Everything You Wanted to Know About Toilets...But Were Afraid to Ask!

It's the centerpiece of every bathroom. It's where many of us do our best thinking. It's the good ol' toilet. But it's not just a piece of porcelain sculpture filled with water. The toilet actually has a long and fascinating history. The Horizon Comfort Zone has collected some little-known factoids about the toilet. The next time you head to the seat of honor to take care of business, keep these facts in mind...and you'll be flush with knowledge!



Who Invented the Flush Toilet?

The concept of a flushable toilet -- in which water is used to clean the bowl after its use -- has been around for about 4,000 years! According to archaeologists, the palace at Knossos, Crete (built way back around 2000 B.C.) contained latrines that were cleaned by water stored in a reservoir and delivered to the bowl through a piping system. Similar devices were also used in ancient Persia, Greece and Rome.

Toilets using a chain to open a valve and deliver water to the bowl were well in use in England by 1775. These devices were usually built into small closets. To this day, people in the United Kingdom frequently refer to the bathroom as the "water closet" or "W.C."

The kind of flush toilet we're most familiar with today was designed in the late 1800s by an Englishman named, appropriately, Thomas Crapper. Crapper's toilet was the first to employ a device that would automatically stop the water from flowing into the reservoir after it was filled. Before this, many people would leave the water flowing continually to clean the bowl.

For more information, check out History of Toilets!



Fun Toilet Tidbits You Can Share at Your Next Party or Social Gathering!

• Over five billion gallons of water are flushed down toilets each day in the United States.
• The average toilet is flushed eight times a day.
• The toilet uses more water than any other home appliance.
• The average person uses the toilet 6-8 times per day or 2500 times a year.
• The average person will spend three years of his or her life on the toilet
• Women, on average, take three times longer than men when using the toilet.
• The average life expectancy of a toilet is 50 years.
• Most toilets flush in the key of E flat.
• The first toilet tank ever seen on a TV show was on Leave it to Beaver.
• The first toilet being flushed in a motion picture was in the film Psycho
• The first toilet stall in a public washroom is the least likely to be used. It is also the cleanest.
• The French King Louis XIII (1601-1643) had a toilet built under his throne and was known to receive visitors while sitting on the toilet.
• 40% of the world's population has no access to toilets.
• The first commercially available toilet paper was developed in England in 1880 and sold not on a roll, but as individual sheets in a box
• The Scott Paper Company of Chester, PA produced the first toilet paper to be available on a roll in 1890.
• According to a survey by Kimberly-Clark, men prefer to fold their toilet paper and women prefer to wad it.
• According to studies, an average roll of toilet paper lasts about five days in the bathroom.
• Americans use an average of 57 sheets of toilet paper a day.
• On average, the Pentagon goes through 666 rolls of toilet paper in one day.
• Only 30% of people in the world use toilet paper.

Some Well-Known People Who Died While on the Toilet

• Heliogabalus; Roman emperor (204-222 A.D.). Murdered by his bodyguards.
• Arius; Christian theologian and heretic (256-336).
• Edmund II; King of England (980-1016).
• James I; King of Scotland (1394-1437). Assassinated.
• Henry III; King of France. (1551-1589). Assassinated.
• Arthur Capel, Earl of Essex; English politician (1631-1683). Committed suicide on the toilet while imprisoned in the Tower of London.
• George II; King of England (1683-1760). After a breakfast of hot chocolate.
• Catherine the Great; Russian empress. (1729 - 1796). Died of a stroke.
• Lenny Bruce; American comedian (1925-1966). Heroin overdose.
• Evelyn Waugh; English novelist (1903 - 1966). Obsesity and drug abuse
• Elvis Presley; American singer (1935-1977). Arrythmia caused by abuse of prescription drugs.
• Don Simpson; American film producer (1943 - 1996). Drug overdose.

Other Popular Names for the Toilet:

• John
• Head
• Can
• Loo
• Privy
• Chamberpot
• Throne
• Commode
• Porcelain Altar
  

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Keep Your Eyes and Ears Open for Key Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Signals!

Your bathroom is one of the most versatile and functional rooms in your home. It helps you stay clean, takes care of waste, and can even help you unwind at the end of a long day. With so many different functions, it’s not surprising that your bathroom can become overworked. The good news is that if you pay close attention, your bathroom will often “tell” you exactly what it needs. Here are some common messages your bathroom may be sending you.

