Can Hair Clog a Toilet?

Many types of debris can cause clogs and blockages inside your home’s piping. If you’ve read our guide to drain cleaning, you may know that hair is among the worst offenders for kitchen and bathroom sinks. But is it also true for toilets? 

While the pipes and plumbing mechanisms of your toilet differ from those of your sinks and drains, excess hair can cause problems and contribute to a blockage. Learn how it happens, what signs to look for if you suspect a blockage and when to call an emergency plumber near you to address the situation.

How Hair Contributes to Toilet Blockages

When you flush the toilet and see how the water pressure pulls water, waste and toilet paper into the pipes, it can seem tempting to get rid of hair that way. We’ve all been there, especially in the mornings, after brushing hair or shaving. However, you should never flush any type of hair down the toilets, including facial or leg hair. 

Unlike toilet paper and other objects designed to disintegrate in toilet water, hair does not dissolve or break down easily, even when submerged in water. While single strands and shavings may not seem like much at first, they are resilient and can tangle around themselves or around other objects.

For example, hair can get stuck on toilet paper, building up into a dense mass of matter that won’t disintegrate in water easily. It can also stick to other objects not meant to be flushed, such as dental floss or tampons, potentially worsening a partial blockage.

If people in your house regularly flush hair down the toilet, it can clump and ball together inside the pipes, preventing water from flowing properly. Have you ever asked yourself, “Why does my toilet keep clogging” in these situations? Think of the way hair bundles together on the bristles when you brush your hair; the same thing can happen inside your pipes.

Steps to Take if You Experience a Clogged Toilet Due to Hair

If your toilets aren’t flushing correctly or make odd noises after a flush, you may be seeing the first signs of a potential plumbing emergency. Try these steps before calling local emergency plumbing services:

• Stop using the toilet temporarily. Stop using the toilet and don’t let other household members use it if you suspect a clog. Repeatedly flushing a clogged toilet, even with a partial blockage, can cause water to overflow.

• Remove any visible debris. If you can see hair or other debris in the toilet, wear safety gloves and manually remove them. This can help clear a partial clog, even if more debris is deeper in the piping system.

• Plunge the clog. Plungers are most effective on clogs located near the toilet trap. Ensure your plunger has a flange designed for toilets; it can provide a better seal than traditional cup plungers for flat sinks and drains. Plunge vigorously, then pause now and then to inspect the water flow.

• Use a toilet auger. If plunging doesn’t work, you can try using a toilet auger. It can potentially dislodge clogs further into your toilet’s piping. Push the auger cable into the toilet and crank the handle in one direction until it reaches an obstruction. You may feel resistance; keep pushing the cable steadily until it gives. Then, crank the handle in the other direction and pull the auger back. If it worked, your auger should have hooked the hair clump and debris responsible for the clog.

When to Call a Professional Plumbing Service

Contact an emergency plumber if your toilet clog is too severe to clear with home solutions. Here’s a breakdown of the types of situations where a hair clog may require an emergency plumber’s intervention:

• The clog is too far. Home solutions, such as plungers and augers, only have a limited reach. If you cannot clear the clog, contact emergency plumbing services immediately. They have the equipment and tools to inspect your entire plumbing network, locate the clog and clear it quickly and efficiently.

• The toilets are overflowing or backing sewage. Severe clogs can cause your toilet to overflow with water, with the risk of causing water damage to your home. If the overflow contains waste or sewage, it can also introduce health risks and contamination. If this happens, call a 24-hour emergency plumber near you immediately.

• One of your pipes burst. Although rare, a hair clog can exacerbate an existing issue with your home’s plumbing. If some of your pipes are worn out or weak, a severe clog can cause them to leak, burst or break. Contact a 24-hour emergency plumber immediately if you notice damaged pipes in your home.

Call Blue Collars Today

Experiencing a severe toilet clog in Charleston, SC or a nearby town? Contact Blue Collars today. We are an experienced Charleston plumbing company offering 24/7 emergency plumbing and HVAC services. Our skilled plumbers have years of experience serving our community and have completed over 60,000 jobs. Don’t hesitate to contact us for an emergency or to schedule a service anytime.