COMMON MISTAKES THAT CAN DAMAGE YOUR TOILET WHEN ATTEMPTING TO UNCLOG IT

Picture this: you flush the toilet, expecting everything to disappear smoothly, but the water starts rising instead of draining away. It’s a clogged toilet situation, and you’re in a hurry to fix it. You’re not alone!

Many homeowners find themselves in this predicament, and their attempts to unclog the toilet can sometimes lead to costly blunders. To ensure you don’t fall into this trap, let’s explore three ways you could unintentionally damage your toilet while attempting to clear the clog.

1. Misusing Drain Cleaners

Chemical drain cleaners seem like a convenient solution to unclog drains by breaking down blockages through chemical reactions. However, the heat generated during this process can result in porcelain cracks, ultimately necessitating a complete toilet replacement.

Moreover, if the drain cleaner proves ineffective and the clog persists, you’ll end up with a toilet bowl filled with harmful chemicals. Plunging in this scenario could potentially splash these toxic substances onto your skin and eyes, causing burns.

Professional Myrtle Beach plumbers strongly advise steering clear of drain cleaning chemicals and instead reaching out to a skilled plumbing contractor for assistance.

2. Overzealous Plunging

When dealing with a clog, homeowners can sometimes get carried away with their plunging efforts, inadvertently causing damage. Excessive force can lead to cracks in the bowl. The key is to plunge correctly. Begin by placing the plunger in the toilet bowl, ensuring that water seals the plunger’s lips.

Gently press down, eliminating any trapped air to achieve a secure seal. With this set-up, pull up the plunger briskly. Repeat the process until the clog clears, or consider enlisting the help of a professional plumber, such as Blue Ribbon Plumbing LLC, for expert assistance.

3. Incorrect Use of Plumber’s Snake

While drain cables or plumbing snakes are effective for sink clogs, they can spell trouble for your porcelain toilet bowl. If plunging doesn’t yield results, opt for a toilet auger, also called a closet auger. This specialized plumbing snake features a protective sleeve that safeguards your toilet bowl from harm while effectively removing the obstruction.

If you’re grappling with a clogged toilet, don’t hesitate to contact Blue Ribbon Plumbing LLC. They can provide the expert guidance and assistance you need to resolve your toilet troubles without causing further damage.

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Blue Ribbon Plumbing LLC
4201 Carolina Exchange Drive Suite 202
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 267-9733
https://www.blueribbonplumbingmb.com/

Serving all of Horry County including Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Little River, Murrells Inlet/Garden City, Surfside Beach, Carolina Forest/Forestbrook, Conway/Aynor

WHY YOU SHOULD STOP FLUSHING WET WIPES DOWN THE TOILET

You flushing wet wipes down the toilet bowl could be causing some of your plumbing issues. They can sometimes cause damage that costs more than $1,000.

Wet wipes are safe to flush, but what about those that the manufacturers claim? These wipes may seem safe, but they can be dangerous to your plumbing system if you flush them regularly. What are some other reasons you shouldn’t flush wipes down your drain?

Why Flushing Wet Wipes Down The Toilet Is A Big No?

1. They don’t break apart

Wet wipes rarely disintegrate when flushed down the toilet. It’s not a question of whether wet wipes can be flushed down the toilet. The wipes may flush down the toilet without any problems. The problem occurs when wipes are flushed down your sewer. Wet wipes are virtually indestructible even after flushing.

Wet wipes can be found in drain pipes intact even months after they have been flushed. They also do not break down, resulting in a buildup of wet wipes that clogs drain lines and can eventually cause Myrtle Beach plumbing systems to become backed up.

In one test, wet wipes were placed in a blender and blended for 10 minutes. Would you believe they were almost unaltered after such a procedure? What is the best method to get rid of wet wipes, then? Toss them in the trash. Try buying a small, sealed can and lining it with a bag scented with your favorite scent if the smell of trash bothers you. It is cheaper and easier to do this than call a plumber.

2. Fatberg Effect

What is a Fatberg? It is when wet wipes are combined with fat, grease and other dirt in the pipes to create an iceberg-like formation. These formations cause huge blockages in drains and plumbing pipes. Fatbergs are 10 feet or longer and can weigh over 100 pounds.

Homeowners often face fatbergs, which can cost thousands of dollars in plumbing repairs. Softball clogs, the smaller versions of fatbergs, can cause as much damage as flushing a ball down the toilet.

3. Wall of Wipes

How old is your house? The older your house, the more vulnerable your plumbing system will be. Many of your pipes will be brittle and corroded. Your drain lines may have many small holes or even be infested with tree roots. Older sewer systems were often constructed of concrete, Orangeburg, or iron pipes. Tree roots can grow in all of these materials. The roots may grow at the joints of the sewer pipes and spread to form a web. Roots can catch things that are passing through pipes.

This wall would prevent anything from getting into the sewer system. A professional plumbing contractor in Myrtle Beach will be needed to fix this problem. It is, therefore, important to have regular plumbing inspections if your home plumbing system is old.

4. Sewer Damage

Even if the wet wipes that you flush don’t get stuck in the pipes or cause a blockage, they can still cause damage. This can damage your septic tank and the sewer system in the city.

