How to fix a frequently clogged toilet?
Our toilet clogs and gurgles almost daily and needs to be plunged, even when the kids use it. Is there an underlying problem? Any advice on how to fix a gurgling toilet?
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Yes, there is a problem when it is that often. It might be something flushed that should not have (tiny kid toy size) or something farther down the line. First test is to put in a good cup of hair conditioner and pour very warm but not just boiled water and leave it for half and hour to an house. If it works you cleared something simple. If not the next step is to use a snake yourself to see you can clear it that way. After that I would personally take the toilet off to check it for some unwanted object then use a new grease seal and set it back in position just tightened to a turn past hand turning and see if that helps. At that part is when I call the plumber because it would definitely need someone with more knowledge than myself. Oh, yes, when you find a plumber who treats you right keep his or her number carefully placed so you do not lose it, lol.
I totally agree with Linda Hunt...these are some of the steps we used andd found that once we put a new seal it works so so much better..
Probably. Toilets shouldn't need daily plunging. You may have a major clog or root in the line somewhere. You could try using a rotorooter, but if it's that bad, you might be ahead just to call in a plumber.
This is from a website below. Hope it helps.
Flapper not opening completely
The flapper is the part of your toilet that lets water flow from the tank on the back down into the toilet bowl, creating the flush.
If the flapper doesn’t open all the way it won’t release enough water, which means you’ll get a weak flush. Clogs are common in toilets with a weak flush.
How to fix it: Adjust the chain that connects the flapper to the flush handle so that the flapper opens completely when you flush.
http://www.ragsdaleair.com/blog/why-does-my-toilet-keep-clogging-4/
Your plumbing under the toilet could be clogged, or there could be a clog in the main. Every few years we have a plumber come out and snake out the main to make sure tree roots aren't growing into the pipes. That happened once and the first thing to clog on a regular basis was our main floor toilet.
Time to call a plumber, there is obviously something going on. They can send a snake camera down and find out. My guess is roots of some sort.
I also agree with Linda Hunt. The toilet has a bend cavity in it to prevent sewer gases from entering the room. A toy, pen, pencil, toothbrush, small bottle, etc., is stuck in the cavity. Sometimes it floats and other time it creates a blockage when flushed. As a former Maintenance Supervisor for a nursing home I could write a whole chapter on items me and my crew took out of toilets.
Something could be caught in the trap that you can't see, snake the toilet. If that does not work, remove and shake out toilet, be sure to replace the wax ring, Check your air vent or "stack" if it is not clear toilet will not flush. City water? No worries. Is your septic tank full?
I kept having problems and had to have plumber out many times and problem would happen again. Im very consious about not putting grease down my drain and wipe pans very good before adding soap. Any way, the last time the plumber came out he went on roof and went down that vent on the roof to the pipes in the back yard and got a lot of black goo out and drain has stayed open ever since. Stools have stayed open and great drainage in kitchen sinks too. My house is 50 yrs old and over the years that black goo built up til nothing stayed open very long. I also changed from 2 ply to 1 ply toilet tissue and its great not having a plumber out ever few months. My husband was working on pipes all the time but now up to me to see that all goes well and havent seen a plumber for over a year due to that goo cleanout.
Usually its tree roots clogging sewer lines, you can buy Robotics Root Killer and put it down the toliet once or twice a year. You can maintain your toilet like with their Drain Cleaner, I put in my toilet 1 or 2x a year at night, then flush in morning.