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New Fixtures are a Simple and Affordable Way to Update a Tired Bathroom!

Need a quick and easy way to give your bathroom a facelift on a budget? You don’t need gallons of paint, an army of friends, a three-day weekend, and a bank loan to overhaul your bathroom. Start by replacing tired old hardware and fixtures, and for about $250 you can have a bath or powder room to be proud of in an afternoon or less.


Hardware Overhaul
Mounting new knobs and pulls on your cabinetry is one of the least expensive ways to update your bathroom. For less than $100 you can completely update the look of your bathroom without the cost or hassle of replacing cabinets. Most home improvement stores offer hardware in a wide array of styles and finishes to suit just about any budget. Ultimately, the finish you choose will determine the price. Trendy oiled bronze or antiqued surfaces will cost more than more common finishes like brushed chrome and nickel.

When shopping for new bathroom hardware, look for knobs and pulls that match the existing drill holes in the cabinet and drawer face. You’ll be able to replace the hardware without having to drill new holes or fill old ones. You should also inspect the surface of the cabinetry after you’ve removed the old knobs. If there are any dings or indentations, buy new hardware big enough to cover the flaws.


Faucet First Aid:
Replacing an old faucet is a simple fix that can revamp the look of your bathroom instantly. Many manufacturers offer faucets that resemble sleek, elegant designer models for much more wallet-friendly prices. You’ll also find a great selection of finishes to complement any décor, from pewter and nickel to bronze and chrome. Your local home improvement store carries many of these budget models, with prices starting just around $50.

To ensure proper installation, experts recommend matching your old faucet style with a similar new one. If your existing fixtures are widespread—where the spout is separated from the water handles—replace it with a like model. If you’ve got a center-set faucet—where the spout and handles are mounted in a single unit—choose a similar replacement.


Shape Up Your Shower:
Enjoy a hotel-caliber shower every day by replacing your old showerhead and rod with updated models. Large, full-flow rainfall showerheads give you that luxury spa experience for about $60. A curved shower rod is another popular bathroom update that can add as much as six inches of additional space in your shower. Both fixtures are cheap and easy to install, and available in a wide range of sizes and finishes.


Toilet Tank Trade-Up:
Yes, YOU can replace the tank lever on your toilet! This is a cheap and easy way to tie the whole bathroom together after you’ve updated the faucets and fixtures. Decorative tank levers are available at most hardware, home improvement, and plumbing supply stores; you can find many of them for less than $15.



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Hey...Who Needs a Bathroom Stall When You Can Take a Spritz in Your Own Backyard?

More and more homeowners are embracing the outdoor shower as a fun and functional way to add value and interest to their homes. The new trend toward the outdoor shower leaves behind the feature’s roots in grungy campgrounds and rented summer cottages, though. Today’s outdoor showers are sleek, well-appointed extensions of the indoor bathroom...except they're located outside of your home.

So what’s driving this unusual fad toward the great outdoors?

“We spend so much time in cyber reality, in front of the TV or the computer, on the phone, in our cars, divorced from the natural world, that people really respond to something like an outdoor shower,” explains Ethan Fierro, a designer and author of The Outdoor Shower. “It allows you those 10 to 15 minutes to connect with nature.”

In fact, reclaiming outdoor spaces for traditionally indoor activities has been popular in home construction and renovation for some time.

“The outdoor shower is definitely part of the trend of people bringing the outdoors in, with people now building outdoor bathrooms and even outdoor kitchens,” says David Buchanan, a Boston-based architect.

Today’s outdoor showers aren’t just for those who live in warm climates, either.

“Clients who ask for outdoor showers aren’t usually deterred by a chill in the air,” says Elizabeth Demetriades, an architect in Lakeville, CT who has designed several outdoor showers for clients in the Northeast. “The showers are typically used until the onset of freezing weather mandates draining the pipes for winterization—and clients frequently push the envelope in this regard.”

Buchanan has noticed the same mentality in his clients.

“At a house we did in South Dartmouth, MA. Part of the appeal was that you could take a hot outdoor shower in chilly weather then crawl immediately into a warm bed,” he says.

While there’s definitely something appealing about the idea of an outdoor shower, there are certain considerations that must be taken into account before undertaking such a project.

Depending on building codes in your area and the design of your shower, you may be required to install an appropriate drainage system.

“When hot water—and by inference soap and shampoo—will be used, connection to a properly engineered septic or dry-well system is a must,” says Demetriades.

