There’s a reason your toilet is clogged. Some of us would like to believe it magically happened, but that’s not the truth.
Don’t be embarrassed, in most cases it isn’t because of your big logs. A clogged toilet is a common toilet problem and Toilet Travels is here to help.
If you’re above the age of 20, chances are you’ve lived long enough to experience a clogged toilet. Yes, it can be the toilets fault if something isn’t working properly, however, there’s a good chance that you did something that caused the toilet to clog.
There are a number of reasons that we’ll review. Hopefully, this article will help you figure out the problem and put you on the right path to fixing it.
8 Reasons Your Toilet Is Clogged
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Too Much Toilet Paper
The number one reason your toilet is clogged is because you used too much toilet paper. Toilet paper is a resource we don’t spare when we wipe (and rightfully so). If you’re like me, you use as much TP as needed for the cleanup.
But an excessive amount of toilet paper can do a number on your pipes and create friction in your toilet’s trap.
Yes, toilet paper breakdowns but it needs time to do so and won’t break down immediately. I’m not one to put restrictions on how much toilet paper should be allowed (ask Sheryl Crow about that) but I will share that you should be aware of how much you’re using.
If cleanup required more toilet paper, I’d allow more time for the toilet paper to sit in the water before flushing (dry toilet paper will clog while wet toilet paper will move through your pipes easier).
The good news about a toilet paper clog is that it’s usually superficial. This means the clog is in the toilet’s trap area and it’s not serious. A second flush might help and a plunger will help break-up/push through a large amount of toilet paper.
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Flushed Something That Shouldn’t Go In The Toilet
Do you have children that like to play with the toilet? Once young children watch you flush the toilet they want to try it too. In fact, they might find it fun for weeks on end.
Flushing the toilet isn’t something you should be concerned about but there’s a good chance they will want to put something in the toilet.
- It could be Fluffy, the stuffed animal
- It could be Hambone, the hamster
- It could also be a spoon, pacifier, or ball that goes into the depths of the toilet
If you’ve got a mysterious clog in your toilet and you can figure out why, you might want to ask your child. It could be a good learning experience and if the clog persists it’s likely lodged in the pipes. Inorganic objects won’t break down and it’s likely to remain there until it’s fixed. Plan on calling a plumber to remove the item.
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A Water-Efficient Toilet
Water-efficient toilets are amazing, but they also have their drawbacks. One of the biggest complaints I hear about low flow or water-efficient toilets is that they don’t have the same flushing power that old toilets had.
Interestingly, most low flow toilets have a more powerful flush but because it uses less water the flush is shorter. Occasionally the water won’t push all the waste out of the bowl and you’ll need a second flush.
>> read my article on the best water-saving toilets
If you have a water efficient toilet, chances are you’ll encounter an occasional clog. A second flush usually does the job but if not, keep a plunger nearby and give it a few pumps. A plunger will help push through any waste that is stuck.
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The Fill Valve Is Set Too Low
Most people look at their tank size to know it’s capacity. It will usually indicate 1.6 or 1.28 gallons per flush (GPF). But did you know that you can manually adjust the amount of water in your tank?
Adjusting the water level inside your tank makes a difference in how powerful your flush will be. Adjust the water level too high and water will run out of the tank and into the overflow valve (a common problem of a running toilet). Adjust the tank’s water level too low and the flush won’t be enough to clear the contents from the bowl.
I recommend adjusting the water level in your tank as soon as you install a new toilet. It will help avoid future problems with a running toilet or a weak flush.
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Didn’t Hold The Handle Down
Have you ever noticed that some toilets don’t utilize all of the water in the tank when you flush? A partial flush often results in a weak flush and the user must wait until the tank fills to flush a second time.
I’ve found water-efficient toilets that use a smaller tank are more prone to partial flushes and I make a point to hold down the handle when there is a lot of, ahem, waste.
