There is a new spin on an old problem occurring in the plumbing world today. This involves one of the most personal fixtures in your house, and can strike unannounced regardless of income or status. Do you know what I’m talking about? That’s right, a blocked toilet. Perhaps you or someone you know in McKinney, Frisco, or Allen has experienced this recently. The traditional clogged toilet repair has mutated into a dangerous type. Not only does this new challenge result a blocked toilet, but it goes even further to restrict a homeowner’s ability to communicate with their plumber after it happens. It’s a heinous act. If there were a news headline to describe it, perhaps it would read like this:
Your Cell phone: Lost and Drowned
The scenario goes a little something like this. The local plumber receives a call, often from a land line, asking for clogged toilet repair and retrieval of a lost item. Upon arrival the scene is a familiar one. As it turns out, in a rush to sit down to use the toilet the cell phone plopped inside. Even worse, sometimes the drop occurred after standing back up. (Yuck.) But hey, these things happen. Everyone makes mistakes. Oh, but wait…there’s more. This is where things get a little interesting, and from wince we extract this proverb.
Just because a cell phone is in the toilet doesn’t mean it will disappear if you flush it.
Sometimes people flush things by accident. But if you’re looking down at your personal distraction device submerged in toilet water, it’s best to attempt a rescue vs. trying to flush it. This will always result in a blocked toilet. We can assure you that five seconds of gross is better than having to call a plumber for clogged toiler repair. If you just can’t bring yourself to reach in there after it, perhaps you can ask your kids and make it a game. (Particularly if you have small boys.) If they’re interested, it could turn out to be a win-win.
But in all seriousness, blocked toilets happen. It’s part of life, and beyond the accidental cell phone drop (and subsequent cover-up flush attempt), kids flush toys, paper towels, and even their underwear. Moreover, sometimes clogs occur because pipes are old and acquire buildup, and they simply need to be snaked out.
In some cases you might be able to deal with a minor blocked toilet yourself. Most people have a plunger on hand, and these will remove basic blockages pretty easily. A slow drain can be broken up with Drano, but if you’re using bottle after bottle with no resolution then you’re going to need professional help. I know, plumbers can be expensive, but renting a snake or auger without knowing what you’re doing can result in more costly damage than you had to begin with.
So we hope this public service announcement applies to your neighbor, and not to you. We know that other people may try to flush their cell phone because they don’t want to reach in, but you would never do that. But just in case your “friend” needs help with their blocked toilet, please send them our way. We are experienced plumbers serving McKinney, Frisco, and Allen, TX. We’re aren’t (technically) super heroes, but when we retrieve your iPhone and master that clogged toilet, you might assume we’re one. And that’s okay with us. Hackler Plumbing is here to restore peace and order to your home, and regularity to your toilet flush.
We’re always here for you, even if you need to reach out to us from your land-line.
By Brad Hackler