Why? It causes a blockage in the septic system rather than clogging the drain lines. This can lead to a backed-up sewer system entering your home via sinks and drains.

Even if you don’t consider the cost of plumbing repairs, cleaning up the mess alone could cost you thousands. If the blockage is severe, you may have to replace your septic system. The best way to prevent this is never to flush wet wipes!

Wet wipes can cause problems at sewage treatment plants, even if they are unharmed through the sewer system. Wet wipes can cause damage to industrial pumps and lead them to overheat. The taxpayers are responsible for paying the pump replacement or repair cost every time this happens. It’s no surprise that these pumps are expensive.

Call Blue Ribbon Plumbing LLC if you have plumbing issues caused by wet wipes or other reasons.

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Blue Ribbon Plumbing LLC
4201 Carolina Exchange Drive Suite 202
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 267-9733
https://www.blueribbonplumbingmb.com/

Serving all of Horry County including Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Little River, Murrells Inlet/Garden City, Surfside Beach, Carolina Forest/Forestbrook, Conway/Aynor

WAYS YOU CAN DAMAGE YOUR TOILET WHEN TRYING TO UNCLOG IT

So, you go, flush, and water begins to rush to clear the toilet. However, you notice that the water won’t stop rising. You find out that your toilet is clogged. You are in a rush to get rid of the clog. You are not alone!

Because of this, many homeowners are making expensive mistakes of tinkering with their plumbing system as they try to unclog their toilets incorrectly. You don’t have to be one of them. Because of that, here are three ways you can damage your toilet when trying to get rid of the clog.

Using Drain Cleaners

Many chemical drain cleaners can get rid of the clogs in your drain by breaking down the obstruction through a chemical reaction. The heat generated by the chemical reaction can lead to cracking the porcelain, which means you eventually need to have it replaced with a new one.

Additionally, in case the drain cleaner fails to work and the toilet is still clogged, you will end up with a toilet that is filled with chemicals. Plunging could splash the potentially toxic chemicals onto your eyes and your skin, which can cause burns. Plumbers recommend that you stay away from drain cleaning chemicals and just call a professional plumbing contractor right away.

Plunging Too Hard

When you are trying to dislodge anything that is clogging your toilet, several homeowners become overzealous. They plunge too hard that they wind up cracking the bowl. You need to use the right way when plunging your toilet. The first thing you need to do is to put the plunger in the toilet bowl and make sure that the water is sealing the lips of the plunger.

The next thing to do is push down gently and get rid of all the air out of the plunger so you can get a good seal. Once that is done, pull the plunger up swiftly. Repeat this process until the toilet drains. You can also call a Myrtle Beach plumber for professional help.

Using The Incorrect Plumber’s Snake

Drain cables or plumbing snakes are used to remove the clogs on sinks but they can unclog the porcelain toilet bowl. In case plunging fails to get the job done, you should go for a toilet auger, also known as a closet auger. The toilet auger is also a plumbing snake. However, it has a protective sleeve that will protect your toilet bowl from being damaged.

Call Blue Ribbon Plumbing LLC if you are having problems with your toilet.

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Blue Ribbon Plumbing LLC
4201 Carolina Exchange Drive Suite 202
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 267-9733
https://www.blueribbonplumbingmb.com/

Serving all of Horry County including Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Little River, Murrells Inlet/Garden City, Surfside Beach, Carolina Forest/Forestbrook, Conway/Aynor

ARE FLUSHABLE WIPES SAFE TO FLUSH IN YOUR TOILET?

Do you recall the first time you used a moist wipe to replace toilet paper? You weren’t sure what to think at first. But after several trips to the toilet, you became a fan! They are not the heroes we expected them to be when we first purchased them. These wipes are labelled “flushable,” but is it really safe to flush them down the toilet?

What is the truth about flushable wipes?

You’d think that wet wipes would be safe to flush down the toilet. They are advertised as being “flushable and septic-safe.” Wrong! These wipes eventually do break down but they take longer than toilet paper to do so. Clogged pipes and blockages are more common because wet wipes don’t break down as quickly. You could be paying a lot of money for the repair of your plumbing system if you put your home at risk for severe clogs.

What causes toilet clogs?

These so-called flushable wipes can become mixed up with other items in your sewer line after they are flushed. Toilet paper, toilet cleaning pads, cotton swabs and dental floss are all common items that can cause toilet backups and clogs.

Combining these items with wet wipes can cause a blockage called “ragging”. If this happens, find your phone and search for a plumber in Myrtle Beach.

What can I do to keep my family safe?

Manufacturers offer test results that state flushable wipes have been tested safe for flushing. However, evidence supports that flushing these wipes can lead to clogged sewer lines and the need to pump septic tanks more frequently. Wipes may seem like the best invention since sliced bread but you should not use them. The only thing you can flush is toilet paper.

What to do if your toilet is clogged?

Don’t believe everything that other people say. The same applies to your beloved “flushable”, bathroom wipes, and their misleading packaging. There is an underlying problem if your home experiences frequent clogs, regardless of whether you use wet wipes.

Call Blue Ribbon Plumbing LLC now if you need a plumber to remove clogs from your toilet.

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Blue Ribbon Plumbing LLC
4201 Carolina Exchange Drive Suite 202
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 267-9733
https://www.blueribbonplumbingmb.com/