One of the most wonderful advances of modern indoor plumbing is the toilet. We use the toilet every day and don’t even think about how it works. We don’t think about it, that is, until something goes wrong with the toilet, and we need help desperately from a plumber in New Orleans. When you need help fixing a toilet, we are ready to provide same-day service. All you need to do is give us a call. But, there are many things you can do to maintain your toilet.
Most Common Causes of Toilet Problems
Most of the time, the problems with a toilet are clogs that could have been avoided. One of the main problems with toilets is the plumbing configuration. When water is flushed down the toilet, it has to travel through a U turn, which is commonly referred to as a gooseneck. When leaving the toilet, water and waste have to navigate around sharp angles, often as great as 90 degrees. This makes it very difficult for some objects to flow through the system.
Stick-like objects can get jammed or stuck in the bends of the system. If only water were to flow through the pipe, it would not be a huge problem immediately. But toilet water carries toilet paper and waste. These objects can get hung up on bends and quit flowing down the line. It is even worse when stick-like objects are trying to navigate the bends. Once the pathway is obstructed, it will trap anything and everything that tries to flow past it. The result can be a huge clog.
Things to Avoid Flushing down the Toilet
A good rule of thumb is to flush only human waste and a moderate amount of paper specifically made for toilets. Above all, avoid flushing the following objects down the toilet:
- Baby wipes and facial wipes
- Cotton swabs and cotton balls
- All feminine products, including tampons and applicators
- Diapers
- Hair
- Grease
- Garbage
- Small toys
If you keep a lined trash can close to the toilet, people can use the trash instead of the toilet.
Call for Help When You Need It
Even with good intentions and best practices, from time to time, you can still get a nasty clog in your toilet that requires help from a plumber in New Orleans, LA. When that happens, turn off the water to the toilet so that damage to your house is minimized. Then, call Rooter Man immediately. Our same-day service will be able to take care of your problems fast!