Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[DUNBAR PLUMBING]

A new plumbing customer to Dunbar Plumbing contacted us regarding a clogged toilet at the home. It was mentioned that plunging and the recent purchase of a closet auger did not rectify the situation. Below is an image of a closet auger and its use.

Picture of a Closet Auger

 
 
 

[DUNBAR PLUMBING]

 
The property owner attempted to clear the obstruction by repeated use of the plunger and the use of an economy closet auger. This did not resolve the issue given the size of the obstruction in the toilet trapway.
When we arrived to perform the task of the clogged toilet we performed a short diagnostic test of the following:
Ran water down the drain of the adjacent tub

Ran water down the drain of the adjacent lavatory

If either of those two fixtures would of created a disturbance of the water in the trapway of the toilet, that would of led to the obstruction of the drain line, not the toilet in question.

Lateral branches tie into the larger piping that serves the toilet in the bath group it serves. When more than one fixture is affected in a clogged/backed up scenario, this implies that the location of the clog is beyond the toilet, requiring a longer "reach" to break loose the obstruction.
 
 

[DUNBAR PLUMBING]

After performing this test it revealed that the operation/draining of the two fixtures in the bathroom did not cause a disturbance in the toilet trapway of residual wastewater. This test proved that the clog was isolated and only affecting the toilet itself.
 
This resulted in our use of a Closet Auger that was more durable than the economical one bought/used by the property owner. We always give the customer top notch approval for trying to attempt to clear an obstruction themselves whenever possible. The reward is solving the problem without the expense of a plumber.
 
Using the Closet Auger in its design is made to be a handheld, hand crank type drain cable that has a slight hook end with protective covering to protect the trapway of the toilet from porcelain scratching/damage. The goal is to push and turn the closet auger's hand crank as you're using the device, allowing the device to remove/retract the foreign object or obstruction inside the toilet's trapway.

Not always will you retrieve what is blocking the toilet. In cases where soft stoppages exist, it might be excessive toilet paper that is to blame. Others can be the situation of hard or large stools that did not break up through the passage of the trapway. Recent usage of medications or the changing of one's medicine intake can cause an interruption of one's bowel movements resulting in issues such as these that can lead to stoppages or clogged toilets.
The use of the Closet Auger proved successful and the repeated flushing of the toilet to ensure that the trapway was clear offered the guarantee that the stoppage was removed. It is imperative that once a toilet is free from obstruction that multiple flushings take place in order to remove or send the foreign object or matter down the drain line if the Closet Auger does not grab on or retrieve the item causing the blockage.
 
However, (EXCLUSION TO THE ABOVE PARAGRAPH)
 
If you are aware that an object or item is something that might end up causing a clog in the drain piping due to its size or shape, then it's important that the toilet is removed from the closet flange mounted to the floor and attempt to remove the obstruction by retrieval. This will provide the guarantee that the item will not cause future backups in the piping system.

[Tags:]

Tags: nky plumber  toilet  toilet clog  clogged toilet  northern kentucky plumbers