Nothing ruins your morning faster than a clogged toilet. One minute everything is going great: you’re getting ready for work and the kids are getting ready to head off to school. The next minute the toilet is overflowing, the dog is barking, the kids are yelling, and the bathroom floor is covered with water and sewage.
When you are faced with a clogged toilet, your instinct is often to try to get it cleared so you can get on with the important things you need to do that day. Before you take any action you should first try to find out what type of clog you are dealing with. You may be able to save yourself the mess and frustration of wasting time on a clog that needs a professional plumber.
A backed up toilet is usually the result of a localized toilet clog, a vent stack clog, or a clogged sewer main. You can tell if the clog is most likely a localized toilet clog by seeing if your other drains are flowing freely. Try flushing a different toilet or running water in a sink in the lower level of your home. If these drains flow freely, then the clog is probably localized in the stopped up toilet.
If you are so inclined, this type of clog can often be cleared using a plunger or common plumbing snake. Otherwise, one of your local experienced Smyrna plumbers can quickly get it cleared for you.
If there are drainage problems in other areas of your home, you probably have either a clogged vent stack or a clogged sewer main. For both of these types of clogs, don’t waste your time with the plunger. Clean up the water on the floor and call a plumbing professional.
