| It doesn't matter whether you are in Atlanta, | | | | upstairs floor, there are a few steps you can take |
| somewhere else in Cobb County, or anywhere else in | | | | before calling a plumber. The first step is to not panic. |
| the entire United States. You can't get away with | | | | This is very important, because, people tend to get |
| flushing stuff down your toilet that doesn't belong | | | | jumpy when the toilet water level begins to rise and |
| there. In fact the very first rule of toilet care is to | | | | it certainly is a scary sight. One of the most |
| use preventative measures, so that you don't need | | | | important things to do when a toilet starts to |
| to call on the services of a plumbing professional. | | | | overflow is to quickly take the top off the tank and |
| Imagine what a chaotic mess a city like Atlanta would | | | | gently hold the float up so that water stops flowing |
| be in if even just one-tenth of a percent of the | | | | into the bowl. |
| households threw trash down their toilets and caused | | | | Then, try plunging the bowl to loosen the clog. If that |
| them to plug up. Given that greater Atlanta has more | | | | doesn't work, you'll have to grab a pot or a dipper to |
| than 5 million residents, including the 700,000 that live | | | | bale out the water into the sink or bathtub. Call for |
| in Cobb County, that would be somewhere in the | | | | someone to bring a bucket if you need to. If it is |
| neighborhood of 25,000 plugged toilets. Can you | | | | determined that there might be something inside the |
| imagine the army of Atlanta plumbers it would take | | | | toilet that is causing it to clog, find a small handed |
| to fix that mess! | | | | family member and ask them to place their hand in a |
| So when it comes to toilets, rule number one is to | | | | long glove or plastic bag, and try to reach in and see |
| only use your toilet for what it was intended. The | | | | if they can unclog the toilet. |
| toilet is not a trash can, so refrain from flushing | | | | If you are the family member elected for the job, be |
| anything else. Of course a watery funeral for the | | | | sure not to get your hand stuck too. This may or |
| occasional little pet goldfish might be allowed. | | | | may not work, but it is very simple and usually very |
| Children should be warned not to flush any household | | | | easy. Needless to say, every house should have a |
| objects or toys down the toilet. If your house is on | | | | toilet plunger that is only used for the toilet, and not |
| a septic tank, never, ever attempt to flush tampons | | | | to be used in the kitchen sink as well. Most plungers |
| or any other feminine hygiene products down the | | | | are specially made for toilets, and will not damage or |
| toilet. This is especially critical because a septic tank is | | | | scratch the porcelain. |
| designed to hold waste that decomposes, and any | | | | It is very important to start off gently, and slowly |
| manufactured paper product such as diapers will only | | | | build your way up to using more pressure. This is |
| clog the system. If you have a sewer system, you | | | | where the strongest member of the family might |
| can only flush tampons if it specifically says on the | | | | prove to be useful. Persistent plunging can usually |
| package. If not, just wrap them in a plastic bag or | | | | free even the most stubborn blockages. If these |
| newspaper and throw them away with your trash. | | | | procedures fail, then it is probably time to call a |
| In the event that your toilet does clog, or even | | | | plumber. When it comes down to a battle with a |
| worse, backup and start overflowing all over an | | | | plugged toilet a professional plumber rarely loses. |