We’ve all had it happen to us: the toilet won’t flush! But rather than panic (or climb out the window in embarrassment) there are several things you should know. Here are a few reasons that toilets might clog and what you can do about it.
A clogged trap The trap is that u-shaped bend you see in drains, like under your kitchen sink. It’s designed to keep gross smells from floating up into your house. Your toilet has one of those too, and even if you never flush things you’re not supposed to, clogs can still develop in that bend. If you need to flush a large amount, do it a little bit at a time. If the trap clogs anyway, your toilet plunger will come in handy to fix this type of clog. Flushing stuff that doesn’t belong The only thing you should be putting in your toilet besides human waste is toilet paper. Following this basic guidline can save you from needing to call a plumber to your Hamilton home. To make it easier for you and your guests, keep a garbage can in the bathroom where you can easily dispose of diapers, feminine hygiene products, paper towels and baby wipes (even the supposedly flushable ones). Always keep a toilet plunger on hand to help dislodge clogs. Keep in mind, though it will do in a pinch, the red half-circle plunger isn’t meant for toilets. It’s the black one with the smaller hole on the end that you need. Flapper isn’t closing properly Inside the toilet tank there’s a chain with a piece of rubber attached called the flapper. When you pull the chain, the flapper is supposed to lift up and drain the water in the tank into the toilet. Sometimes, the flapper isn’t properly connected, so you may need to open the tank and check whether the chain and flapper are functioning. Depending on the problem, you may need to reattach the chain and either lengthen, or shorten it. New flappers and chains can be purchased at any hardware store if yours isn’t fixable. Just make sure you get the right kind for your toilet. Heres a video that shows you how to fix a flapper. A clog in the line Your toilet is attached to the sewer system or your septic tank by pipes, which can also become clogged for a variety of reasons. If your toilet still isn’t flushing after some basic unclogging efforts, it may be the result of a problem further inside the pipes. This is when you need the pros. Need your toilet fixed in Hamilton? Call Roto-Rooter for a plumber in Hamilton today.
Comments