up and the drainage pipe was too low compared to the main sewer level, so the tank would not have enough space to store the waste. Therefore, the septic tank pushes the waste back up when we press the discharge. As a result, a blockage is formed.

  • Toilets are often clogged due to putting too much toilet paper in the toilet: the habit of putting toilet paper down the toilet is a common cause of toilet clogging. There are many different types of toilet paper. The high-quality, easy-to-decompose toilet paper can be quickly removed from the toilet. However, many toilet paper products have poor quality and are very difficult to decompose. If this low-quality one is put too much into the toilet, it can get stuck. Over time, it will cause a clogged toilet.

  • Accidentally dropping foreign, non-biodegradable objects into the toilet: dropping hairpins, chopsticks, spoons, etc. into the toilet are unavoidable accidents. These small items are very hard. When they fall into the toilet, they often get stuck and do not decompose immediately. If it is stuck right on the outlet hole of the toilet, it will clog the toilet at that time. However, if it falls inside the pipe without awareness and does not treat immediately, it will take a few days to cause a blockage. In this scenario, it will be much more difficult to fix.

  • The septic tank is full, causing the toilet to be clogged regularly: not vacuuming the septic tank periodically causes the septic tank to be full, causing the toilet to clog. Typically, experts recommend vacuuming the septic tank every 3 to 5 years. However, depending on the frequency of use and the area of the septic tank, it is necessary to choose a reasonable time to vacuum the septic tank. A full septic tank is not only a cause of toilet blockages but also a cause of foul, unpleasant odors.

  • The toilet vent pipe is blocked or installed in the wrong position: the vent pipe, also known as the toilet's exhaust pipe, is installed to eliminate gas and odors from going back to the toilet and help to reduce the pressure of the gas on the toilet. If this vent pipe is blocked or is not installed to match the drain hole from the toilet, it will cause foul odors and clog the toilet.

The simplest and most effective way to fix a clogged toilet


  • How to treat a clogged toilet with enzymes?

Enzymes are biological catalysts that enable them to soften off the waste and residue inside the toilet. There are many different enzymes today. You just need to use a small cup of the solution containing enzyme in the toilet, then close the toilet lid for about 6-8 hours. Enzymes seep inside the blockage and soften the waste to make it easier to wash them away. Finally, you only press the flush to clean the toilet.

  • Unclog the toilet with baking soda and salt

Salt and baking soda are ingredients that you can find them easily in the kitchen. In the composition of these two materials, there are abrasives and softeners that make the waste easy to dissolve. Using a combination of salt and baking soda to unclog the toilet is a simple and effective solution that many housewives often apply. The method is simple: mix baking soda and salt in a 1:1 ratio. Then, pour this solution into the clogged toilet and wait about 20 minutes. The last step is pressing flush to wash away any dirt clinging to the drain pipe.

  • Use rubber pistons to unclog toilets quickly and effectively

If the toilet is clogged due to excess food or waste, using a rubber piston to create pressure to unclog the blockage is a quick and effective solution. Before performing unclogging the toilet with a piston, you need to drain all the water that is choking inside the toilet. Then you place the piston in the center of the drain hole in the toilet bowl. Pressure will push out the trapped waste, and you may repeat several times until the water drains out naturally and the toilet has been unclogged.

  • Spring wire - An effective toilet flushing tool

Spring wire, also known as drill wire, is specifically designed to unclog toilets. First, you thread the drill wire deep inside the toilet until you feel the obstruction causing the toilet blockage. The spring wire is designed to control the direction of the spring. When determining the position of an obstacle, you rotate the wire clockwise and vice versa. It will break the obstructions, making them smaller to quickly get out of the pipe. Finally, you press flush to rinse the toilet.

  • Use toilet unclogging powders.

The microbial products are used to unclog the toilet in a very simple and effective way. You only need to pour a pack of drain powder directly into the toilet bowl and wait for about 30 minutes, then flush the toilet vigorously to push the trapped waste into the toilet.


Contact Local Rooter

If you would like a free quote on unclogging the toilet in San Jose and surrounding areas, our professional plumbers at Local Rooter are here to assist you. Call us at 408-641-9245 or contact us here

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