Everyday Things That Can Cause Bathroom Plumbing Emergencies

When it comes to home plumbing, most homeowners understand the basics of avoiding grease and food particles down the sink drains. However, bathroom plumbing often remains somewhat of a mystery. In fact, many homeowners unknowingly do things that can be detrimental to their bathroom plumbing system. Here are a few things you might be doing that can lead to toilet clogs and other bathroom plumbing issues that necessitate a call to an emergency plumbing repair contractor.

Flushing Repeatedly

When your toilet doesn't flush completely the first time, it's a common reflexive reaction to simply flush it again a couple of times. Unfortunately, if you do this and there's a clog in the line, it can lead to an overflow and potentially to serious backups in the pipes.

Instead of instinctively flushing it again and again, wait a few minutes if it doesn't flush the first time. You can try to flush it one more time. Sometimes that will clear things out. However, if it doesn't, you should call an emergency plumber to locate the source of the clog and clear it out.

Leaving Pipes To Drip

Whether it's the shut-off valve behind the toilet tank that's dripping or somewhere else in the line, you may think that it's no big deal if it's just dripping. After all, drips are small. However, ignoring a dripping pipe can lead to serious problems.

Prolonged water dripping on the floor around your toilet can lead to weakened, soft, deteriorated wood in the floor. Eventually, this can cause the floor to give out, leaving your toilet uneven or possibly falling through the floor. You'll need an emergency plumber to deal with the toilet damage and possibly a mold remediation team to address any mold growth from the long-term water exposure.

Cleaning Drains With Chemicals

Many homeowners fall back on chemical drain cleaners to keep the pipes clear of clogs. This includes putting chemical drain cleaners down the toilet. However, if you do this, you could be causing more harm than good and may eventually find yourself with a plumbing emergency.

Chemical drain cleaners work well because they are caustic. This caustic nature is what helps to break down clogs. However, the caustic nature of these cleaners also results in pipe damage over time. Chemical drain cleaners will deteriorate your pipes, leading to cracks, holes, and other significant leaks. It can also cause pipes to fail completely, leading to your toilet potentially flooding the entire bathroom.

For more information, contact an emergency plumber in your area.