If you’ve ever had a backed up toilet, you know that it’s a huge nuisance. Whether the overflow is happening regularly or just occasionally, if your toilet is backing up, something needs to be done right away before fixture damage becomes an issue. Thankfully, there are several common reasons why this happens
Here are some common reasons your toilet keeps backing up:
- You’re flushing too much at a time.
- Something’s stuck in the line
- A tree root has cracked your line underground
- Sewer lines are clogged
- The plumbing vent is blocked or malfunctioning
How do I stop my toilet from backing up?
A toilet that won’t stop running is a serious problem. You can repair the problem quickly and easily by following these instructions.
- Turn off the water supply to the toilet by turning off the shutoff valve under the tank or behind it on the wall. If you’re unsure how to do this, contact your local home improvement store for assistance.
- Remove any items blocking the flapper, such as tissue or other debris. This could be causing the water level in your toilet bowl to rise above normal levels, which will cause it to overflow when you flush your toilet.
- Use a flathead screwdriver or similar tool to carefully lift up the flapper chain that attaches it from underneath. The flapper should begin moving freely once you have lifted it up enough so that air can pass through without being obstructed by anything else inside your tank.
Learn more about why a running toilet is a problem waiting to happen.
How do you clear a backed-up toilet?
One way you can clear a backed-up toilet is with baking soda.
Baking soda is safe for all plumbing systems, so it’s a good option if your home has a septic tank. The baking soda will be neutralized by the acid in the drain, so there won’t be any damage to the pipes or septic system.
The baking soda trick works well when there’s just one clog, but if you have multiple clogs, and your toilet is constantly backing up, then this method may not work as well. You’ll need to call a plumber to take care of those problems.
Tips to prevent toilet clogs in the future
When you have a clogged toilet, it’s easy to get frustrated. You want to fix the problem quickly, but you also want to prevent future clogs from occurring. In order to do that you’ll have to be more mindful of how you use your toilet.
Here are some tips for preventing future clogs in your toilets:
- Use the right amount of toilet paper
- Flush the toilet with plenty of water
- Clean the rim and underside of the lid regularly
- Don’t flush things like feminine hygiene products or diapers down the toilet
- Remove hair from drains regularly
How To Keep Your Bathroom Pipes Clean
Anytime that you see water pooling in the bowl after flushing or notice that your toilet seems less than completely clean, these are signs that a blocked toilet might be on its way. If your toilet is a low-flush or doesn’t have an efficient flushing system, this could lead to limescale building up in your pipes and making them harder for water to move through. Make sure that you’re doing everything possible to keep your pipes as free of buildups as possible just in case something does happen.
Plumbing Services Offered by Mullin Plumbing Oklahoma City in Moore, OK
At Mullin Plumbing Oklahoma City in Moore, OK. we offer a variety of plumbing services to meet all your residential and commercial needs.
Some of our plumbing services include:
- Drain cleaning
- Hot water heater service
- Gas line installation and repair
- Water damage restoration
- 24-hour plumber in Oklahoma City
- and more!
So whether your toilet is backing up or you need a new toilet installed you can call us! Let’s discuss how we can help you with our plumbing services.