Be sure your architect and contractor have experience designing and building outdoor showers so you don’t run into any unforeseen environmental or plumbing issues.

Privacy is another consideration, but surprisingly it’s not as high a priority as you’d think.

“Many clients aren’t all that concerned with privacy, particularly in more rural areas where neighbors aren’t an issue,” explains Demetriades.

You should think hard about your home’s location before taking the proverbial plunge. Modesty may not be your number one concern if you live out in the woods, but if your house sits in the middle of a suburban development you could risk raising more than a few eyebrows at the next neighborhood block party.

Another important privacy concern: sightlines. If your neighbor’s kitchen window overlooks the spot where you want to install your outdoor shower, you should probably find a more suitable placement.

And let's not forget sound. If you sing in the shower, the whole neighborhood can hear your enitre repertoire...for better or worse! And an outdoor shower can never duplicate that great audio quality and echo you get in a traditional indoor shower.



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Have you seen the new horror/science fiction movie Splice in which scientists combine the DNA of different animals to create incredible new hybrid animals? It's pretty scary stuff...especially when they start splicing together the genes of animals and humans. But outside of Hollywood, there are some other kinds of "genetic engineering" taking place that could have a major and beneficial impact in your home in the coming years

There’s a new movement quietly gaining momentum as we search for ways to reduce our energy dependence, improve our environmental outlook, and save money on rising utility costs. Part innovation and part science fiction, the technology of hybrid appliances is fast taking the scientific world by storm. Here are some of the unusual and novel appliance and fixture combinations you may see in your home some day soon.


The Washing Machine Toilet:

At first, putting a washing machine together with a toilet sounds downright unsanitary. But upon closer examination, the idea is fairly brilliant. The washing machine does a load of laundry as usual, but then stores the waste water from the rinse cycle and uses it to flush the toilet when it’s needed. Using dirty water to get rid of…well…dirty water just kind of makes sense, doesn’t it? Users will cut down on water consumption while solving another common household problem: limited space. By combining a bulky appliance that normally takes up a lot of space with a necessity already found in every single home and apartment in the country, the washing machine toilet could prove a god-send to those in a serious space-crunch.

Developed by a Turkish engineer, the washing machine toilet was recently entered in the Greener Gadgets design competition. Though it’s still in conceptual development, this hybrid appliance could revolutionize the way we do our laundry and our “business.”


The Toilet Sink:

If it’s good enough to get set up with the washing machine, why not pair the toilet with the sink, too? The toilet sink is meant to be another space-saver and reduces water consumption, too.

How does it work? The water in the toilet tank and bowl combine with gravity to flush waste. Fresh water then flows into each receptacle. With the sink feature, this fresh water can be diverted to the tap where it flows out just like a normal sink. The water that drains from the sink then flows back into the toilet bowl where it stays until the toilet is flushed again. So you’re always washing your hands with fresh water, but you may be flushing the toilet with grey water on occasion.

The downside of this neat little device is that you’d have to lean directly over the toilet seat to use the sink, so just be sure to keep the bowl clean!


The Tanning Shower:

It’s every prom queen’s dream: a shower that gives you a tan while you lather, rinse, and repeat.

Made by ProSun International, the SunShower was first introduced in 2006 when it won an award for best bath product at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show.

According to ProSun, the tanning shower emits a balanced, gentle UV light spectrum that’s similar to natural sunlight. It allows the user to tan just a little bit with each shower, rather than experience the UVA and UVB bombardment of one 10 or 15 minute session in a traditional tanning booth. Supposedly, this gradual tanning is easier on the body.

While there’s as yet no proof that these claims are true, tanning enthusiasts are already snapping up these powder room novelties.


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All Toilets Are Not Created Equal!

You probably don’t realize it, but your toilet uses more water than any other appliance in your house. The average toilet in the US is responsible for about 30 percent of a household’s total water consumption each year. A high efficiency toilet is a great way to cut down on water consumption, using less water per flush and chopping your home’s water use in half.

Over the last five decades, American water consumption has increased a whopping 209 percent, and the average American uses more than 100 gallons of water every day. That’s the equivalent of 584,000 glasses of water per person each year! When you consider that toilets comprise at least 30 percent of that annual usage, it makes sense to look for alternatives like high efficiency toilets to help reduce consumption.

