Pre-Vacation Plumbing Checklist: What to Check Heading out of town? A little plumbing prep can help you avoid the most common vacation-day problems—slow leaks, clogged fixtures, and appliance malfunctions that turn a short absence into an expensive emergency. 1) Confirm water shutoffs (and know where they are) Locate the main shutoff valve and the individual shutoffs for key fixtures (like the toilet, washing machine, and outdoor hose bibs). Make sure they’re accessible and that the valve turns freely. If a valve is stuck, you don’t want to discover that when you’re miles away. 2) Inspect for leaks and weak spots Do a quick walk-through around your home: look under sinks, around the toilet base, at visible supply lines, and anywhere you’ve had moisture before. Check for damp spots, rust trails, or water staining on walls, floors, and cabinet interiors. Pay special attention to connections that see fre ... Read more »
Why Does My Toilet Keep Clogging Why Does My Toilet Keep Clogging Why does my toilet keep clogging? If you often ask this question, you might want to call a professional plumber to get rid of the problem. In this article, we’ll try to analyze the most frequent reasons that can explain why your toilet always clogs. Plus, we’ll share recommendations on how to fix a toilet that keeps clogging up. Low Flow Toilet This issue is typical of older toilets. They lack the necessary pressure to clear their drain and trap. To find out whether your toilet is a low-flow one, you should look at its back for a stamped date. If the unit is old indeed, you might want to replace it. If you can’t afford the replacement right now, you might try to limit the amount of toilet paper that you use.$CUT$ Besides, some newer toilets might have a poor design. Maybe, your toilet keeps clogging because of a wrong angle of the bowl or an inappropriate width of the opening of the drain. In this case...