Toilet Clog cleaning woman
Home Improvement

5 Unusual Reasons Your Toilet Clogs – Beyond the Usual Suspects

When it comes to household plumbing, a clogged toilet is an inconvenience that everyone has experienced at least once in their lives. Usually, the reason behind a clogged toilet is obvious – too much toilet paper, flushing inappropriate items, or a plumbing issue. However, sometimes the reason behind a clogged toilet is not as obvious and can be quite unusual. In this article, we will discuss 5 unusual reasons your toilet clogs.

Low-flow toilets: Low-flow toilets are becoming increasingly popular due to their water-saving benefits. However, they also have a downside – they are more likely to clog than traditional toilets. Low-flow toilets use less water per flush, which means they have a smaller flushing power. This can result in not enough water pressure to push the waste down the drain and can lead to clogs. To prevent clogs in low-flow toilets, try using less toilet paper and avoid flushing anything other than human waste and toilet paper.

Hard water: Hard water is water that contains high levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. When hard water flows through your toilet bowl, it can leave mineral deposits that accumulate over time. These deposits can eventually clog your toilet and lead to a blocked drain. To prevent clogs due to hard water, try using a water softener or cleaning your toilet bowl regularly with a cleaning solution designed to remove mineral buildup.

Feminine hygiene products: Feminine hygiene products such as tampons and sanitary pads should never be flushed down the toilet. These products are not biodegradable and can cause serious clogs in your plumbing system. Instead, wrap them in toilet paper and dispose of them in a trash can.

Toys and other foreign objects: Children are known for flushing toys and other objects down the toilet out of curiosity. However, this can lead to serious clogs in your plumbing system. To prevent clogs due to foreign objects, make sure your children understand the importance of not flushing anything other than human waste and toilet paper down the toilet.

Tree roots: If you have trees growing near your home, their roots can infiltrate your plumbing system and cause serious clogs. Tree roots are attracted to the moisture and nutrients found in your plumbing pipes and can grow inside them, causing massive damage in the process. Tree roots can ruin your entire sewer system, and removing them isn’t trivial either. The best way to avoid this is to be aware of what kinds of trees have invasive roots, and avoid planting them anywhere near your sewer line.

Conclusion: a clogged toilet can be a minor inconvenience or a big cause for concern. If your toilet clogs every once in a while and can be cleared with a plunger, then it’s probably not something you need to worry about. But if your toilet seems toToilet Clog cleaning woman clog every time you use it, you have bigger problems on your hands.

Of course, the best way to determine the cause of your clog and fix it for good is to contact a local plumber. While a lot of this advice is universal, some issues really are regional, which means a local plumber will have greater insights into what could be causing your specific clog.  They also often offer sewer camera inspection services, which takes all of the guess work out of the process.