Why Does My Toilet Keep Clogging?

One clog is a bad day. A toilet that clogs over and over is telling you something. Here's how to figure out what.

1. What's going down it

Wipes labeled 'flushable', paper towels, feminine products and even thick toilet paper can build up. Wipes are the number one culprit we see. Here's the truth about flushable wipes.

2. An older low-flow toilet

Some early low-flow toilets simply don't push enough water to clear the bowl. If yours dates back decades and clogs constantly, replacing it with a modern, well-designed model often solves the problem for good. See our fixture installation service.

3. Something stuck in the toilet's trap

A toy, a toothbrush, or a buildup of mineral scale inside the toilet's built-in trap can leave a partial blockage that catches everything that follows. A toilet auger can often clear it; sometimes the toilet has to come off the floor.

4. A blocked vent

If the toilet gurgles, flushes weakly, or the water level in the bowl drops on its own, the plumbing vent may be blocked, starving the drain of air.

5. A main line problem

If other drains are slow too, water comes up in the tub when you flush, or you've had repeated backups, the clog is likely in the main sewer line. Tree roots are a common cause in established Upstate neighborhoods. A sewer camera inspection shows what's going on.

What to do now

• Use a flange plunger (the kind with an extended rubber cup) with slow, firm strokes.
• Skip chemical drain cleaners. They rarely work on toilets and can damage pipes. Why store-bought cleaners don't work.
• If it keeps coming back, it's time for a professional to find the cause instead of treating the symptom.

Tired of plunging? call us at 864-365-8900 — we answer 24/7. Our drain cleaning service clears clogs at the source across Greer and the Upstate.