It’s everybody’s worst fear. You’re at someone’s house, you finish doing your business and ush the toilet, but instead of going down, the water comes up along with whatever you just deposited in the bowl. Would you be paralyzed with panic in that moment or do you know what to do?
To help you learn how to effectively unclog a toilet, here’s our advice on taking care of and avoiding clogged toilets.
Stop the toilet bowl from filling up.
If it looks like the water might overflow out of the toilet, we suggest taking the lid off the tank as quickly as possible and closing the toilet flapper. The flapper releases water from the tank and into the bowl. It looks like, well, a flapper. If you’re worried that your flush has a good chance of turning into a flood, take off the top before you pull the trigger. Then you can keep one hand close to the flapper while the other hands pushes the flusher. The minute it appears the water is rising, you’re ready to stop the deluge.
Get the right plunger.
Once disaster has been averted, it’s time to unsheathe your plunger. To effectively use a plunger, you need a good seal between it and the toilet bowl. Funnel-cup plungers are the best plungers for this. They’re the ones with a flange, or added piece, extending off the bottom of the rubber cup.
Warm up your plunger.
Stiff, hard plungers don’t work as well as soft and pliant ones. Run your plunger under some hot water before you use it. This will soften up the rubber, which will help you get a better seal on the toilet bowl.
Plunge correctly.
Stick the plunger in the bowl and use it to form a solid seal over the exit hole. Most people only focus on the downward push when plunging. But the pullback is just as important. Give a few good up and down strokes with the plunger and flush the toilet. If the water clears from the toilet, then you’ve successfully unclogged it. If the toilet starts overflowing again, just close the flapper to stop water from entering the bowl. Repeat the plunge and flush sequence until your clog is gone.
Secret Plumber Trick
Add hot water and dishwasher detergent. Add a few cups of hot water to the toilet bowl before you start plunging. After you pour the hot water in, let it sit for a few minutes. The heat will help break up the contents in the bowl. This will make unclogging the toilet with the plunger much, much easier. The heat from the hot water can sometimes break up the clog without plunging, so this could be a good tactic to use if you a clog a toilet at a friends house and you don’t want to face the embarrassment of asking for a plunger.
Also, try adding some dishwasher detergent to the mix. The soap can help break the clog up, as well.
For harder clogs, use an auger.
If the plunger doesn’t work, it’s time to bust out the auger. An auger is a cable-like device that you snake through the toilet hole to help loosen up a clog. You can find augers at most hardware stores.
To use an auger, you simply snake the cable down the hole. Start turning the crank on the end you’re holding until it stops. This means you’ve reached your clog. The auger will either break up the clog or hook on to it. If it feels like you’ve hooked the clog, pull it out. Discard any waste din the end of the auger. Give the toilet a few good plunges to clear up any left over _blockage. Flush.
Shazam! Cleared toilet.
When to call Clear Drain
There are times when your own efforts just aren’t enough. How do you know when it’s time to call us for help? Well, if you see water backing up in the sinks or showers whenever you flush, it’s time to bring us in. Water backing up in odd locations when you flush means you have a clogged main line. A plunger and auger won’t get the job done.
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