You are faced with two important choices, you have a blocked toilet on your hand right now, but you have another urgent business to attend to. So, can you leave a toilet blocked?
If you leave a clogged toilet for too long without clearing it up, then water will back up into other areas of your home causing damage to floors and walls. This could also cause mold problems as well as potentially lead to structural damage.
Learn what to do if you ever find yourself in the unfortunate situation where a toilet is blocked and how much it could cost you if left unchecked.
What Are Some of The Most Common Causes of A Blocked Toilet?
There are a few things that can cause your toilet to become blocked. One of the most common reasons is when something gets flushed down the drain that it’s not supposed to be. This could be something like feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, or paper.
Another common reason for a blocked toilet is when the drain pipe becomes clogged with hard water or mineral buildup. When this happens, the water can’t flow through properly and causes the toilet to back up.
What Are the Consequences of Leaving a Toilet Blocked?
Leaving a toilet clogged overnight can create some serious plumbing problems. For example, if you don’t have an overflow tube and the water keeps building up, it can cause the toilet to overflow onto the floor. Not only is this a huge mess to clean up, but it can also damage your floors and furniture.
In addition, leaving a toilet blocked for more than five hours without assistance from a professional should be avoided. This is because leaving scents in the bathroom–such as those from dirty diapers or menstrual products–can cause mold and mildew to grow on surfaces in the bathroom. If this happens, it’s not only difficult to get rid of the mold and mildew, but it can also be dangerous for your health.
If you’re lucky, the clog will work itself out in time and you won’t have any major backups. However, if that doesn’t happen there are a few things you can do: call a plumber or go online and find videos on how to unclog your toilet yourself. Just be sure to take all necessary precautions before attempting this (like wearing gloves and using proper ventilation).
What Are the Health Risks Associated with A Blocked Toilet?
There are a few health risks associated with a blocked toilet. The most common is the risk of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI). This can happen if the urine stays in the bladder for too long because you can’t go to the toilet and you keep holding it for a very long time.
Another health risk is that sewage could back up into your home. This can cause serious problems, such as mold growth or even electrical fires. It’s important to get the blockage cleared as soon as possible to avoid any of these risks.
How Can You Prevent a Toilet Blocked?
There are many ways you can do to prevent your toilet from being blocked. Here are some of the most common and effective ways:
Use a Plunger
If your toilet is clogged, you can use a plunger to clear it. A plunger needs to be submerged in water and not flushed, otherwise, it doesn’t work. To unclog, pump the plunger slowly and repeatedly.
You can also try using a plunger/toilet brush combo – this is a great option for those that don’t have access to a traditional plunger. Be prepared to have a blocked toilet, and be ready with a plunger or other unclogging tool. If the clog is stubborn, invest in an electric broom
Add a Quick Mixture of Dawn
- Heavy Duty Degreaser
- Full-strength cleaning for tough, greasy soils.
- Noncorrosive to hands.
Dawn is a powerful degreaser and can break up clogs more quickly than an abrasive cleaner. Pour Dawn down the toilet bowl and allow it to sit for one hour. If the clog does not clear, pour in a mixture of vinegar and baking soda.
Allow the vinegar and baking soda mixture to sit for one hour. If the first attempt does not work, allow it to work overnight before making another attempt
Dish Soap
It can take up to 30 minutes for dish soap to break down the clog. Shampoo is an adequate substitute if you don’t have time to make a trip to the kitchen or run out of soap.
A half cup of dish soap should be enough. Pour hot water from about waist level into the toilet bowl, with the goal of creating pressure and dislodging clogs.
Once the hot water has created enough pressure, flush to check that your toilet is draining normally once again.
Epsom Salt
- 100% vegan and cruelty-free
- Has anti-inflammatory properties
Epsom salt is a great way to unblock a toilet. It’s also a good way to get rid of smells. You might not want to let your friend know about the clog until after you’ve cleared it yourself. If all else fails, try adding bath bombs or Epsom salts to the water. Bath bombs are often used with toilets, but they should be replaced later.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Baking soda and vinegar is a great mixture that does a whole lot of stuff. Pour this mixture into the toilet bowl, letting it sink to the bottom evenly with circular motions so it doesn’t clump up in any one spot. The mixture of vinegar and baking soda should break up clogs.
The solution should be left for about an hour before trying to flush it.
A Wire Hanger
A wire hanger is a simple way to unclog the toilet bowl. The key is to wrap the wire in an old rag and use it as a “toilet snake.” Toilet snakes are made from a hanger. The clothes hanger is useful because it can be easily folded and unfolded to work through the toilet drain.
A Toilet Brush
Another way to unblock a toilet is by using the handle of your toilet brush. The bristles will help loosen any debris that may be blocking the drain hole. Be sure to use caution, as you do not want to damage the toilet by forcing it down into the drain hole and back out again with vigor.
What should you do if you can’t unblock your toilet?
If you have used all the above ways to unblock your toilet but it just won’t budge, you will have to call a plumber. This is because the issue may be caused by the pipes and not just your toilet bowl.
How much damage can a blocked toilet cause?
A clogged toilet can cause a lot of damage, especially if it is not fixed right away. For one, the water that remains in the bowl will eventually start to seep out and spread across your floor.
Not only is this unsightly and inconvenient, but it can also be dangerous if you have any electrical appliances near the toilet. If water makes its way into those appliances, it could potentially cause a fire or other type of hazard.
In addition, a clogged toilet can eventually overflow. This means that all of the dirty water and waste will come spilling out onto your floor-and there’s really no telling what kind of bacteria or contaminants may be lurking in that mess!
Final Thought On Can You Leave A Blocked Toilet
We hope that this article has been informative and helpful. Remember, it is very important to be aware of your toilet’s status and act accordingly! Keep a toilet clean and well-maintained to reduce the risk of clogs, and inspect it regularly.