A Maurais & Sons, Inc. Knows Clogged Toilets Present Challenges
If you’re asking “why does my toilet keep clogging,” this blog should answer that question. We’ve all been there: flushing the toilet and it overflows … AGAIN!! Having a clogged toilet makes life difficult. There are lots of reasons toilets clog; sometimes we can take preventative measures against it, other times it’s a malfunction. If your toilet is malfunctioning, A Maurais & Son’s Inc. can help. That said, your toilet might be clogging a lot if:
- You have a blocked trap
- There’s hard water build-up
- You’re using excess paper
- There are non-flushable items being flushed
Toilets Clog Due to Blocked Traps and Hard Water Build-Up
Blocked traps mean clogged toilets. You’ll know that you have a blocked trap if you notice slow draining from the toilet bowl. Toilet plungers resolve blocked trap issues. To clear a blocked trap, pump the plunger up and down evenly, but vigorously, while keeping the hole sealed with the cup.
Hard water build-up can also clog toilets. High levels of calcium and magnesium in the water supply can result in hard water. You’ll know you have hard water if you feel film on your hands after washing them. If you notice spots on glasses and silverware after the dishwasher runs, that also indicates hard water. Though not harmful to your health, hard water can lead to dry skin and hair. Water filtration systems and water softening solutions remove hard water minerals.
Flushing Excess Paper and Non-Flushable Items Clogs the Toilet
Excess paper or non-flushable items can result in blocked traps flushing the toilet. If you’re using two-ply tissue, and flushing more than five squares of it each time, we’d consider that excess paper. To avoid flushing excess paper and clogging the toilet, consider getting a higher quality toilet paper.
Non-flushable items also tend to clog toilets. If it’s a non-flushable item, don’t even attempt to flush it. Most people know not to flush things like diapers, baby wipes, paper towels, and sanitary napkins. You should only flush human waste and toilet paper. However, some things that people think are flushable are actually non-flushable items. You might be surprised to know that non-flushable items include:
- Flushable Wipes
- Cotton Swabs
- Tampons
- Condoms
- Dental Floss
- Facial Tissues
- Cigarette Butts
- Cat Litter
- Hair
- Gum
- Cooking Grease
- Uneaten Food
For more information on plumbing and HVAC issues, give A Maurais & Sons, Inc. a call at (207) 897-3027. Follow us on Facebook for updates. Our plumbers are happy to answer the question “why does my toilet keep clogging?”
