How to Fix a Toilet That Keeps Clogging Up

 

When you have a toilet that’s clogging daily, something’s wrong.

There’s either a problem with the toilet itself or the drain pipe. There could also be an issue with what’s going down the drain. Flushing cheap toilet paper and foreign objects can cause all sorts of backups.

Are you ready to get to the bottom of your toilet problems? Great! In this guide, you’ll learn about the most common causes of a clogged toilet, so you can fix your issue once and for all.

Read on to learn how to fix a toilet that keeps clogging up.

Problems With Low Flow Toilets

Do you own a low-flow flush toilet? Low flush toilets are an excellent way to reduce the amount of water your household uses. However, sometimes the reduced water flow can make it difficult for your toilet to get the job done.

Clogs are bound to happen when the toilet doesn’t have enough power to push the waste into the drains. Should you get rid of your low-flow toilet? Not necessarily.

You probably spent a lot of money on your low-flow toilet, plus you’re helping the planet by conserving water. Instead of getting rid of your toilet, start paying attention to your toilet paper usage.

If you don’t try to flush too much toilet paper, you could avoid the clogs altogether. You might also need to upgrade your low-flow toilet to a newer model. Newer models will be able to help you save even more water without sacrificing efficiency.

Clogged Drains and Low Tanks

As you continue learning how to fix a toilet that keeps clogging up, it’ll help if you know about the details of your home. For instance, how old is your house? Do you have old drain pipes?

Older drain lines can frequently clog even when using them the right way. If you start flushing foreign products down the drain, such as hair or paper, then the aging drain will have an even harder time.

Your best course of action will be to call a plumber immediately to have your lines drain lines completely clear. If the problem persists, you might have to replace your sewer lines.

Hard or Over Chlorinated Water

If your water is too hard or over-chlorinated, it can be challenging for your toilet to work correctly. Hard water is chock full of minerals.

Minerals like calcium can deposit inside the toilet and along the drain pipe. The mineral buildup could be blamed if you have an older toilet and it doesn’t have much power. If you live somewhere with water that tends to be on the hard side, you could also be dealing with mineral buildup.

The best solution for excessive mineral buildup is to replace the drains or invest in a water softener. If you live in rural areas, you’re most likely to deal with hard water issues.

If you live in the city, you might be dealing with excessive chlorine being added to the water. Chlorine is added to the water to help kill harmful bacteria. The only issue is that chlorine can adversely affect your toilet’s rubber and plastic parts.

The chlorine can wear down the seals within your toilet, affecting its flushing power. Since you can’t change the amount of chlorine in the water, your best bet is to replace your toilet seals. You probably need to call a plumber to replace the seals since it can be lengthy.

Clear Out the S Trap

A clogged toilet could be due to a partially blocked s-trap. The s-trap is at the back part of your toilet.

A partial clog can persist even after clearing the main clog out of the s-trap. Partial clogs will result in your toilet backing up more than usual, but not all of the time. The best solution is to get a toilet auger.

You’ll use the auger to completely break up the partial clog and thoroughly remove it from the drain. If you cannot get things out with the auger, call a plumber to remove the blockage.

Are you worried about the cost of hiring a plumber? Not all services will cost a lot of money, but you won’t know how much your bill will be until you do a bit of research.

Visit plumbingprosdmv.com for an estimate. That way you can budget accordingly.

Be ready to explain what type of toilet issues you’re having, so the plumber can start troubleshooting the issue. They might be able to offer you problem-solving advice over the phone so you don’t even need to schedule a visit!

Toilet Tank Issues

Another issue that homeowners face is problems with the water in their toilet tanks. When there’s not enough water in the tank, your toilet won’t have enough pressure to get the waste out of the toilet.

If you want enough force to clear the bowl, you must check your supply valve. Ensure that the supply valve for the toilet is in the open position.

After confirming that the supply valve is ready to go, double-check the water line supply for leaks. If you notice a problem with the valve, you can try replacing it entirely. If you see any type of leak, you will need to call a plumber.

Fix Toilet Clog Problems With Better Tissue Paper

Earlier, we mentioned that limiting the amount of toilet paper you use can help with low-flow toilets. However, what if you’re using the wrong toilet paper, to begin with?

The best toilet tissue will dissolve easily once it touches the water. However, cheap brands aren’t going to be as effective.

Cheap toilet paper can sometimes refuse to fall apart together. We’ve even found that some luxury toilet papers have trouble dissolving the right way.

The best solution is to stick with name-brand toilet papers that you know work. You can use generic off-brands if you’re not picking the cheapest option available.

If you’re noticing that you have a lot of clogs all of the time, switching your toilet paper could be a fast and straightforward solution. In the meantime, you’re going to have to use a snake or a plunger to get the accumulation of toilet paper that’s gathered up now.

Know How to Fix a Toilet That Keeps Clogging Up

Now that you know how to fix a toilet that keeps clogging up, what do you think is causing your toilet clogs? Is it a cheap toilet paper brand that’s backing things up? Or does your problem lie with the toilet itself?

By identifying the problem, you can take swift action to clear your clogs once and for all! Is your problem a bit too large for you to handle?

Don’t be afraid to reach out to a plumber to get their handy expertise. Or for more handy tips here, check out another one of our posts.