Why does my toilet keep clogging? Dallas holiday tips

A house full of Thanksgiving and holiday guests means a lot more flushing than usual, and a guest bathroom that sits quiet most of the year suddenly gets heavy use. If you have ever asked "why does my toilet keep clogging?" the holidays are when the answer tends to show up. Most repeat clogs come down to a few causes, and several are easy to prevent.

Short answer: a toilet usually keeps clogging because of what goes into it (wipes, too much paper, hygiene products), a partial blockage that never got fully cleared, a weak flush, or a problem further down the drain or sewer line. If more than one drain is slow, think main line, not toilet.

1. Wipes and other things that do not break down

Wipes and other items that do not break down easily are a common cause of drain and sewer blockages. Dallas Water Utilities has warned about these problems through its Defend Your Drains campaign. In the city's words, "Just because the item says it is flushable, does not mean it really is." Paper towels and feminine hygiene products do not break down either and can clog pipes, causing backups.

The North Texas Municipal Water District puts the rule simply: do not flush anything except the 3 Ps, pee, poop and paper. It specifically includes so-called flushable wipes and notes that, unlike toilet paper, these stronger wipes don't break down quickly. North Texas wastewater crews have pulled large amounts of wipes out of treatment equipment; CBS Texas reported the Trinity River Authority removed 709 wet tons of wipes from one plant in 2017.

Holiday tip: put a small trash can with a lid in every bathroom guests will use, so wipes and hygiene products have somewhere else to go.

2. Too much toilet paper at once

Toilet paper is meant to go down the toilet, but a thick wad in one flush can still stop in the trap, the curved passage built into the toilet. With extra guests, that happens more often. Flushing twice with less paper is easier on the toilet than one big flush.

3. A partial clog that never really cleared

If a plunger gets the water moving but the toilet clogs again a day or two later, something is probably still stuck in the trap or just past it: a wipe, a cotton swab, a small toy, or a mass of paper. Water and paper get past it, then build up again. Plunging over and over does not remove the object; it often needs a closet auger or a plumber to pull the toilet and clear the trap. Our page on toilet repair in Dallas covers what that involves.

4. A weak or older low-flow toilet

Low-flow does not have to mean clog-prone. EPA WaterSense says design improvements have allowed toilets to use 1.28 gallons per flush or less while still providing equal or superior performance, which is 20 percent less water than the current federal standard of 1.6 gallons per flush. WaterSense labeled models are tested for how well they clear waste from the bowl.

Some older toilets, though, simply have a weak flush, and a toilet with a worn flapper or a tank that does not fill fully can flush poorly too. If one toilet in the house clogs far more than the others, its flush may be the issue.

5. The problem is further down the line

Sometimes the toilet is just where the problem shows up. Signs that the clog is in the drain or main line rather than the toilet itself:

• More than one fixture drains slowly
• The toilet gurgles when the washing machine or a sink drains
• Water comes up in a tub or shower when you flush
• Clogs come back no matter what goes into the toilet

North Texas MWD also warns that fats, oils and greases can form clogs that are difficult and expensive to remove, which matters in a holiday kitchen. Our guide on whether you can pour grease down the drain explains why. A blocked branch or main line needs drain cleaning in Dallas, and if roots or a broken pipe are involved, sewer line repair in Dallas is the next step.

What to do when the toilet clogs

1. Stop flushing. If the water is rising, a second flush can overflow the bowl. Lift the tank lid and close the flapper, or turn off the supply valve behind the toilet.
2. Use a flange plunger. The kind with a soft extension at the bottom seals better in a toilet bowl than a flat sink plunger.
3. Skip harsh drain chemicals. They rarely clear a solid object, and they make the job unpleasant for whoever has to remove the toilet later.
4. Call for help if it keeps coming back, or if other drains are slow too.

Before the guests arrive

• Put a lidded trash can in every guest bathroom.
• Make sure each bathroom has a plunger.
• Test each toilet: if one flushes weakly or clogs easily now, get it looked at before the house fills up.
• Keep cooking grease out of the kitchen sink.

Need a plumber in Dallas?

If your toilet keeps clogging or several drains are backing up, call now at (877) 340-0703 and describe what is happening. Calls are answered 24/7. See the Dallas zip codes we serve to check your area.

Sources

• DWU urges you to Defend Your Drains (Feb. 9, 2016) (City of Dallas, Dallas City News)
• Defend Your Drains North Texas (North Texas Municipal Water District)
• Residential Toilets (U.S. EPA WaterSense)
• Flushable Or Not? The Fight Over Wipes (Feb. 7, 2018) (CBS Texas)

This guide is general information for Dallas homeowners, not a substitute for a plumber inspecting your home.