A clogged toilet is certainly not something any homeowner likes to deal with. Clogged toilets are as frustrating as they are nasty. They can leave your floors messy and even damaged due to water overflow. This is because they affect your plumbing pipes. Clogs often also cause a foul smell. Whenever they occur, you usually have no choice but to look for a plumber to solve the problem. However, it is better and less costly to prevent your toilet from getting clogged in the first place. Here are ways in which you could reduce the risk of a clogged toilet.
Double flush your toilet
It is important to flush your toilet after using it. This is to ensure it remains clean and in good working condition. However, sometimes a single flush can only do so much especially when it comes to the bigger jobs. It is not too common for a toilet to get clogged just by human waste. However, most clogs are a result of an excess of toilet paper used. This is a fact even for the best toilet. Most people do not monitor this and often end up having a huge wad of toilet paper in the bowl. It is therefore very advisable to flush your toilet at least twice in order to ensure the paper completely goes down. It will definitely reduce the risk of a clogged toilet.
Be careful what you flush
While flushing things down a toilet might appear as the best way to get rid of them, the toilet is not for everything. It is certainly not a dustbin. Toilets are designed for a specific purpose. To get rid of fecal matter and toilet paper. People have been known to dispose of things such as used diapers, cotton swabs, facial tissues and wipes, floss and other hygiene products. These can actually clog your toilet. You should, therefore, avoid flushing these and use the toilet for the purpose for which it is intended.
Check your sewers often
In case you notice frequent clogs in your toilet, have your main sewer line checked. It could just be that tree roots are growing in the underground pipes thus clogging them. Get a plumber to sort the issue out as soon as you possibly can. However, it may be worth preventing the growth of these roots. You can do this by buying plumbing solutions that are created for the purpose of killing roots. As long as you follow the instructions on how to use them very carefully, you should be able to reduce the risk of a clogged toilet.
Avoid placing items on the toilet tank
It is common for people to place things on the toilet tank. However, this is wrong as that area should not serve the purpose of extra counter space. It is really tempting to place your toilet paper, brushes or even soap there. Whenever you do this there is the risk of your items falling into your toilet bowl accidentally which could end up clogging even the best toilet or even the toilet drain. It is therefore advisable to avoid placing things there altogether to reduce this risk.
Be careful with the type of toilet paper you use
A lot of people do not realize just how different the brands of toilet paper in the market are. Some of them are not good for your toilet. While they may feel soft and look attractive they might end up affecting your sewage or septic system. This could be because they do not break down easily. So to reduce the risk of a clogged toilet, make sure you are very observant when it comes to how the toilet paper you use goes down. Change it if need be to keep the toilet safe.
Educate children on how to care for the toilet
Children, without knowing it, could end up causing toilet clogs. They could end up throwing things into the toilet bowls or flushing things they should not be flushing. It is therefore important to teach children at a young age how to properly care for a toilet. Teach children how to clean the toilet properly, how to flush, to monitor toilet paper and avoid clogs. They will carry these skills even when they are old enough to live on their own in the future. You might also want to keep youngsters away from the toilet when they do not actually need to use it. Having a childproof clamp on the bowl can also come in handy when you want to reduce its risk of getting clogged.
When you observe good maintenance you can be sure that your toilet will last you for a very long time without giving you a headache. As a homeowner, you will be more at peace knowing that it is safe from clogging by carefully observing the tips above.
