There is nothing as frustrating as flushing a toilet only to hear that gurgling sound. You’ve unclogged the toilet on several occasions, and have even involved a plumber, but the problem persists. A one-time toilet clog is irritating. A toilet that keeps clogging not only keeps you on the edge but it points to a serious plumbing issue.
A frequently clogged toilet is a problem you want to fix as soon as possible. Taking a plunger and unclogging a toilet seems like a straightforward solution. But, you may need a professional plumber to help you identify the root cause of the frequent toilet clog and how to fix it.
In this guide, our Marana, AZ, expert plumbers at Curtis Plumbing explore why your toilet keeps clogging. We also share some practical solutions to help you deal with the issue.
Common Reasons Why Your Toilet Keeps Clogging
-
Using Too Much Toilet Paper
Toilet paper is made to be flushed down the drain without a problem. But, using too much of it will repeatedly clog your toilet. The excess toilet paper doesn’t dissolve properly or quickly enough and ends up sticking in the toilet and clogging it. The stuck toilet paper may also block other waste hence the repeated clogs.
Some brands of 2-ply toilet paper are also a clog risk as they don’t dissolve as well as standard toilet paper. While they might be comfortable, they may be the reason behind your toilet clogging problems.
How to Fix It
The solution is to use less toilet paper or switch to a thinner brand if your 2-ply toilet paper brand is the cause of your clogging issues. Educate your family, especially the young ones, on how much toilet paper is sufficient. Find ways to reduce the amount of tissue paper while not unnecessarily sacrificing your comfort.
-
Using Non-Flushable Material
Flushing non-flushable materials like wipes, paper towels, feminine products, and cotton swabs is one of the common causes of toilet clogs. While toilets are for human waste and toilet paper only, some brands deceive users that their products like wipes are flushable. Unlike toilet paper, these materials do not dissolve but end up clogging your toilet.
While one-off flushing of these materials may not be a big deal, repeated flushing will clog your toilet drain line or sewer line.
How to Fix It
In most cases, you can remove clogs caused by non-flushable materials using a plunger. However, some blockages may require using a toilet auger or snake to unclog. You may need to seek the services of a plumber if the buildup has led to a severe blockage.
You should educate your family on what not to flush down the toilet and what to keep in the wastebaskets. You may also need to provide trashcans in the bathroom for disposing of these foreign materials.
-
Blocked Plumbing Vents
Your toilets are connected to a plumbing vent that goes out through the roof. The vent allows fresh air into the plumbing system. The air increases the pressure of your toilet flushes. Your toilet will lose its flushing pressure if there are obstructions on the toilet vent. Consequently, low or no pressure will lead to frequent toilet clogs, slow drainage throughout the home, the smell of sewer in the house, and irritating gurgling noises from your toilet.
How to Fix It
Plumbing vents often get blocked by dirt or debris on your roof. Therefore, fixing the issue will require you to get to your roof, locate the vent, and remove any debris or dirt. You can use water to remove stubborn blockages. You can also use your toilet auger to remove severe blockages.
Call a Marana professional plumber if the problem persists even after removing the dirt and debris from your toilet vent.
-
Low-Flow Toilets
If you live in an old house, you probably have an old-model low-flow toilet. This model often experiences clogs due to its lack of necessary flushing pressure. Typically, when a toilet lacks or has low flushing pressure, it fails to push all the waste materials down the drain. Over time, the material that is left behind clogs the toilet.
How to Fix It
An immediate action you can take is to reduce the amount of toilet paper and completely avoid flushing any foreign material. But, these actions are only temporary fixes. While installing a modern and efficient new toilet can be expensive, you should consider it. Modern toilets have the necessary flushing pressure.
-
Sewer Line Problems
Severe and regular toilet clogs may be due to a sewer line problem. In this case, the issue is not in your house plumbing fixtures but in the main sewer line. Clogs in the sewer line will lead to issues in the toilet and in the whole house, including your kitchen.
Clogged or damaged sewer lines may be due to debris getting stuck too deep into the sewer line, tree root penetrations, and other outside sources.
How to Fix It
Unlike the other issues, fixing a clogged or damaged sewer line is a complex issue that requires you to call a professional plumber. You should fix a suspected sewer line clog as soon as possible as it can lead to other plumbing system problems besides toilet clogs.
Contact Your Marana Plumbing Experts
A toilet that keeps clogging can be annoying and inconveniencing. Repeated clogs can also damage your toilet, drains, and sewer lines and leave you requiring costly repairs or replacements. You need to immediately fix the issue to have a functional and hygienic home. If you are unable to fix your toilet clog issues by yourself, contact our experienced and skilled Marana plumbing experts at Curtis Plumbing.
We will have a thorough inspection of your plumbing system, get to the root of the toilet clog issue, and fix it once and for all. Contact us today for reliable and professional plumbing services.