In order to understand how high efficiency toilets can make a difference, it helps to review a bit of toilet history. Before 1980, toilets used about five gallons of water per flush. Between 1980 and 1994, improvements in technology pushed the industry standard back to about 3.5 gallons per flush, where it remains today. A high efficiency toilet, however, uses just 1.5 gallons or less per flush than your typical toilet in use today.

If you were to replace just one toilet in your home with a high efficiency toilet, you could save nearly 4000 gallons of water per person every year. If your bathroom fixtures are older or you have a toilet that leaks, you can save even more with a high efficiency toilet. If every home in America replaced one toilet with a high efficiency toilet, we could save an astounding 900 billion gallons of water each year!

So, high efficiency toilets are clearly a smart choice for the environment. But what about your pocketbook?

It’s no secret that eco-friendly choices in home improvement often help you save money on utility costs; high efficiency toilets are no exception. Installing a high efficiency toilet in your home can save you about $90 on your water bill annually, and as much as $2000 over the life of the toilet. Your high efficiency toilet will pay for itself several times over before it wears out—a very smart investment. What’s more, because you’ll be using less water by using a high efficiency toilet, you’ll be doing your part to reduce strain on your municipal water supply. Waste treatment, water purification, maintenance of city pipes and sewers, and everything else that has to happen every time you flush your toilet all cost money. So cutting back on your home’s water use is good for everyone.

Before you purchase a high efficiency toilet, talk to a representative at your local water supplier for information about rebates or discounts that may be offered in your area. In most cases, these rebates range anywhere from $25 to $175 or more. Whether you want to replace an old, inefficient toilet, are concerned about water conservation, or are in the market for a new toilet, consult a toilet retailer for more information about high efficiency toilets. And, of course, the plumbing professionals from Horizon Services are always available to help you install your new high efficiency toilet and provide reliable plumbing service 24/7/365!



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When It's Hot, It's Hot. And When It's Not, It's Really Not!

Has this ever happened to you? You step into the tub or stall for your morning shower. The water comes out nice and hot and steamy. You lather up, luxuriating in the soothing warmth. And then it happens. The water suddenly turns ice cold. And you almost break your neck as you hit the ceiling from the sheer shock of being sprayed with water that feels like it was piped in from Alaskan tundra!

This arctic shower blast takes place in thousands of bathrooms every day. And while it's a great way to wake yourself up, it's not something you really want to subject your nervous system to everyday. Here are some of the many things that can cause your shower's hot water to do a sudden U-turn and turn into a river of shivers!


Water Heater Trouble:
Check all the sinks and plumbing fixtures in the house to make determine if your cold shower is a singular problem or an indication that something more serious is going on. If you don’t get hot water anywhere, the problem is likely with your hot water heater. Check the unit’s temperature settings and fuses. If your water heater runs on gas, the pilot light may have gone out.

Another possibility is that your water heater's dip tube has broken off. This is a tube that forces incoming water to the bottom of the water tank so that hot water will be drawn off of the top. When the dip tube breaks, cold water enters the tank, mixes with the hot water and cools it down. This can occur in both gas and electric models.

If you have an electric water heater, the problem could be due to a bad heating element or a thermostat malfunction. If so, the problem should be evaluated by a plumbing technician.

Other possible water heater problems/issues include a blockage in the flue, a broken part, leaks or sediment accumulation in the water tank. You should always contact an experienced plumbing professional if you suspect one of these more complex problems.


Isolated Incidents
If the other fixtures in your house seem to be working fine, your cold shower is likely an isolated problem. In newer homes, there’s usually no need to replace the pipes; copper pipes don’t corrode and rarely back up, so it is not generally an issue with the pipes that’s preventing hot water from coming through. Find the hot water shut off valve and check to see if it’s closed. If so, opening the valve will usually fix the problem. If your home is older and has steel pipes or if adjusting the shut off valve doesn’t help, you may need to consult a professional about a possible broken shower valve.


Remove, Rinse, Replace
Over time the rubber parts in most shower valves can wear down and become distorted. This can cause improper sealing or swelling that can block the flow of water. The distortion gets worse as hot water travels through the valves, and sometimes the rubber parts can break off inside the valves and pipes. This debris often travels through pipes and valves, causing obstructions. In order to fix the problem, you’ll have to remove the damaged part and flush out the valve to remove any broken pieces. If you have some experience with bathroom plumbing, it’s not that difficult to take apart the fixture and rinse out the hot water screen. Just be sure to lay a cloth over the drain to catch any small parts that may come out when the valve is flushed.


