Fix your clogged toilet today!

A clogged toilet can be frustrating.  However, there are some simple things you can do to try to remove the blockage.

First things first

Take the following actions before plunging if your toilet stops flushing or flushes slowly:

• Remove the tank lid from the toilet and close the flapper to prevent overflowing, or shut off the water supply at the shutoff valve.
• Place towels and newspapers around the toilet to catch any splashing water.
• If the obstruction is solid, such as a hand towel or child’s toy, you can try to remove it by hand.
• Put on some rubber gloves before attempting to retrieve anything from the toilet.
  If you smell gas, open the windows in your bathroom right away and call a plumber. Maybe the sewer system is the source of the issue.

Tip: Partial clogs can gradually clear on their own, but they can also develop into more serious obstructions over time. It is always best to remove the clog as soon as possible.

How to plunge a toilet

To force the blockages to come free, generate a vacuum using a plunger. In comparison to conventional suction cup-shaped plungers, ones with rubber flanges or ball-shaped heads are more effective.

• Make sure there is enough water in the toilet bowl to completely submerge the plunger’s head.
• The plunger needs to be above the toilet’s hole.
• Keep the seal tight and quickly plunge up and down, keeping it below the surface of the water and only lifting it an inch on each upstroke.
• To clear the blockage, it can take many plunge cycles.
• If required, clean the plunger before putting it back in storage.

How to snake a toilet

If the plunger fails to remove the clog, try using a toilet auger. With the help of this flexible wire coil, sometimes referred to as a plumber snake, obstacles can be removed from pipelines easily.

• Enter the toilet with the cable’s end.
• The obstruction can be removed or reduced so that it can be flushed by turning the handle counterclockwise and pulling the auger.
• If you discover the impediment, remove the auger.
• Clean the auger as required.

Tip: A coat hanger or an unbent garden hose can also be used to create a snake. But they might not perform as well.

Use a drain cleaner

Another method to clear a clogged toilet is to use a drain cleaner.

• Commercial waste-dissolving enzyme products are available and can dissolve solid waste when used as directed by the manufacturer.
• Using one cup baking soda, two cups vinegar, and one and a half gallons of hot water, you may produce your own drain cleaner. Dish soap can be used to clear some blockages.
• Either approach can be employed, but you should wait at least 24 hours before flushing the toilet after letting the solution sit.
• Avoid using drain cleaners that have corrosive ingredients in them. Your plumbing may be harmed by these.

Prevention of Toilet Clogs

You can take precautions to lessen the possibility of clogging your toilets.

• Avoid using too much toilet paper.
• Only flush proper items. The toilet should not be used for heavy paper products like paper towels, sanitary products, or wipes that cannot be flushed.
• Maintain the cleanliness of the water jets on the edge of your toilet. If the water jets are obstructed, the toilet may not flush completely. Every week, clean the edges with a toilet brush.
• Make sure your kids understand that flushing toys down the toilet is not acceptable.