Won’t your toilet flush? Does the bowl seem to fill slowly or the water on it won’t go down? Or is it going to overflow? When you see this happening, it might drive you insane and start panicking. But, there is no reason to get stressed out…and stop reaching for that plunger and get to the root of what’s causing your toilet to clog!

There are several reasons why your toilet could be clogging, and we’ll help you figure them all out. We will explain to you some of the main reasons why toilets clogs and how you can fix them as quickly as possible. And if you’re not comfortable performing DIYs in your home, it’s best to leave it all to a reliable and professional plumber and let them handle the stubborn clogs in your toilet.

Clogged Drain Line

If your toilet seems to be working just fine but still won’t flush, this might mean that the problem is laying deeper inside your plumbing. There could be a backup in your drain line that is causing your toilet to constantly clog. If your drain line malfunctions, you might notice that all your drains in your home are not working— your sinks and tubs may get water backing up into them, or might drain slowly.

The common items that get flushed in your toilet and might cause your drain line to back up are:

  • Feminine sanitary items
  • Facial tissues
  • Toilet paper rolls
  • Q-tips
  • Baby wipes
  • Makeup sponges

To fix this, you can attempt to use natural bacteria. This will eat away any organic materials that may be causing the clog. But if the problem remains, you may need to call a plumber to have your drain lines cleared or if necessary, repair/replace your entire drain line section or your sewer lines.

Issues With the Toilet Trap

Your toilet trap (S-trap) is a curved section of the porcelain fixture that is built into the lower bowl unit of your toilet. It is designed to hold standing water in the trap and at the same time, prevent sewer gases from entering your home.

Tissues, toilet papers, and some non-flushable items can clog the trap causing your toilet to back up. If this happens, a plunger can often solve this problem. Spending a few minutes using a plunger can loosen any blockage and can clear a minor clog in your drain line. If a plunger doesn’t work, you may need to try a toilet auger.

One way to prevent toilet trap problems from occurring is by limiting the amount of waste going into your toilet. Keeping non-flushable items out of your toilet and limiting the use of toilet paper should keep your toilet trap clear.

Hard Water Problems

Hard water contains a lot of calcium and magnesium. When water has a lot of calcium, deposits can develop inside your toilet. Calcium buildup forms a white substance that is difficult to get rid of from your toilet. When it calcifies, it can cause a clog making it difficult for other materials to pass through in your water system.

If you are experiencing toilet blockage due to calcium buildup, you may want to call a plumber to flush the system. They will use a special solution to would break up calcium deposits in your toilet and pipes. If you want a long-term solution, you might want to install a water softener. This will treat your water before entering into your toilet by reducing the amount of calcium in it that’s usually causing the clog.

Slow Moving Septic System

A slow-moving septic system can causes the toilet in your home to clog or backup. How quickly your septic system fills relies on how frequently your toilets are used and by how many people using your toilet.

In order to prevent this, depending on the size of your tank and how many people are living in your home and are using it, you may need to have your septic tank emptied every three to five years.

Fill Valve Issues

Check regularly if the fill valve is working. The fill valve mechanism inside the toilet tank ensures that there is enough water to flush. When the tank isn’t completely filled with enough water, there won’t be enough pressure to clear the bowl resulting in your toilet clogging.

Always make sure that your fill valve is in the open position, and check if there is any leak in the water line supply. If you see no problem with either, you can try replacing your fill valve.

Issues With Toilet Itself

If you have older toilets, it’s possible that it was the cause of the problem. Older toilets tend to have problems as they can no longer handle a lot of flushes and their essential parts wear away.

Upgrading your toilet can guarantee you that it is working well and is updated to the current standards. Modern toilets are designed to reduce the amount of water being used while clearing the toilet bowl thoroughly. If your toilet was made in the mid-1990s, it definitely needs a replacement. If you need help in choosing a new toilet or installing a more up-to-date toilet, a professional plumber can help you.

Need a Plumber?

Toilets get clogged for many reasons. Some of these reasons can be easily fixed by yourself, while others will require help from a professional plumber. If you have executed all the tips and tricks on how to unclog your toilet but it still didn’t work, keep yourself away from the hassle and call Caccia Plumbing to help you with all of your plumbing needs. We would be happy to send you one of our expert technicians to come and assist you with your plumbing problems.