Few household issues are more annoying and potentially messy than a clogged toilet. And if this mishap occurs and you don’t have a plunger, you might think that you are really up that often talked about creek. However, there are several DIY remedies that you can fall back on to clear up the clog and return your toilet to its much-needed function.

All of these tips use simple household products that are safe to use, will not damage your pipes, and that you should have around the house. BUT, these options can be a little messy, so it is best to always don a pair of rubber gloves before tackling any toilet clog. It is also a good idea to have some antibacterial wipes handy and a few paper towels in case things get a little out of hand.

Tip 1

Dish soap might not be something that you would consider using to remove a toilet clog, but it is the critical ingredient in this first toilet clog removal process. If the toilet bowl is full or nearly full of dirty water, it is best to remove some of the liquid and pour it into a bucket. Next, add about a half of a cup of liquid dish soap to the toilet bowl. The soap will sink and coat the pipes to make the surface more slippery. Wait about 20-30 minutes before flushing to allow the soap to settle in around the clog. If you are low on dish soap, try cutting a bar of soap into small cubes and adding them to the toilet bowl. It will take longer for the solid pieces of soap to melt and settle into the pipe, so wait a full hour before flushing.

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Plumbing issues such as a broken pipe or a leaking valve are annoying and troublesome, but they cannot even compare with the issues and concerns that homeowners experience when a sewer line backs up. Not only are you faced with expensive water damage repair, but the need for contamination remediation compounds the cost. It is a homeowner’s worst nightmare. But the good news is there are a few simple tips that can eliminate the potential for sewage to back in your home.

Proper Grease Disposal

Grease and oil-based products are the number one cause of drain clogs. Liquid cooking grease, oil, and fats that are dumped into a drain rarely make it all the way to the city sewer main. In most cases, these oil-based materials adhere to the inside of the drain pipes and create a sticky residue. This grime and residue act like a magnet, attracting food and debris particles and hair to create some nasty clogs. Properly disposing of fats, oil, and cooking grease in the trash rather than down the drain is the best way to avoid clogs and sewer backups.

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Once you have experienced a clogged and overflowing drain, your outlook is changed forever. You quickly discover that the first signs of a slow clearing drain are not to be taken lightly and that they are a call to action that should be answered quickly. Because left unresolved, that small issue in your drain will grow into a time consuming and expensive mistake. 

Dirty water and even human waste could begin to back up into your home causing damage and creating a health risk. After this happens just once, you will be eager to learn how you can prevent such a disgusting occurrence from ever happening again. And the answer to this question is as simple as scheduling a professional drain cleaning once each year. 

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Often times, it is the most simple things in life that are the most appreciated and enjoyed. A hot shower is one of those things that many consumers take for granted until they have experienced a few cold showers. But imagine how great it would be to know that you have an endless supply of hot water at your fingertips, any time you choose to reach for the faucet. This is actually a possibility when you install a tankless water heater.

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When you find that you have a very slow clearing drain or a completely clogged drain in a sink, shower, or tub, it can be very tempting to try a DIY fix. Most consumers believe that spending $10 on a jug of drain cleaner will be more cost-effective and equally as successful as calling a professional plumber to remove the blockage. But the real truth is that not only is drain cleaner a less than reliable solution to most clogs, but the harsh chemicals in these products can also actually damage or destroy your drain pipes!

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Most people never think about their water heater until that unpleasant day when you discover that you have no hot water. At that point, you become obsessed with getting the issue repaired or replacing the entire unit. But there are many other indications that you should begin budgeting and planning for a new water heater. You just need to know the signs and a few tips, so that you can avoid that day of a cold shower or no hot water to clean your dishes.

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When you first notice a slow clearing drain, it is often more of a nuisance than a real concern. You find that the shower or tub takes more time to clear, but it is really not alarming. And a slow sink drain just takes a little patience, but no other action you tell yourself. But what is truly happening is that your plumbing is giving you a gentle reminder that it is time for some drain maintenance before things get really messy. Understanding a little bit about these subtle messages can save you a great deal of time and money in the future.

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When you notice that a single drain is clearing more slowly than normal, it is time to take action and not wait for the situation to get worse. But that is not what most homeowners do. They might have good intentions, but a slow drain does not get the attention it needs to avoid becoming a clogged drain. And once that happens, a bottle of drain cleaner from the big box store is not going to be a viable solution. In fact, the harsh chemicals can actually cause damage to the pipes rather than removing the clog. The real solution to any tough clog is to call a professional plumber. 

The Small Artillery

If your plumber finds that the clog in your sink drain is right at the trap, the U shaped pipe under the sink, it is often easiest to just disassemble the pipe and remove the clog. But if the clog is a little further away, a plunger, snake, or hand auger are going to be the tools used to eliminate the clog. All of these tools are used to break up the clog and then water is used to flush the particles out to the main city sewer line. 

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When you are in need of a new water heater for your home, it is very likely that you will be asked if you are interested in converting from the traditional style of water heater with a holding tank to a tankless water heater. These units are also sometimes referred to as on-demand systems because they only heat water when there is an immediate demand. But even knowing the basic premise of the newer tankless systems, many homeowners are asking what are the advantages of going tankless? And the simple answer is that there are several advantages that you might not initially think of. 

Life Expectancy

The average traditional water heater is expected to function for somewhere in the 8 to 12-year range. But that assumes that the owner is providing proper maintenance, including draining the tank each year to eliminate rust and build up. The on-demand style water heaters, on the other hand, offer a life expectancy in excess of 20 years. And it is also important to know that the two-decade mark can be extended with modest repairs as the parts on most tankless models are very easy to access and replace. 

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When you think about what goes down the drains in your home, the dirt that you wash off, the food particles, and debris in the kitchen sink, and last but not least the waste in your toilets, it’s not hard to imagine how filthy drain pipes can become. And while you never need to see them or handle them, they can begin to fill your home with a foul odor. But the worst by far is when a drain pipe becomes clogged, and that nasty waste backs up into your home. This is not only an expensive issue, but it also can have health implications due to the germs and bacteria in the waste. So how can a drain cleaning fix this issue? 

How Professional Drain Cleaning Really Works

The key to understanding this next paragraph is that we are only referring to a professional drain cleaning done with professional grade equipment such as a hydro-jet. We are not talking about a jug of noxious chemicals that you get at the store and dump into your drain. That might eat through the clog, but it is just a likely to eat through your pipes as well. So forget about a DIY bottle of “drain cleaner”. Professionally trained plumbers use a high-pressure nozzle on a flexible tube that they can insert into your drains to clean them. There are no chemicals used, it is just the pressure of clean water that breaks up clogs that are beginning to form, and removes all of the oily or greasy residue that is sticking to the inside of the pipes. The water then flushes all of the debris away to the city sewer line. 

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