Preventing Clogged Toilets and Sewer Lines
Clogged toilets are certainly an inconvenience, but there are times when they could be a sign of an underlying issue. Frequent toilet clogs can be caused by bad habits or a clogged sewer line, which can be a far more inconvenient and costly problem. Homeowners can and should be proactive with better habits to help avoid toilet clogs and clogged sewer lines to keep their plumbing running smoothly.
Be Careful What Is Flushed
There are many things homeowners may tend to flush, which could lead to a clogged toilet or sewer line. Here’s the thing. A toilet and a sewer pipe are only designed to handle flushing human waste and toilet paper. Nothing else should ever be flushed. This might mean changing some habits or realizing the damage that flushing habits could be causing.
Don’t flush these things:
- Paper towels
- Tissues
- Wipes (not even the ones labeled flushable)
- Diapers
- Feminine hygiene products
- Cotton swabs
- Dental floss
Adjusting habits to only flushing toilet paper and human waste will make a huge difference and help prevent toilet clogs.
Be Mindful of Toilet Paper Usage
Most people use more toilet paper than they really need, which can also lead to clogged toilets and sewer lines. Try to be aware of how much toilet paper is used and see if it can be reduced while still cleaning effectively. Flushing large amounts of toilet paper could quickly overwhelm the drainage capacity of a toilet.
If more toilet paper is needed, consider flushing more than once to break up how much is flushed at once can help the toilet paper go down more easily. If there is continual overuse of toilet paper, it can start to build up in the sewer pipes and lead to a clogged sewer line, so when more toilet paper is needed, flush multiple times instead of trying to flush it all at once.
Prevent Sewer Line Clogs
Changing the household’s habits can go a long way toward preventing sewer line clogs and problems. Not just what gets flushed ends up in the sewer line. All the home's drains lead there, so it's crucial to be mindful of what goes down the drain as well.
To help prevent a clogged sewer line:
- Don't put hair, food scraps, grease, oil, and fats down the drains
- Keep trees away from underground plumbing and be aware of potential tree root problems
- Schedule annual plumbing maintenance and inspections
- Call for drain cleaning when signs of a clog are noticed
About PlumbCrazy
PlumbCrazy has been voted the best in their county for 9 years running because of excellent service. They provide a customer-first approach and timely service. Contact them for clogged toilet repair in Abingdon, MD.
