Tag: plumbing efficiency

4 Ways to Unclog Your Toilet

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ways to unclog your toilet

Flushing your toilet after you’re done is something we rarely think about. It’s just a habit at this point: we flush, hear the zooming sound of water rushing down the bowl, and go on with our day. But every now and then, the usual sounds aren’t there.

Yep. It’s clogged. After an eye-roll and a deeper-than-normal sigh, you start running through your options to unclog it. Everyone knows the simplest and quickest way to unclog it, but did you know you’ve got more choices than that? Here are a few methods to unclog your toilet from the plumbing experts at Roman Electric.

The Plunger

Of course. We’ve all got one of these next to our toilets (or at least close by), because they’re cheap and easy to work with. There’s a reason this is the first thing most people reach for when a dreaded clog has reared its ugly head once again!

But be sure that the plunger you’ve got stashed away is a flange plunger – that is, it has a little cylinder that extends into the toilet bowl. This way, you’re creating a seal in the toilet that vacuums out the clog – otherwise, you’d just be sloshing water around.

Use a Toilet Augur

Thankfully, someone decided to create an invention specifically for this purpose. A toilet augur feeds into the twists and turns of your toilet’s inner workings to get the clog out. You slide in the big, non-corkscrew part, and then work the handle until the metal snake breaks through whatever is clogging your toilet. It’ll either break up the clog, or the hook on the end will reel it in if it’s something like a piece of cloth or other material.

Science Experiment Time!

If augurs and plumbers aren’t your cup of tea, then it’s time to roll up your sleeves and reclaim your 6th-grade science fair glory. Grab some baking soda, vinegar and water, and strap on your safety goggles (not really).

Get roughly a cup of baking soda and dump it in the toilet. Let it sit for a bit, and while it does, combine water and vinegar (about 2 cups of each) and pour the mixture in as well. Go take care of some things on your to-do list, then come back later. If the experiment did its job, the clog will have softened enough to flush correctly.

Dish Soap

One final way to try and get your clog out is by pouring dish soap into the bowl. Give it some time to work its magic, then follow that up with a few cups of hot (but not boiling) water to break up the clog.

 

Voila! Hopefully at least one of these toilet-unclogging solutions gave you the result that you wanted. Roman Electric’s team of expert plumbers want to keep your toilets free and clear of obstruction to make sure you and your family enjoy a problem-free plumbing system year-round.

We’re here to help with any other plumbing, heating or cooling issues you might encounter, so don’t hesitate to give us a call at 414-369-3798!

4 Tips to Improve Your Plumbing System

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You might not think too hard about your plumbing system’s maintenance needs, and understandably so. Since it tends to play in the background, we don’t pay too much mind to the pipes running through our homes very often. However, just like any other system or appliance in your home, it needs careful attention.

Problems build up in your plumbing system, and once something catastrophic happens, the dam bursts (no pun intended). That’s why it’s important to take steps at home to extend the life of your system and ensure it stays as efficient as possible. We’ve got a few ways you can do that – just keep reading!

Identify Location of Your Water Main

Given that we’re in Milwaukee, we’re used to dealing with frigid temperatures that can freeze our pipes. When that happens, it’s imperative that you locate where the water main that feeds into your home is located. Should a pipe-freezing situation be at hand, you’ll need to shut off the water as quickly as possible.

If you wait too long, you’ll run the risk of frozen pipes, which carry their own risk of leading to bursting pipes – a much more stressful situation. This doesn’t take long to do, and you’ll be glad you did if the situation calls for it.

Clear Gutters and Downspouts

Did you know your plumbing system isn’t just limited to the pipes in your home? Gutters count, as do the downspouts on the exterior of your home. If these aren’t cleared out, then they will get clogged and leave unpleasant, hazardous standing water around your home.

Just take a few minutes one afternoon to clear it all out and avoid running this risk.

Avoid Pouring Chemicals Down Toilets

One of the most frustrating things any homeowner will experience is a clogged toilet. It’s irritating, and you know that you can’t just ignore it, so you might be tempted to pour something like a drain cleaner in there to soften it up.

Don’t do that! Those types of solutions use oxidizing (or caustic) chemicals such as lye to break down clogs, and those chemicals aren’t suitable for toilets. They can crack the porcelain and end up harming your home more than helping. Just use a traditional snake or augur cleaner instead.

Insulate Pipes

We probably didn’t need to mention this given that we live in the northern United States, but just in case – make sure your pipes are insulated! As we mentioned and as you undoubtedly know, frozen pipes are an epidemic up here.

Take some insulation and wrap it around any exposed pipes in your home to provide some extra protection during the winter. Your pipes will be less likely to freeze and burst, meaning you can sleep soundly when the temperatures plummet.

Roman Electric: Here for All Your Plumbing Needs

When the going gets tough, we get going. Roman Electric is experienced and equipped to help you with whatever plumbing problems you encounter, and you can count on us to get the job done right the first time.

Give us a call at 414-369-3798 for professional electrical, HVAC or plumbing solutions.