What You Need To Know About Toilet Paper Blockages

Broken drains, too much toilet paper and not enough water will cause blockages in sewerage pipes and toilets.

When toilet paper blocks sewerage pipes it is called stranding. Stranding can also occur when a sewerage drain is laid too flat or too steep and is more common in the sewer pipes of newer buildings. This is due to newer buildings have water saving ½ flush toilets installed.

If your drain frequently blocks with toilet paper, you could try using the full flush instead of the ½ flush of your toilet.
If the problem persists, a CCTV inspection of the toilet drain should provide a clear indication of why the toilet keeps clogging and a resolution.

Some toilet paper blockages will dissolve by themselves. This will normally occur within twelve hours if the paper is kept wet and no extra paper is added during that period. Toilet paper blockages occur in the toilet, in the connection between the toilet and the sewerage drain or in the sewerage drain. Some toilet paper blockages may dissolve if you deal with them fast by adding more water into the toilet or drain or using a plunger. Others will not dissolve, and you will need the assistance of a professional plumber.

If your sewer often clogs with toilet paper, you could try using the full flush instead of the ½ flush on your toilet.

If the toilet continues to clog with toilet paper, a CCTV inspection of the toilet and drain should provide a clear reason why the toilet keeps clogging and a resolution.

Plain water will, in most cases, dissolve toilet paper in a toilet or sewer drain. Keep the paper wet and do not add any more paper into the toilet. If the toilet paper is going to dissolve, it should occur within twelve hours.

Strong acids will also work. However, because acids react violently with water – causing a rapid rise in temperature, there is a risk that the toilet could crack. A plunger may be more useful when trying to clear a toilet clogged with toilet paper.
If the clogging occurs regularly, it may be a sign of a much larger problem. An inspection of the toilet and drain with a CCTV drain camera should provide a clear reason why the toilet keeps clogging and a lead to a permanent fix.

If the toilet paper blockage has not dissolved in water with 12 hours, it is not likely to dissolve at all.

Toilet paper blockages will occur in the toilet, in the connection between the toilet and the sewerage drain or in the sewerage drain.

A small number of toilet paper blockages may dissolve if you add more water into the toilet or sewer drain. A plunger may be useful when trying to clear a toilet clogged with toilet paper.

Toilet paper blockages that will not dissolve or cannot be cleared with a plunger will require the assistance of a professional plumber. Ask the plumber to bring a CCTV drain camera. A CCTV inspection will reveal the cause of the blockage and provide a long-term solution.

The connection between the toilet and the sewerage drain, not flushing often enough, not using enough water when flushing, and sometimes too much toilet paper will cause blockages in toilets. When toilet paper blocks sewerage pipes it is called ‘stranding’. Stranding can also occur when a drain from the toilet is laid too flat or too steep. Toilets clogged with toilet paper are more common in newer buildings. This is because newer buildings have water saving ½ flush toilets installed. Clogging in toilets will also occur because the connection between the drain and toilet is often made via an offset pan collar. Offset pan collars add additional restrictions to the width of the toilet outlet pipe.

Toilets sometimes block with toilet paper because the users are trying to save water and do not always flush after using the toilet.

If your toilet often blocks with toilet paper, you could try using the full flush instead of the ½ flush on your toilet.

If the toilet continues to clog with toilet paper, a CCTV inspection of the toilet and drain should provide a clear reason why the toilet keeps clogging and the best long-term solution.

Stranding is very common in buildings built in Canberra after the year 2003. Canberra has two pipe sewer drainage regulations. During construction, plumbers in Canberra are required to install two sets of sewerage pipes within the confines of the floor area. One pipe carries grey water from laundry sinks, basins, showers and baths to the outside of the building. The other pipe carries black water from toilets and kitchen sinks to the outside of the building where the grey water and black water drains combine into a single sewerage drainage system.

In this two-pipe system, stranding is more-likely to occur in the black water drains because less water is available from other plumbing fixtures to help dilute and push toilet paper through the drains.