Eight Tips To Prevent Your Toilet From Getting Blocked
As one of the most used fixtures in the building, it's very important that you do your very best to ensure your toilet avoids getting blocked where possible.
If it does get blocked, it can be one of the most problematic things to solve and will often require a plumbing or drainage expert to fix it. So what can you do to try and prevent this from happening? Well, here are eight tips and tricks to help prevent your toilet from getting blocked!
1. Regularly clean your toilet with a mild cleaning agent
There are many mild cleaning agents available in the supermarkets that can help you keep your toilet clean and clear. These include vinegar, baking soda or soap. Put simply, regular cleaning using such cleaners will keep your toilet better-smelling and hygienic and puts you in a better position to spot any potential problems like leaks.
2. Avoid using harsh chemical cleaning agents
Chemical-based cleaning products are incredibly divisive amongst drainage experts and plumbers. Some will advocate using them to clean your toilet but others will strongly advise against it. Generally, it is best to avoid them as they can cause you harm if they come into contact with your skin or are inhaled. In addition, they can damage fixtures or pipes that are over a decade old.
3. Check all your toilet's internal mechanisms
It's advisable to regularly check your toilet's internal mechanisms; we would suggest once every six months. It's an excellent way of ensuring that all components of the toilet are working well. It's so simple that any member of your family can do it! All you need to do is lift up the tank's lid before flushing the toilet and just watch to see if every component is functioning as it should. For instance, if the fill valve pauses at the right water level or the flapper seals as it should.
4. Teach your children how to use the toilet the right way
Every child is obviously taught how to use a toilet, especially when they are being potty trained. But that doesn't mean that older children shouldn't also be taught what and what not to flush. Helping them to understand their toilet paper usage and how to clean the toilet effectively can make a big difference.
5. Take a look at what toilet paper you're using
We don't mean this literally, but it is important to pay attention to what type of toilet paper you're using and making changes where necessary. There are many different toilet paper options out there and while you might prefer the super-soft and cushy toilet paper, your toilet and drainage system might not. Some toilet paper might be incredibly soft to touch but it also makes it potentially imperishable too, which makes it hard for your septic system to degrade it along with everything else it has to deal with. Take a look at the type of toilet paper you're using and see whether you can change it to a more toilet-appropriate option.
6. Ignore the old wives tale about placing a brick in the tank to save water
Nowadays, toilets are far more effective at using water during a flush than they were years ago. Modern toilets now use no more than 1.6 gallons, or just over 6 litres, of water per flush. Anything lesser and the sewage system wouldn't be able to move all the waste as quickly or effectively. However, owners of older toilets, from the mid-90s or even older, have been led to believe that putting a brick in the cistern will save the usage of water. But in fact, placing a brick in the cistern can often lead to it disintegrating and causing a blocked toilet.
7. Buy, and learn to use, a plunger
One of the cheapest and easiest ways of unblocking a toilet is a plunger! You'll be surprised what you can do with a plunger and a bucket of steaming hot water! There are many toilet blockages that can be removed just by using this method, so give it a go yourself!
8. Get professional help as and when needed
While you may be very used to undertaking DIY in your home, there are some times when even the very best DIY-ers aren't able to remove a blockage in a toilet. If your toilet gets blocked repeatedly, or you seen brown water backing up into the sink, toilet or shower every time you flush, you're probably going to need proper attention from a professional plumber.
At JLH Drains, we specialise in fast and effective blocked drains and toilet repairs. So contact us today on our emergency call out number on 0800 781 8922 if you need your toilet unblocked.