The bathroom is the most used fixture in any home. This huge usage often means a clogged bathroom leads to a frustrated family — and a messy cleanup.
The first step in preventing a bathroom clog is understanding why the fixture is backing up. Just in case, you’ll want to keep a plunger nearby. However, being proactive is the best form of prevention.
Low Flow Toilets
There are many older low flow toilets on the market that lack the required pressure to clear the trap and drain, which leads to persistent clogs.
Take a look at the stamped date on the back of your bathroom. If your version was made before the mid-1990s, you have a first-gen low flow toilet. If so, do not feel like you must replace the fixture today. You can quickly reduce clogs by limiting toilet paper usage and avoiding clog-prone items.
Non-Flushable Products
In active households or those with active children, it’s easy to ignore what is being flushed down the toilet. Who wants to pay attention to that, right?
Your toilet was designed to dispose of particular materials. Flushing foreign items, such as cotton balls, wet wipes, floss, and feminine hygiene products, limits drainage and causes backups. Speak with your family about these things and the best way to avoid flushing them.
Clogged Trap
The trap of a toilet is the curved pipe that sits just under the fixture. Its job is to prevent sewer gasses from entering your home through the pipes.
Over time, toilet paper, paper towels, and non-flushable objects may become obstructed in the trap and cause a backup. Using a plunger must loosen the blockage, but restricting toilet paper and hard-to-flush items are your very best bet.