3 Ways to Unplug a Toilet Fast

April 8th, 2018 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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There is nothing worse than watching a toilet bowl water slowly creep to the rim when you flush. You hope it won’t overflow and that you can get it unplugged in time. A backed-up toilet is not usually a plumbing emergency – at least not one where you need a plumber. But it is an urgent issue that you need to resolve quickly. Here are three ways to unplug a backed-up toilet to avoid a big, nasty mess in your home.

  1. The plunger. First tool to grab when that water starts rising in the toilet bowl is your plunger – no home should be without one. Create a seal around the drain in the bottom of the toilet and push down. This can remove most minor clogs that are in the toilet drain.
  2. The snake. If the plunger is unable to remove the clog, it may be further down the drain. A snake can be used to unclog pipes. You may not have one of these at your home – almost any home improvement or hardware store will have one. The snake allows you to go several feet down through the pipe to remove any clogs.
  3. The phone. If the plunger or snake do not do the trick, you may have a major drain clog that needs a professional drain cleaning. Get on the phone and call your local plumber for a service call to remove your toilet drain blockage.

At least nine out of ten times, you can handle plugged toilets on your own. But when you get a stubborn clog, call in a professional to get your toilet back to flushing the way it should.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 884-467

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Is Your Toilet Not Flushing Right?

December 5th, 2014 Posted in Toilets
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While it’s not generally considered polite to engage in toilet talk, when talking about plumbing, it’s acceptable. The fact is, we all depend on our toilets to do their jobs, day in and day out. There are few things that can start your day off worse than finding that your toilet is not flushing properly, or worse, not at all. While a clogged pipe is often the cause, there are a few other things you can check before calling in the plumber.

Slow Flushing

Often a toilet may be flushing, just doing so slowly or only part of the way. While this can mean a clogged pipe, it can also be an issue with your tank. If the tank is not filling all the way up, there may not be enough water to properly flush the tank.

To determine whether the tank is the problem, take the lid off to look at the water level and interior of the tank. If the water level is low, the ballcock or float maybe engaging too soon, stopping the water flow. This can be adjusted so the tank fills to a higher level. If there’s an abundance of mineral build up, this can also affect the float. Try cleaning the mineral deposits out, then see if the toilet flushes correctly.

If there doesn’t seem to be any issue within the toilet, most likely you do have a clog in your pipes. You can try plunging out the clog if it’s close enough to the toilet, but you may need to call in your plumber to resolve the problem.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

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Reasons to Upgrade Your Toilets

October 10th, 2013 Posted in Toilets
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Every time you flush an older model toilet, you’re effectively flushing away money. You’re also wasting water in the process, a major sticking point in today’s eco-conscious world. There are many reasons why your next remodeling project should include a toilet replacement, not least of which is modernizing the look of your bathroom.

First of all, throw away your preconceived notions about low flow toilets. It’s true that the earliest runs of eco-friendly toilets were badly received by the public. Since then, more functional designs have taken the place of those first models. Today’s low flow and dual flush toilets are far more effective as well as being much more efficient.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that a single older toilet can account for up to to twenty-seven percent of household water use. If you have a leaky model in your bathroom, it can waste anywhere up to two hundred gallons of water each day. Homeowners connected to a municipal sewer and water system will find that they save money on their monthly bills. Because less water is used and flushed away, you’re being billed for less water with every flush.

Septic system users will significantly decrease the amount of waste water flowing into the septic tank. That means longer periods between septic tank cleanings and the potential for fewer costly repairs. Thousands of fewer gallons pushed through your plumbing system translates to real money savings, so it’s wise to consider replacing older toilets. It’s an investment that will pay for itself in the long run, especially if your existing toilet is prone to wasteful, costly leakage. Your plumber can assist you in finding and installing the best model for your needs on the market.

Posted on behalf of Kiddco Plumbing

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What To Do When a Toilet Clogs

July 5th, 2012 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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A clogged toilet can ruin your day or, more likely, your morning, weekend or evening since toilets seem to clog after hours, when you and your family are getting ready for work and school, or just when you are sitting down to relax and watch the game.  Calling a plumber is always your best bet, but sometimes a clogged toilet can be cleared easily and you can save yourself a little money along with the time and hassle of waiting for the plumber.

First, if you see the toilet start to back up, you need to turn off the water before the bowl overflows.  There should be a shutoff valve at the wall below the toilet tank.  If the water has already overflowed onto the floor, get it cleaned up with some old towels or paper towels before it finds its way under the toilet and other fixtures and soaks into the subflooring.

When attempting to clear a clogged toilet, remember that time is your friend.  Take your time and don’t be in a rush.  Trying to rush it usually just results in a bigger mess.  Sometimes just the weight of the water in the bowl will clear the clog after it has had a few minutes to soften up.  If you are not so lucky, your next step is to try using a plunger.

Place the rubber plunger in the bowl completely under the water so that the rubber part covers the hole completely.  Push firmly but gently to try to force water pressure down the pipe.  Go easy at first until you get the hang of it.  If the clog does not clear after a dozen good plunges, it’s probably time to call a plumber.

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Dual Flush Toilets

March 28th, 2012 Posted in Toilets
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Many consumers shopping for new toilets are looking for ways to save money on their water bills.  Since the early 1990s, toilets sold in the United States have been required to meet federal standards for using no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush but consumers seeking to save even more water have several options.

One option is to use a WaterSense certified high efficiency toilet.  These use 20% less water than a standard low flow toilet without sacrificing efficiency.  Manufacturers designed these toilets to have high flushing performance with low water usage.

Another approach is to use a dual flush toilet.  These toilets conserve water by offering two flushing options: a full flush that uses 1.6 gallons or less and a partial flush that typically uses about half of a full flush.  The idea is that flushing liquid waste only needs a water-saving partial flush while a full flush is available to flush solid wastes and avoid expensive clogged toilet repairs.

Many dual flush toilets are WaterSense certified and when used properly average less than 1.28 gallons per flush.  This can save a typical family of four about 2,000 gallons of water per year compared to a standard 1.6 gallon per flush toilet.

The flushing mechanism inside a dual flush toilet is slightly more complicated than a standard toilet and the toilet may cost a little more but some consumers prefer the availability of a full 1.6 gallon flush over a 1.28 gallon per flush toilet.  In addition, the toilet must be used properly to achieve water savings.  Always using the full flush will result in the same water usage as a standard low flow toilet.

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