It’s a similar problem to trying to flush a toilet that isn’t yet full – the flush won’t be strong enough.
Older toilets with large tanks shouldn’t have this problem unless you haven’t allowed the tank to refill.
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An Abnormal Sized Log
You know what I mean by “log”, right? Some people just have bigger bowels and wider loads.
I went to school with a big guy named Chris. He had a reputation for clogging every toilet he used (only #2 of course). Surprisingly, he was actually quite proud of it and the drove around with a plunger in the trunk of his car.
He would have made a wonderful plumber.
If you’re well-hydrated, an abnormally large log shouldn’t be a problem. It will be loose and flexible and break up once it hits the water.
However, the problem is when there’s a dehydrated #2. These are harder stools that are compacted. They can also be from heavy protein consumption.
This type of deuce could wreak (and reek) havoc on your toilet and require the assistance of a plunger.
If you’re prone to large logs, consider being more efficient with your use of toilet paper. Using less toilet paper could balance out the oversized turd in the toilet and save you the hassle of extra work.
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The Sewage Line Is Has A Blockage (big problem)
The biggest problem on the list is if your sewage line is blocked and causing your clogged toilet. The sewage line is outside of the toilet and that’s where the real problems begin.
Once waste leaves the bowl, it goes through the trap and into the sewage line under the floor. Once a clog forms, it will be tough for a second flush or a plunger to solve.
Also, the problem can be a variety of things ranging from a build-up of gunk to tree roots that have grown into the pipes.
If a plunger or second flush doesn’t solve your clogged toilet, a plumber can use a camera to find out the problem before removing any toilets or pipes. Using a camera to look in the pipes will cost money but should easily identify the problem and its location.
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Toilet Vent Has Debris In It
Most people don’t realize that their toilet has a vent. Behind your toilet, and inside the wall, there is a ventilation pipe that stretches to the roof. Ventilation helps remove gas, but also helps waste move through the pipes under your house.
Without ventilation, your pipes can become clogged.
If you hear gurgling or the flush of your toilet is lacking strength, it might be because there is something stuck in the vent. Leaves, twigs, and pests can become lodged in a ventilation pipe and this requires a professional.
If all else fails, consider the ventilation pipe as a culprit for your toilet’s clog.
Useful Items To Remove A Toilet Clog
I mentioned a few items throughout this article that can help with removing a toilet clog.
The first thing I always do is to try a second flush. Sometimes all it takes is a flush – and hold down the handle.
The second action I’d take is to use a plunger. But not just any plunger will do. Many people make the mistake that all plungers are the same. They aren’t! In fact, a plunger for a sink won’t work well for a toilet. Check out my article on the correct plunger to use with for the toilet.
If you’re really handy around the house you’ll also have a toilet snake (also known as a toilet auger or plumber’s snake. A metal snake is a long tool that can push through drains. It has the ability to clear debris from drains without having to remove pipes (they are lifesavers).
But a toilet auger is slightly different because it’s specifically for the trap. Given that most toilets are clogged in the trap area of the toilet, a toilet auger works great.
The cost of a toilet snake is a far better investment than having to call a plumber once or twice a year (learn more about the toilet auger in my other article).
Conclusion
You can count on having a clogged toilet a few times in your life. Hopefully, it doesn’t occur when you’re the only guest at someone’s house.
Toilet clogs can arise from a large amount of waste, but it can also occur from a number of other things. Too much toilet paper, a water efficient toilet, a partial flush, children’s toys, and an obstructed vent pipe can all be reasons.
Your first action will usually be a second flush, then you might try the plunger. If those don’t solve the problem you can try a toilet auger but in most cases, you’ll need to call a plumber.
Clogging won’t be a common occurrence. If your toilet begins to clog frequently, there might be a more serious issue farther down your sewage pipes.
Let us know in the comments how you fixed your clog. Thanks for reading another Toilet Travels article. Visit us again for more toilet tips and tricks!