Frequently Asked Questions

Keep harsh chemicals, such as drain cleaner, out of your pipes. Mechanical cleaning is much more effective, safer for the environment and healthier for your pipes and home.

The curved sections of your toilet plumbing, or the trap, can plug with any foreign object, especially when small children are in the home.

The toilet will back up and often overflow. Turn off the water valve under the toilet. First, add enough water to the toilet bowl to seal around rim of the toilet plunger. Plunge the toilet gently, ensuring a tight seal with plunger rim and internal edges of the toilet bowl. Use more force, if needed.

Absolutely nothing should be flushed down the toilet except toilet paper and human waste.

Tampons and applicators, pads and any "flushable" wipes should be placed in household garbage only. It is a good idea to keep all bathroom items stored well away from the toilet and leave the toilet lid down when not in use.

Unsupervised young children can be kept out of the bathroom safely, by installing a simple hook and eye lock at the top of the bathroom door.

Debris, hair, grease or soap residue can build up and create a blockage preventing water from draining thoroughly. Sometimes this build-up is much further down the line than a household snake can reach.

Infrequently used drains, such as a basement shower or floor drain should have a litre of water poured down them bi-monthly for good maintenance. The Plugged Piper can use our smoke testing equipment to determine the location if there is an air leak.

Stop using all water in the home.

The main drainpipe (sewer lateral) leading away from the home, out to the main sewer can become damaged. If all the drains in your home are flooded and backing up, this will be the obvious culprit.