The use of toilet paper is very specific. The manufacturers of toilet paper have made them in such a way that they are able to dissolve easily in water.
If you use too much toilet paper, you might end up clogging your toilet.
If there is a backup in the drain, your toilet might overflow. Sometimes, this paper might come out of the drains due to overflow. Toilet Paper coming out of the outside drain is not as unusual as you might think.
It usually overflows from drains when you have stopped flushing your toilet. If there is a blocked sewer pipe around you, it has most likely occurred due to overflowing toilet paper.
Although such a scenario might be a cause for worry, we are here to teach you ways to fix this problem of overflowing toilet paper.
How Drains Connect to Sewers
Household plumbing systems use a network of drain pipes leading to the main sewer line. Drain stacks from bathrooms, kitchens, laundry and sinks all connect. Toilets tie directly into the main waste stack before exiting outdoors.
Vents allow air exchange to release sewer gases outside rather than inside the home. If any section of drain becomes clogged, waste can back up and be diverted out these open vents.
Does Toilet Paper Clog Pipes?
The drains are built to deal with a sufficient amount of toilet paper. As mentioned before, toilet paper is designed in such a way that it will dissolve in the water after a while.
Usually, this dissolving starts within a few seconds of coming in contact with water. This might make you wonder as to why the probability of toilet clogs arises given these properties of toilet paper.
But even with these properties, such clogs might happen to anyone.
This particularly happens when there is over usage of toilet paper. So the first step in avoiding the problem is to stop using more paper than necessary.
But even then, anyone might be unaware of the consequences of this misuse. So we will apprise you of what to do if such an overflow does happen.
Why Does Toilet Paper Clog Drain?
We have mentioned in the previous part that misuse or overuse of toilet paper can lead to clogs. You should also know that toilet paper can overflow even if you have only stopped flushing the toilet.
If there is a blocked sewer pipe, the most common reason behind this is overflowing toilet paper.
If there is a blockage in the sewer drain, the paper will float and move to the very top of the water column.
If you add more wastewater into the drain, the toilet paper that was already pretty high will rise up even further.
Eventually, the paper will flow to the ground around the drain. Wastewater can be classified into two different groups: Grey Water and Black Water.
When a clog exists in the drain, the adage of any amount of wastewater can only make things worse. The worst scenario is when fecal matters also start to float outside the drain.
How to Fix Toilet Paper Coming Out of the Drain?
Fixing such an issue is not a walk in the park, and there are certain few things you have to do in order to ensure that the passage has been unclogged.
Here is a sequence you should follow:
- Clean The Area
If you have a clog, whether due to toilet paper overflow or any other cause, the first and foremost thing to do is clear out the debris.
If there is a clog, a lot of water accumulates in the toilet. It might also happen that the water overflows and falls on the floor.
So if there are any rugs, paper holders, or towels around, they should be removed from the vicinity.
The reason behind clearing the area is to protect as many things as possible from coming in contact with dirty water.
- Supporting The Lid
Open the lid and keep it upright. Make sure the lid stands straight; otherwise, it can become quite annoying if it keeps falling.
Provide additional support to keep the lid upright. This makes working through the cog much easier.
- Use Your Plunger
Plungers are available in your local supermarkets. They are one of the most effective instruments used to deal with clogs.
Plungers have a rubber cup impaled on a wooden handle.
The rubber cup generates suction, and the force of the suction is usually strong enough to break up the accumulation of tissue paper.
This breakage allows the smooth flow of water. But while using the plunger, you have to keep a few things in mind:
- You have to cover the drain using the cup. Without properly covering the drain, you will not be able to generate enough suction. Without suction, the use of the plunger is technically redundant.
- Grab the handle of the plunger using both hands. Move it forward and backwards. This creates a strong enough motion to create the optimum amount of suction. With enough suction, you can break the mold of tissue paper.
