Bathrooms are the most used fixtures in any home. A clogged bathroom can lead to frustration for the family and messy cleanup. Understanding why your toilet is backing up is the first step to preventing it from happening again.
You’ll need to keep a spare plunger handy just in case. Preventive measures are the best.
Low-Flow Toilets
Many low-flow toilets on the market today lack the pressure required to drain the trap or drain. This causes persistent clogs.
Look at the date stamped on your bathroom’s back. If the toilet was manufactured before the mid-1990s you will have a first-generation low-flow toilet. Do not replace your fixture if it is older than the mid-1990s. Clogs can be reduced quickly by limiting your toilet paper use and avoiding products that are prone to clogging.
Non-flushable Items
It’s easy to forget what’s being flushed down the drain in busy families or with children. It’s hard to ignore the fact that there are so many things going on.
To dispose of certain materials, your toilet was created. Flushing foreign objects, such as cotton balls, feminine hygiene products and wet wipes with a lot of water, can cause backups and limit drainage. Talk to your family about how to prevent flushing these items.
The Clogged Trap
The trap in a bathroom is the curving pipe that lies just below the fixture. It’s responsible for preventing sewer gasses entering your home via the plumbing.
Toilet paper, paper towels, or other non-flushable products can become clogged and cause a backup. A plunger is the best way to remove the blockage. However, it is important to limit toilet paper and other difficult-to-flush items.