Common Causes Of Toilet Blockages And How To Avoid Them

Toilet blockages can be more than just annoying—they can disrupt your daily life and lead to expensive repairs. Understanding the common causes of toilet blockages can help you prevent these problems and keep your plumbing running smoothly. Factors like flushing the wrong items or having plumbing issues can cause a clogged toilet. By knowing what typically leads to blockages and taking the right steps, you can avoid these issues. For more help, our professional plumbers can provide expert advice and solutions to keep your toilet in good shape.

In this blog, we’ll look at the main causes of toilet blockages and how to prevent them, ensuring your home stays free from plumbing problems.

Contact our team at Bromley Plumbers if you have constant toilet blockages or want guidance on block-free washrooms. For professional plumbing services in West Wickham & the nearby areas, call us on 0208 050 2707 or email at info@bromleyplumbersltd.co.uk.

Common Causes And Prevention Tips

1. Excessive Toilet Paper Use

One of the most common causes of toilet blockage is the excessive use of toilet paper. Toilet paper is designed to break down in water, but some flush systems can’t handle large amounts. This can cause the toilet to get clogged with too much material that doesn’t flush easily.

Prevention Tips

• Use moderately – During each visit, only take in as much toilet paper as you require and avoid using too many at once. If you need a lot of them, consider flushing them one by one to keep the flushing system manageable.
• Educate household members – Let everyone at your home know why they should use limited tissue paper. Ask them to pay attention to their consumption patterns so that potential clogs are avoided altogether.

2. Flushing Non-Flushable Items

Another significant cause of toilet clogs is flushing items that do not dissolve in water. The typical culprits are sanitary products, wipes (even those labelled as flushable) and cotton balls. These items do not break down quickly, creating blockages in the drainage system.

Prevention Tips

• Proper disposal – It’s advisable to get rid of non-flushable items such as sanitary products, wipes and cotton balls by putting them in a dustbin instead of sending them down the toilet.
• Clear instructions – Ensure each household member understands what they can and cannot flush down the toilet. With clear instructions, gaps can be closed, thereby ensuring fewer chances for blockages to occur.

3. Tree Roots Intruding Into Pipes

Tree roots can cause significant plumbing problems, especially in older homes with mature trees. Mature trees have roots that look out for moisture and infiltrate sewer lines, causing blockages and slow drainage. These roots may grow into pipes over a long period, creating huge blockages.

Prevention Tips

• Regular inspections – Schedule inspections to detect root intrusion early. Consequently, this allows professional plumbers to use specialised equipment and rectify any tree-related concerns before they get worse.
• Tree management – On the other hand, you can take care of trees on your land and erect barriers preventing their roots from entering your drainage systems. Regular pruning is essential since it minimises such problems.

4. Hard Water Buildup

Hard water, which contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium, can cause mineral build-up in your pipes. In addition, this may narrow them down, leading to blockage in future. Your toilet flushing performance can equally be affected by hard water deposits.

Prevention Tips

• Water softener – You can install a water softener to reduce the mineral concentration in your water. Therefore, there will be no accumulation of mineral deposits on your pipes or toilet.
• Regular cleaning – To minimise hard water deposit buildup within your pipes and toilet, regularly clean them out with appropriate cleaning solutions.

5. Improper Toilet Installation

When toilets are not well-fitted, they can lead to drainage problems or even blockages over time. Misaligned pipes or incorrect connections can disrupt the flow of waste, causing clogs. If you notice signs of a plumbing emergency, such as frequent backups or slow drainage, it’s crucial to address these issues promptly. Proper installation and timely repairs are essential to avoid future difficulties and ensure your plumbing system functions smoothly.

Prevention Tips

• Professional installation – Hire a certified provider who renders comprehensive plumbing services to perform the installation process for you, ensuring all piping is in place properly. This method will help avoid issues related to accumulation within central drainage systems.
• Check for leaks – Conduct frequent inspections on your drainage system to look for leaks or signs indicating improper installation. Any problems noticed should be fixed immediately.

6. Accidental Drops Into the Toilet

Small items like toys or makeup applicators can easily block your toilet if they get flushed. These common causes of toilet blockages occur when such objects get trapped in the pipes, leading to clogs.

Prevention Tips

• Keep the lid closed – To prevent accidental drops, ensure that the toilet lid is closed when not in use. This helps prevent objects from dropping into the toilet.
• Retrieve items quickly – If something falls into the toilet, retrieve it immediately. Use tools or gloves to remove objects to prevent blockage safely.

7. Inadequate Flushing Power

Inadequate flushing power may make toilets unable to effectively and thoroughly flush out wastes, leading to clogging. It might be difficult for old toilets that don’t have much flushing power to flush out big amounts of waste.

Prevention Tips

• Upgrade – If you have an old toilet with low-flush capacity, consider upgrading it to a modern type with improved performance. Such toilets are designed for more substantial flushes.
• Regular maintenance – If your toilet is well-maintained, it will ensure the right flushing. Cleaning them regularly and maintaining them can help improve their flushing performance, thereby reducing chances of clogging.

Conclusion

Toilet blockages can be a significant inconvenience, but being familiar with their typical causes and taking preventative measures can help to avoid many of these problems altogether. To make sure your toilet always stays in good shape, you should use it correctly, take care of both the bowl and pipes and call professionals when necessary. These actions will enhance a bathroom’s functioning, leading to fewer complications.

At Bromley Plumbers Ltd, our team is available to provide effective solutions for all toilet repair and plumbing-related problems. You can contact us today on 0208 050 2707 or email at info@bromleyplumbersltd.co.uk. We will sort it all out while you sit back and relax.