How to prevent a blocked toilet?

Having a clogged toilet has to be one of the most inconvenient problems in life. And while it’s natural that the vast majority of people are apprehensive of fiddling with their home’s plumbing system for fear of something going wrong, there are several things that can be done to keep the toilet from being clogged in the first place. As you can imagine, keeping your toilet in good working order is the most effective approach to ensure that human waste or sewage is removed from your home as usual.

It is extremely important to regularly do maintenance work on your toilet as it is the most used fixture in your home and may be expensive to replace if something goes wrong.

In this article, we tell you how you can avoid having a blocked toilet and how you can ensure to keep everything working as intended for as long as possible.

Be mindful of your toilet paper usage

Nowadays, there are about a million different brands of toilet paper (Well, maybe not that many but you get our point). Although you may enjoy the feel of some of the luxuriously soft toilet papers out there, chances are that your septic system or sewage system does not share this preference.

So our advice would be to be conscious of the amount of toilet paper you use during your bathroom session. After all avoiding overusing toilet paper is good for your toilets, the environment and your wallet.

Clean your toilet regularly with mild cleaning products

This advice might sound obvious but you would be surprised how much of a difference a good weekly toilet clean can make.

Baking soda, soap, and even vinegar are great mild toilet cleaners. They are cheap, easily accessible and can safely be used for day to day toilet maintenance.

In addition, cleaning your toilet with such products is much better for the environment (if you use biodegradable soap) and for your health as they do not emit any dangerous fumes, damage skin or poison the water supply.

Lastly, regularly cleaning your toilet will keep your toilet hygienic and fresh-smelling at all times but it will also put you in a better position to detect any problems (such as a leak) that may arise.

Avoid harsh unblocking products

Similarly to cleaning products, we would advise avoiding harsh chemical based unblockers as they can be harmful if they come into touch with the skin or are inhaled. They are often harmful to aquatic life, pets and can poison water supplies. Furthermore, such products can cause harm to fixtures or pipes. Lastly, they can be really expensive. So, save yourself the trouble and work on preventing blockage rather than treating it with strong chemicals.

Plumbers have differing opinions on the use of chemical-based cleaners; while some are in favour of it, others are vehemently opposed to it. At the end of the day, the choice is yours.

Teach correct toilet practises to your children

When children are potty trained, it is much easier to teach them how to use a toilet in the proper manner. Having said that, you can educate even older children on what should and should not be flushed in the toilet. Assistance in understanding toilet paper consumption as well as proper toilet cleaning techniques can go a long way toward alleviating blockage problems in the toilets. You are also imparting life skills to your children, which will serve them well when they are ready to move out on their own.

Maintain your toilet’s internal mechanisms

Making sure that everything is in working order a few times a year is a great way to ensure the long life of your toilet. If you are unsure about how to do that, do not hesitate to contact a professional as they will be the best suited to help you.

Avoid the brick in the tank trick

Unless you live in a 100 year old house with original fixtures, you do not have to place a brick in your toilet’s flushing water tank.

Indeed, modern toilets are particularly frugal when it comes to the amount of water used for flushing. In most cases, unless your toilet is quite old (from the mid-90s or earlier), it needs little more than 6 litres of water per flush. It might sound like a lot but anything less than this will result in sewage systems being unable to transfer all of the waste as efficiently.

In addition, adding a brick into the cistern in order to save water can cause the brick to crumble, resulting in a clogged toilet and a clogged drain.

Act fast

If you are experiencing a weak flush or a slow drain, you should address the issue as soon as possible. Never let a drainage problem go unattended for an extended period of time before taking action.

First, try using your trusty plunger to solve the problem before calling for help. Never hesitate to call a plumber if all other options have proven ineffective.

Learn how to us a good old plunger

You might be surprised at what this unassuming and cheap tool can accomplish.

Although it is perhaps the most inexpensive toilet unblocker available, most people are shocked at what this seemingly antiquated instrument, along with a bucket of boiling hot water, can accomplish.

Ask for help

No matter how much you enjoy doing things yourself, keep in mind that some jobs are simply too hard or technical to do on your own. If you ever notice darkly coloured water backing up into the sink or shower, contact a professional straight away. This is an indication of a significant problem that requires the attention of an experienced professional drain specialist to properly resolve.

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