Faucet Guards
Your shower or tub may have scaled faucet guards installed as a regulator to prevent water from reaching scalding levels. These guards can be adjusted to the temperature you desire by removing the faucet handle and turning the adjusting ring to the hotter or colder setting. This can be a complex repair job and is best left in the hands of an experienced plumbing technician.


Risk vs. Reward
Bathroom plumbing is a highly specialized trade and even simple do-it-yourself projects can get complicated quickly. Though diagnosing hot water problems is generally easy, actually fixing those problems is not always so simple. Most shower valve parts are behind walls, making them inaccessible to those without the right tools or experience. These are also sophisticated systems that may require special skills to work with—the last thing you want to do is go through the hassle and expense of opening up a wall, only to find that you have no idea what you’re looking at. If you aren’t confident that you can fix the problem on your own, trust your instincts. The risk of doing more damage usually far outweighs the cost of hiring a professional. However, doing some of the diagnostic legwork on your own first will make it easier and more efficient to work with a professional plumber to repair the problem.


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In this economy, many homeowners are turning to home remodeling and improvement as a safe investment and to increase their home's resale value. Bathroom remodeling is usually the area where most homeowners fix their initial attention.

While do-it-yourself bathroom renovation can be extremely invigorating and empowering when it’s successful, it can be totally devastating and overwhelming when it fails. If you think you want to take on a major bathroom project, here are a few things you should try to avoid.

• Don’t pick a design that’s too trendy. Most new or updated bathrooms should last ten years or more, so don’t choose design elements or plumbing fixtures that are overly modern. These “in” looks can become dated quickly and you’ll be left with a dysfunctional room that you’ll have to live with for years. Instead, go with classic designs that mesh well with the rest of your home’s style.



• Don’t forget about storage. It’s nice when a bathroom looks great, but if it doesn’t work as a functional space then you’ve wasted your time and money. Mix open display shelving with closed cabinets for a balance of style and privacy, organization and aesthetic.



• Don’t do carpets. Sure, carpeting will feel great on your bare feet when you step out of the shower or tub, but it will also trap moisture, odors, bacteria and stains. Not pretty. Choose bathroom flooring that’s easy to clean and can withstand the dampness and humidity.



• Don’t go crazy with color. Just because toilets, tubs and sinks come in different colors doesn’t mean you have to buy them. Opt for simple, tasteful colors—think white—and an understated presentation. Use flooring, decorative tiles and accessories to give pops of color.



• Don’t go it alone. Bathroom remodeling might seem simple, but it can often require complicated pipe work and plumbing repair that only comes to light after you start. If you don’t know what you’re doing, engage the services of a reputable contractor or plumber before you begin the project. Otherwise you may find yourself knee deep in disaster.



• Don’t expect it to go smoothly. There’s no such thing as just doing a bathroom renovation. Make careful plans, choose good quality materials, and make sure you can afford 10-15% more than your projected budget before you begin—unforeseen costs can add up quickly. It also makes total sense to hope for the best but plan for the worst.



• Don’t fall in love with impracticality. Yes, those decorative Spanish tiles are fantastic, but will you be cursing yourself in a month when you’re on your hands and knees trying to scrub them clean? Does that state of the art sink require total overhaul of your pipe work? Are your materials going to be durable enough to withstand every day wear and tear?



• Don’t cut corners. Bathrooms and kitchens return the most on investment when it comes time to sell your home, so this is not the time to be cheap. A good general rule: Anything that’s going inside your walls should be top quality—pipes, insulation, heating units, electrical elements, etc. You can shop the bargain bin for things like paint, some fixtures and accessories. Compare prices and keep notes to help you weigh cost versus value.

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Low flow toilets have been touted as a way to cut down on water usage while whittling utility costs. However, critics question the real value of these low flow commodes. Sometimes the toilets need to be flushed two or even three times to completely clear waste—and doesn’t that sort of defeat the purpose?

It has been estimated that we Americans flush more than six billion gallons of water down our toilets every day. That’s a lot. Previously, residential toilets sold in the United States were designed to use about 3.5 to 7 gallons of water per flush. Most low flow toilets use about 1.6 gallons per flush at most.

In order to really understand the effectiveness of low flow toilets, we need to think about how often the average American uses the bathroom.

