Despite the fact that toilet paper is thin and should dissolve easily in water, sometimes this does not happen. In this case, the toilet begins to clog. It no longer allows water and waste to pass through. All this accumulates and produces an unpleasant odor. In short, something needs to be done urgently to save the situation. But at the same time, it is worth knowing what is the best way to proceed. This is what our article will be about. From it you will learn how to quickly remove blockages in sewer pipes, as well as how to prevent re-contamination.
Is it okay to throw toilet paper down the toilet?
If you have a centralized drainage and sewerage system, then the remaining toilet paper is washed out by a constant flow of water through pipes with a wide diameter (at least 100 mm) of an apartment building into a common collector. From a common collector, paper, together with feces, is pumped into city wastewater treatment plants by powerful pumps. Here it is separated from large fractions by grates and enters a settling tank, where it decomposes with the help of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. It is bacteria that decompose toilet paper and its constituent cellulose with the help of enzymes they produce.
However, it is not recommended to throw paper in an apartment building, since improper installation or design of sewerage systems, incorrect installation of the toilet and connecting it to the riser, and the ingress of foreign objects may reduce the flow of water and cause blockages from toilet paper residues.
How long does it take for toilet paper to biodegrade?
Its decomposition period is a couple of months.
When should you absolutely not throw toilet paper down the toilet?
If the toilet is installed in a frequency house, where waste is discharged through an autonomous sewer system with a pipe diameter much narrower than the centralized sewer (at least 100 mm is needed), as a rule, the water saving mode is activated here, there may be many turns and bends of the pipe, low water pressure, which leads to clogging of the sewer with paper.
Once in the storage tank of the storage septic tank, it settles at the bottom and is not removed until the sewer truck arrives, where it then clogs the special pipes. machine and spending additional power to pump it out.
If your autonomous sewage system is not equipped with modern storage and purification equipment, where there are anaerobic and aerobic bacteria that decompose cellulose, then throwing toilet paper is prohibited.
Locating the traffic jam
Before removing the blockage in the toilet, determine the place where it formed, and for this you will need to inspect the sewer riser in the bathroom and kitchen. It should be remembered that the problem is common if the apartment is located in an apartment building.
In a private household, if you have to remove a clogged toilet yourself, you need to look for the cause outside the building on the street in the place where the pipe is directed into the cesspool, or in the area where the local sewerage system is connected to the citywide system.
The fact that the blockage is common is indicated by liquid that cannot be drained from the bathroom. In a situation where, with the simultaneous use of a drain in the kitchen sink and in the toilet, the liquid flows unhindered, the cause of the problem is located in another place - where there is stagnation.
How to unclog a toilet with paper
A clogged toilet with toilet paper in an apartment building can only occur in conjunction with other factors:
- Defects and defects in the drainage system of the toilet itself or improper installation of the sewer system;
- Getting other foreign objects into the toilet or sewer;
- Formation of limestone or urinary stones inside the toilet water seal.
Toilet paper clogs can only be cleared mechanically, since the paper does not completely dissolve and is not actively affected by chemicals.
You can try to clear a clogged toilet with paper:
- using a plunger
- a special cable for cleaning the toilet for
If you don’t have either of these on hand, you can remove the blockage using a folk method for those who are not squeamish. Take an old towel or large rag and put on rubber gloves. Twist the towel into a rope, and then bend it in half again, tying it with a rope. Place a rag into the drain hole and, using forward movements so that the rag covers the drain hole, clean the drain, pushing through the clog.
You can use available means for this purpose, for example, a mop or a stick, wrapping a rag around it and securing it firmly with a rope.
If the blockage is nearby, a small piece of wire with a hook at the end will help. Put on rubber gloves and try to remove paper or other objects that have fallen into the toilet by placing it on an improvised hook.
You can make a toilet cleaning wire from a clothes hanger.
Tools
As you know, he who is forewarned is forearmed. However, information about the causes of blockages is not the only weapon we will have to use. To effectively deal with blockages, you need a small set of tools.
What tool is useful to have at home in case of blockages?
- Plunger. There is not the slightest need to spend money on a professional tool with a piston and pressure gauge: a regular rubber cap on a plastic or wooden handle for home use is no worse. A reasonable price for a plunger is no more than 200 rubles;
Cheap and cheerful.
- Plumbing cable. Its simplest version is a piece of steel sling with a handle made of a steel tube bent in the shape of the letter “Z”. Factory-made products with a plastic shell rotating relative to the handle and a cable made from a spring wound around a steel core are no different from it in practical terms.
A good tool with a reasonable price.
Cables with a drum are convenient because they can be used alone, without an assistant. However, such a product costs several times more than a regular plumbing cable. As a rule, they are bought by professionals: the device can significantly save your time only when clearing a large number of blockages during the day.
The product in the photo is intended for professionals. With rare home use, such a tool will not pay for itself.
