If the toilet and sink in your bathroom keep backing up, this can be caused by many things. In some cases, you will be able to fix this on your own and other problems will require the services of a professional. Here is what you need to know to get everything working again.
Toilet Backups
One common problem with a toilet backing up is flushing things that should not be put in a toilet. If you have children, they may have dropped a small toy in the toilet. Likewise, feminine products may have been flushed.
If you have a septic system, it may need to be pumped, especially if you have not had this done in a long time. Over time, a septic tank can become full of what has flushed down a toilet or what comes from a sink drain. If not pumped, the tank will overflow. This can cause the toilet to back up and cause the leach field to become muddy with sewage. The leach field is the land that is above the septic tank. This will lead to a very bad odor outside around the septic tank.
A blocked plumbing drain waste vent can also cause toilet backups. The drain waste vent is an important part of a plumbing system as it allows air to come into the system. This maintains air pressure, which helps prevent toilet backups. This vent is on your roof and leaves and other debris can easily clog it up over time.
Sink Backing Up
If the sink in your bathroom does not drain well then this can cause water to back up. This is commonly caused by a problem with the drain assembly. This is the device that you open and close when you want to drain the sink. You should remove the drain assembly and see if it is covered in things like hair and slime. If so, clean the assembly and put it back in.
The p-trap may also be blocked. If you open the cabinet underneath the sink, you will see a pipe that is curved; this is the p-trap. Debris can get stuck in the trap and if so, your sink will not drain. You can turn the water off to your bathroom and remove the p-trap to see if this is the problem. If so, clean it out and put the p-trap back in to see if this fixes the issue.
Work with a toilet backup service if you continue to have problems. For more information, contact a company like Rob's Septic Tanks Inc.