Rosendo was getting ready for the weekend when he noticed something wasn’t right in the bathroom. The toilet was draining slow, real slow. You know that feeling when you flush and the water just kind of sits there spinning around like it’s thinking about going down? Yeah, that’s what was happening.
Nobody wants to deal with a clogged toilet on a Friday afternoon. Especially when you have plans or family coming over. Rosendo gave us a call and our technician headed out to his Carrollton home to see what was going on.
What We Found
When our tech got there he confirmed what Rosendo already knew. That toilet was definitely not draining the way it should. Sometimes you can tell right away there’s a major blockage and sometimes it’s just sluggish flow that’s driving you crazy. This one was the sluggish kind.
The technician used an auger to clear out whatever was causing the stoppage. Honestly we never did figure out exactly what was down there. The issue could have been too much toilet paper buildup or maybe something that got flushed that shouldn’t have. It happens more than you think.
After clearing the line the tech flushed that toilet multiple times just to make sure everything was flowing smoothly. No more spinning water. No more waiting and hoping. Just a normal flush like it’s supposed to be.
Why Slow Draining Toilets Are More Common Than You Think
Here’s the thing about toilets. They seem pretty simple but there’s actually a lot that can go wrong. A slow drain doesn’t always mean there’s a massive clog sitting in your pipes. Sometimes it’s partial blockages that build up over time. Sometimes it’s stuff that shouldn’t be flushed in the first place.
Common causes we see in Carrollton homes include:
- Excess toilet paper especially the thick quilted kind
- Flushable wipes that aren’t really as flushable as the package says
- Kids toys and other random objects that somehow end up in the bowl
- Mineral buildup in older pipes
- Tree roots getting into sewer lines
That last one is something to watch out for if you live in an older Carrollton neighborhood with mature trees. Those roots are always looking for water and your sewer line is basically an all you can drink buffet for them.
When to Call a Plumber for a Clogged Toilet
Nobody wants to call a plumber for something that seems like it should be a simple fix. And sometimes a plunger really does solve the problem. But if you’ve been plunging for ten minutes and nothing is happening or if your toilet keeps clogging up every few weeks then it’s time to bring in some help.
Recurring clogs usually mean there’s something deeper going on. There could be a partial blockage further down the line or it could be a sign your drain needs some attention.
If you have a slow draining toilet or any kind of toilet troubles in Carrollton give us a call. You can learn more about our services on our drain cleaning page or check out our Carrollton TX service area to see what else we can help with.
Tips to Keep Your Toilet Running Smooth
A few quick things you can do to avoid toilet problems:
- Only flush toilet paper and you know what else. Nothing else should go down there
- Use reasonable amounts of toilet paper per flush
- Keep a small trash can next to the toilet for wipes and other stuff
- If you notice slow draining don’t ignore it hoping it’ll fix itself
Rosendo did the smart thing by calling when he noticed the problem instead of waiting for it to turn into a full on backup. A little prevention goes a long way when it comes to your plumbing.
Got a toilet giving you trouble this winter? Cold weather can make existing plumbing issues worse so don’t wait until you get water on the floor. Give us a shout and we will get things flowing right again.