Fellow homeowner shares advice from experienced plumber
Over time, one of our low flow toilets became increasingly sluggish then finally quit flushing altogether. We called the plumbing company that installed the toilets and they sent a plumber out to investigate the problem. He asked for a five gallon pail, filled it with water and poured it briskly down the toilet. After a moment or two of hesitation, the toilet spontaneously went into a full power flush! Two or three successive normal flushes, using the flush handle, worked perfectly!
What happened? Here was the plumber’s explanation: Most quilted and two-ply toilet paper is manufactured with a type of “wax” to hold it together. This “wax” prevents it from dissolving quickly and completely. With the limited amount of water available for each flush, this undissolved paper may not be completely propelled along the horizontal drain line and begins to build up in the elbow underneath the toilet discharge, eventually resulting in poor flushing and finally a plugged line.
The preventive solution is to use Scott Extra Soft toilet paper. This product is manufactured without “wax” and disintegrates rapidly when placed in water, without breaking down during use. The result is a complete flush without toilet paper buildup in the elbow. An additional benefit for our area is that it is safe for septic systems.
We made the switch and have had no more flushing problems. We hope our experience and the simple solution may save you an unnecessary plumber’s bill.
Editor’s note: Using Scott 1000 or Scott Natural should also work for preventing clogging.