The toilet is one plumbing fixture in the house that is frequently used. It is flushed several times in a single day. At times, it can get to a point where it could get clogged and overflow. Nothing is more alarming than an overflowing toilet because it can ruin the floor and the toilet. Not to mention it could leave a bad odour in the bathroom. More often than not, toilet blockages are due to certain items getting stuck in the pipes. Hire a drain cleaning company in Saskatoon to avoid clogs.
Flush Once
A rule of thumb when using the toilet is to flush only once per use. More times than that and more water will be added to the tank. The water can’t go anywhere and could lead to an overflow. If the water isn’t going down, attempts to flush the toilet can lead to more problems. The solution to this is to first turn off the water supply to the toilet before flushing it until needed. Putting newspapers or towels around the base of the toilet can absorb water from the overflow.
If the toilet looks like it’s on the verge of overflowing, take the lid off and manually close the flapper. If flushing looks like it can turn into a flood, one of your hands should be on the flapper while the other pushes down on the flusher. This way, the flapper can be closed if it appears that the water is rising.
Plunging
One useful tool for unclogging a toilet is a plunger. It’s best to go with a heavy-duty rubber plunger, ideally the funnel-cup plunger that has a flange that extends off the bottom. Before using it, run the plunger under hot water to soften it up so that it is more effective because it gives a better seal. The plunger must be pressed down slowly but firmly, and the hole must be covered entirely. It is better if there is water in the toilet and water should be added if there is none. A few careful up-and-down strokes should do the trick, and if not, then add water and plunge again until the clog is removed.
If, on the other hand, the clog is worse and tinkering with the flapper or plunging isn’t helping, then calling a Saskatoon drain cleaning company such as Perfection Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Ltd. should be your next move. They can get to the bottom of the problem and have your toilet flushing and draining properly again. They will even share tips on how to avoid clogs in the future.
(Source: The Definitive Guide to Fixing a Clogged Toilet, Digital Trends, December 11, 2014)