If your nearest hardware stores don’t have the tools I listed, it doesn’t matter. As you will see later, you can often make do with improvised items instead.
We use a plunger
Almost every housewife has this device. They clean not only toilets, but also bathrooms and sinks. How does it work?
Using a plunger, you need to create conditions in the pipes for water hammer. It is he who must dislodge the blockage, which will then be broken into components and washed into the sewer.
You need to take it in your hands and place the rubber part against the toilet drain hole. After this, you need to press hard on it several times. This is how you will be able to achieve your goal. After some work with the fixture, you need to turn on the flush.
Read on topic: How to use a plunger
Where can you find such masters?
The Plumber Service company employs high-class craftsmen. They will determine the exact cause of the clog, develop a plan to clear the clog, and, if necessary, replace the pipes to prevent reoccurrence.
In case the toilet is clogged, it would be ideal to call those who can help and advise. And only after a telephone consultation, call the experts with a cool head. Call our simple number and the issue will be resolved!
Chemical cleaning
People have long been accustomed to using ready-made solutions in all areas of their lives, and manufacturers are successfully using this. Household chemicals stores offer a fairly wide selection of specialized products for cleaning pipes and toilets. They are available in the form of liquids, gels, powders and granules. There may be disposable packaging and large containers designed for several times. These products cope excellently with the problem, while also performing a number of other functions: Disinfect the plumbing fixtures to be cleaned. Eliminates unpleasant odors from sewer pipes. Keep pipes clean. Have a preventive effect. The most common brands:
- Tiret. Mole.
- Domestos.
- Tofix.
- Domol.
Preventive measures
In order not to have to solve the problem of how to get rid of a blockage in the toilet, it is necessary to pay attention to preventive measures, which include:
- Use plumbing equipment exclusively for its intended purpose, without allowing objects to get into it.
- Periodic cleaning of sewer pipes using chemical compounds specially developed for this purpose.
- Clean the toilet weekly using boiling water or a plunger.
A quick way to clean a drain with boiling water
The method suggests clearing the clog using boiling water. Boil a bucket of water. Pour its contents into the toilet at a right angle, working as quickly as possible. If the water begins to drain slowly, you should repeat the procedure several more times. Such simple actions can rid the sewer of simple blockages.
Attention! Do not use boiling water under any circumstances if your toilet is equipped with a connecting corrugation made of thin plastic. If you need to flush, you can use hot water in this case.
Hot water
To clear the pipe of paper stuck in it, pour a bucket of hot water into the toilet. To enhance the effect, add 0.5–1 box of baking soda to the liquid. In this case, it will be possible to remove not only paper, but also other contaminants, for example, fatty deposits on the walls of pipes.
It is important to remember that the water must be hot; boiling water can lead to malfunctions and damage to plumbing.
Plumbing cable for complex blockages
Such a device is a rare guest in ordinary apartments, because it is considered a professional tool for plumbers. But if, fortunately, one is still present, then you need to attach a sharp nozzle or a piece of thick wire to one end of it (if necessary). This structure is immersed in the toilet until it stops and the handle is turned clockwise. The cable can reach even a very distant blockage, after which it is recommended to clean the system with one of the special products or use hot water for this.
Use a cable if nothing else works.
Why soak toilet paper in vinegar?
Soak toilet paper in vinegar: it will solve many problems around the house! People have been using vinegar as an economical solution to cleaning various surfaces since ancient times.
According to scientists, if you soak a roll of toilet paper in vinegar and then wipe the dirty surface with it, you can solve this problem thanks to the amazing disinfecting properties of the product.
Prevention ↑
Each case of a clogged toilet is remembered by residents for a very long time, so it is better to do everything possible to prevent the toilet from clogging.
To do this, it is enough to follow the following rules:
- do not throw toilet paper into the toilet;
- Do not flush spoiled food down the toilet;
- do not use the toilet as a garbage disposal;
- If foreign things (pads, rags, toys) accidentally get into the toilet, it is better to take them out of it immediately. Don't rely on chance. After all, it’s easier than removing the blockage later.
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Clogged toilet - fix with film
There is also a method that is not very well known, but is quite effective for clearing a blockage in the toilet that has arisen as a result of debris or various objects getting inside. For implementation, you only need wide tape or cling film.
How to clean a drain using tape:
- The toilet bowl must be thoroughly wiped clean of liquid.
- Carefully begin gluing lines of tape onto the circle, connecting the strips to each other. As a result, a dense, sealed film with no cracks should form on the toilet circle.
- Rinse the water in the tank.
- Press the film firmly several times to remove the blockage.
- When the desired result is achieved, remove the tape.
There is a special film for these purposes, so it is better to use it if possible. However, sometimes it is quite difficult to find film, so you can replace it with tape. The procedure will take more time, but this method is as effective as using specialized material.