Obviously, going to the bathroom is not an exact science. It’s pretty safe to say, however, that the majority of people in the US pass liquid waste more frequently than solid waste in a typical day. For the sake of this example, let’s just assume that the average American uses the toilet six times a day—five times for urination, once for a bowel movement. With an older toilet, using 3.5 gallons of water per flush multiplied by six flushes, that’s 21 gallons of water consumed in a single day.

One of the biggest complaints lodged against low flow toilets is that it sometimes takes more than one flush to fully expel waste—particularly solid waste—from the bowl. So if we factor that into our example and say that those same six bathroom visits require a total of ten flushes with a low flow toilet (five for the liquid waste—because even the weakest low flow toilets should have no problem voiding a little extra liquid—and five more for a single solid waste event), at 1.6 gallons of water used per flush that’s still only 16 gallons a day. No matter how you slice it, 16 is significantly less than 21 and in this scenario would save almost 2000 gallons of water a year.

Keep in mind, too, that low flow toilets have come a long way over the past fifteen years. Sure, the first models left much to be desired in terms of complexity of design and functionality. In fact, most manufacturers simply added parts to existing fixtures, which sometimes inhibited the reduced water flow technology. Now, though, low flow toilets are much more comprehensive, and other elements like the shape of the bowl and configuration of the tank mechanisms have been revamped to work more effectively with water conservation features.

Several university studies have proven that today’s average low flow toilet is just as effective at removing waste, if not more so, than a standard commode. You may have to shop around and do some research to find a model that doesn’t require repetitive flushing or developing a close, personal relationship with your plunger, but they are out there.


Got a Toilet Problem? Call Horizon Services!

Broken toilets, running toilets, leaking toilets, clogged toilets, toilets that won't flush, toilets that need to be installed...the plumbing and drain professionals at Horizon Services can handle virtually any toilet job under the sun!

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Nobody wants to be the one to have to unclog the toilet. Not only is a malfunctioning commode extremely inconvenient, but removing the problem can be really unsanitary. It is possible, though, to safely and cleanly deal with toilet clogs.

If you’ve flushed once without success, don’t try it again. This will only pump more water into the bowl from the toilet tank, raising the water level and causing a messy overflow. It may take a while, but the toilet will eventually drain on its own so avoid the urge to keep flushing until the clog moves.

This is definitely one of those jobs where you’ll want a pair of good quality rubber gloves. If you don’t have cleaning gloves, even a cheap pair of latex gloves will do in a pinch. It’s also a good idea to cover the bathroom floor if you can. Newspapers, old towels you don’t plan to use again, or rags are perfect because you can simply toss them in the trash later.

Hot water and liquid dish soap can help break up most clogs. Microwave or boil a few quarts of water; if you boil the water you’ll want to let it cool a bit before proceeding with this method, until it’s roughly the temperature of a cup of coffee. Add a squirt of dish soap to the toilet bowl and slowly pour in the hot water. If this doesn’t work the first time and the water in the bowl is not overflowing, try once more. If you live in an apartment, skip this method.

Enzymes are a good option as long as you have another toilet you can use while they do their work. These biological materials eat away at waste and are often used to maintain septic systems. You can find enzymes at most home improvement or hardware stores, but they’ll have to sit in the bowl at least overnight in order to dissolve a clog so you should only try this if you have another bathroom you can use in the meantime.

Plungers, while an old standby in many bathrooms, are not exactly the most sanitary method of clearing a clogged toilet, but if you’ve tried hot water and can’t wait for enzymes it may be a reasonable option. If you must use a plunger, invest in a large, good quality device. The bigger the plunger, the better it’ll work which means less splashing, less mess, and less time with your face down in the bowl.

If you’ve tried a plunger to no avail, a pipe snake or auger is the next logical step. Not quite as messy as a plunger, quicker than an enzyme treatment, and generally more effective than hot water and soap, a snake feeds a long tube down the toilet drain and into the pipes. The end of the tube pushes against the clog, clearing it from your pipes and letting the water flow freely again. You can buy a small pipe snake at most home improvement or hardware stores for less than $10. For larger jobs you can rent a bigger snake.

If these methods fail to clear your clogged toilet, STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING; chances are your efforts will just compound the problem and lead to more expensive repair work. Stubborn toilet clogs require professional drain cleaning services like those offered by Horizon Services. Our plumbing and drain cleaning technicians have the tools and training to quickly and safely unclog any toilet.

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