- If you see bits of tissue floating out from the drain, this is a sign of the plunge working. The clog is breaking up, and the drain is being cleared.
Now that you know how to use the plunger the right way, let’s check other solutions.
- Flush The Toilet
This moment is very crucial. If you flush the toilet and it flushes like normal, that means that the clog has been cleared out. That would mean success.
- Auger
On the contrary, if the clog still persists, you still have to keep on working. If the clog is there, then you have to use an auger, which is a thing metal wire that, when inserted in the siphon, clears out the clogs.
Augers can also be used to clean clogs that are on the very deep end of a drain.
But how do you use an Auger? Here are the steps:
- Insert the auger into the opening or siphon. Keep inserting it until you feel some form of resistance. Thai resistance represents the center of the clog.
- Once you have reached the center of the clog, rotate the handle of the auger. Rotate and push it inward at the same time. The barbs on the end of the auger will help to shred the pieces of paper that are stuck.
- There will come a point when you do not feel any resistance. This means that the clog has been cleared out. Flush your toilet. If the flush works normally, the clog has been cleared out. Usually, augers are very effective in dealing with such clogs.
Other than manual methods, there are other ways you can disintegrate the toilet paper clog in the main drain or the ones clogged in your toilet.
There are various chemicals available that help in this regard.
Chemicals include Chemical Drain Cleaner, Copper SUlfate, Epsom Salt, Dichlobenil, and so on. These chemicals are primarily used when plunges or augers fail to fix the issue.
And lastly, you should clean out the sewer drain as well. Watch this video to learn how to do it right.
Reasons for Outside Drain Overflow
When wastewater overflows from an outside-facing drain rather than flowing to the sewer, typical causes include:
- Clogged main drain line – Roots, grease, collapsed areas, child’s object.
- Excess garbage disposal solids – Overloaded with food scrap buildup.
- Heavy paper product usage – Wipes, towels, feminine items overwhelm drains.
- Old cracked pipes – Roots and debris infiltrate compromised drain lines.
- Connection point clog – Junction of house and sewer lines commonly clogs.
- Vent pipe defect – Small vent cracks or holes can leak watery waste.
- Sewer line blockage – Whole neighborhood impacted if main line blocked.
Pinpointing the specific blockage area is the first step. Drain repairs and improved usage habits can prevent recurrence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you’re noticing toilet paper in your drain, it could be due to a blockage in the sewer line. This can be caused by a buildup of debris such as grease, fat, tree roots, old leaves, hard-to-flush objects, or hair buildup. You may need to hire a professional plumber to clear and clean the drain line.
If you’re experiencing toilet waste coming out of the drain, it’s likely a branch line blockage between the bathroom and the main sewer. This can be caused by a buildup of debris such as grease, fat, tree roots, old leaves, hard-to-flush objects, or hair buildup. You’ll probably need to hire a professional plumber to clear and clean the drain line.
If you’re looking to unblock a toilet drain pipe outside, you can try using a drainage rod and a quality pressure hose to shift the debris and spray the remaining particles through the drain. You can also try pouring hot water mixed with dishwashing liquid down the drain, or a mix of vinegar and baking soda.
If your outside drain is overflowing, it’s likely due to a blockage either in the pipework or in the drain itself. This can be caused by a buildup of debris such as grease, fat, tree roots, old leaves, hard-to-flush objects, or hair buildup. You may need to hire a professional plumber to clear and clean the drain line.
Final Words
Toilet Paper coming out of the outside drain is not a pleasant sight to look at. This event usually occurs when there is a clog in one toilet.
Although one might be reluctant to do this task of cleaning, it is your responsibility to fix the issue if it starts from your end.
If you cannot do it manually, hire a plumber to resolve the issue. Sometimes the bookish knowledge might fall short in dealing with this problem, and you might need professional help.
Chemicals are also available if instruments are not effective.
We hope this article has been able to help you regarding any clogging issues you might face!
