You may find that one of the most frustrating features in your home is the toilet when it is not working properly. It plays a vital role in your daily life and is an unwelcome complication when it is not flushing, or even overflowing. You can often handle much of this problem yourself before contacting a Chico plumber.
It is safe to say that nearly every overflowing toilet can be traced back to a blockage of some type somewhere in the lines. A clog can be of any number of different types of materials including:
- Too much toilet paper
- Non flushable items such as paper, Q-tips, eyeliner shavings, hair, prophylactics and cotton balls
- Children's or pet's, toys
- Ice
- ...and much more
The toilet may also become clogged as a result of poor flushing techniques or too low water pressure.
When you are faced with a toilet that is overflowing, the first step is to shut off the water. The valve for the water going into the toilet is found at the base and is attached to the water line which goes to the toilet.
Methods to Clear a Clog
There are numerous ways you can try to clear a clog that is causing problems with your toilet before calling a Chico plumber.
Plunger
This is a mainstay for any home and the primary line of defense when it comes to blockages in plumbing lines. The force generated by using a plunger is usually enough to dislodge a clog and send it along the line without further complications. It may require some additional time and effort, but there are few side effects to using a plunger.
Plumbing chemicals
There are many brands of plumbing chemicals that can be purchased. Many people enjoy using these substances because it requires little effort and can deliver good results. To use these chemicals, you simply pour the recommended amount into the toilet, wait the designated time, then flush. It is important to note that not all chemicals are made for use in toilets. Another important consideration is: due to the caustic nature of these plumbing chemicals, with frequent use they can cause damage to the plumbing lines.
Natural solutions
By pouring a combination of vinegar or lemon juice and baking soda into the toilet bowl an effervescent effect is achieved. This reaction has often been known to loosen the offending clog enough to then be thoroughly flushed. It is considered to be environmentally friendly and does not have the side effect of harming your plumbing.
Plumbing snake
A plumbing snake is a piece of equipment that a Chico plumber will readily have on hand to address a blockage in the line. These are an excellent solution for clogs that are further down the line or especially difficult to remove. The instrument consists of a reinforced cord that is threaded down the pipes. The tip of the cord is designed to move about and either snag the material that is clogged or dislodge it enough to move it. You can also purchase one of these devices for your personal use.
If your pipes are frozen, none of these approaches will work to stop your toilet from overflowing. The reality is that these methods can actually cause more damage if there is ice in the lines.
Contact a licensed Chico plumber at Experts In Your Home if you have frequent problems, are unsure of the source of the problem, or your overflowing toilet is not corrected with one of the common approaches above.
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