Stop Overflowing Toilets

The toilet is one of the most important, and most used appliances in our homes. When the toilet clogs, it’s bad news – especially when it overflows or backs up the main sewer line. Sewage damage is a messy business (let’s not even talk about the smell). To put it simply, sewage in your home is bad and needs to be handled promptly. One of, if not the biggest causes of sewer damage is (drum roll please) the toilet. The very best thing you can do to keep your toilet from spewing sewage all over places that do not need sewage spewed is to maintain it. If the toilet is not properly used and maintained, it has the potential to cause you one of the messiest, smelliest, and costliest hassles you will ever deal with – sewage damage. Here are some major do’s and don’ts to follow to keep your toilet in good condition.

Do:

• Clean your toilet regularly. Mild cleaners like soap, vinegar, and baking soda are all great for regular cleaning of porcelain. Regular cleaning allows you to check for leaks, cracks, running water, or any other problem with plumbing, while also keeping your bathroom hygienic and smelling fresh. Pay special attention to the area around the base of your toilet for any signs of water, that is a common place for toilets to leak. 
• Check the inside of the tank at least every 6 months. Take the tank lid off and flush the toilet so you can make sure the flapper is sealing well, the fill valve stops running at the right water level, and components are in good shape and functioning correctly. If there is a lot of buildup inside the tank, clean it out.
• Teach children the correct way to use a toilet, and secure it from young children (terrible 2’s/3’s) who may be tempted to put items in the toilet and try to flush them. It is important that kids know what can and cannot be flushed, and to not overdo it on the toilet paper.
• Pay attention to what toilet paper you use. Yes, the super soft, ultra thick, cushy toilet paper feels nice, but the septic system doesn’t share the same fondness. The septic system has enough work to do trying to break everything down, and indestructible toilet paper can clog the sewage pipes to your toilet, which can cause backups in the line, which leads to, well, you know where we are going with this.
• Invest in a good plunger. A flange plunger and a bucket of hot water can work wonders on a clogged toilet. It is also a good idea to have an auger or snake on hand for those difficult clogs that won’t cooperate. However, wait, now is the time to lead in to our ‘Don’t’ section…

Don’t:

• Don’t be afraid to call a plumber when you need to. Some toilet clogs are just too big, or too far down the line, to be addressed on your own. Since the whole goal of keeping your toilet maintained is to keep it from clogging and avoid sewage damage, let a professional help when the problem persists. 
• Don’t flush anything, we mean ANYTHING, other than human waste and toilet paper (in small amounts) down the toilet. Really, just don’t. 
• Don’t let anyone but the professionals handle sewage damage that may occur. If your toilet backs up into your bathroom, or any other sewage damage happens to your home in Billings, call Faithful Disaster Restoration. 

Because sewage is considered a biohazard, proper protection and cleaning techniques are required to return your home to a useable and safe environment. At Faithful Disaster Restoration, we have a team of highly trained and certified professional technicians handling your job, and getting your life, and toilet, back to normal.