How to Fix a Clogged Toilet

If your toilet is clogged and you donot know how to fix a clogged toilet, it could be time to call in an expert.

Before calling a plumber, why not try using one of these easy DIY techniques to break up the clog yourself and save yourself costly plumbing damage repair? By using this strategy you could potentially avoid unnecessary expenses for repairs to your home plumbing.

Plunger

Good news is that most toilet clogs are caused by biodegradable materials like toilet paper and human waste; or items which should never be flushed (like baby wipes and feminine hygiene products). A plunger can dislodge these materials with enough force to clear away your blockage; you’ll find these tools at most hardware stores, homeware departments and online retailers; just ensure you have a towel handy to absorb any extra liquid that splashes out of the bowl when plunging!

Start by filling your plunger cup with hot, but not boiling, water to ensure it does not crack your porcelain toilet’s porcelain bowl. Next, add several squirts of dish soap into the mixture for additional lubrication that should help break up and dissolve any clogs that have formed.

Once the cup is full of water, seal it over the drain hole and begin plunging vigorously and repeatedly, pushing down and pulling up quickly as soon as it contacts clogs. If any remain, repeat this procedure several times until any clogs have been cleared away.

If your toilet continues to give you trouble, it may be down to its sewer line. A professional plumber can conduct a camera inspection of your sewer line to identify where the issue lies. Furthermore, installing a water softener could prevent future clogs.

Drain Snake

If plunging doesn’t do the trick, try using a drain snake to dislodge an obstruction from your toilet pipes. While this method might seem intrusive, it has proven successful at clearing most types of blockages from drains.

Care should always be taken when using a drain snake as it can be harmful both to you and your pipes. Always wear rubber gloves when handling it and have a bucket or trash bag nearby to collect debris from its use. Also consider placing old towels or newspapers around your toilet to reduce water damage caused by using the snake.

Your drain snake should be placed into your toilet drain opening with its head angled towards any potential blockages, slowly feeding it down while slowly cranking its handle clockwise. Continue doing this, feeling for resistance that could indicate you are nearing a blockage; alternate pushing and cranking to break up or hook onto it without overexerting yourself and damaging pipes.

Once you reach the clog, switch directions on your handle to retract the snake and use rubber gloves to take action: pull the auger back out while using your hands to remove and dispose of the obstruction using a wastebasket or bucket.

Baking Soda & Vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar can be just as effective to fix a Clogged toilet as using chemical cleaners; plus it’s much cheaper.

Start by shutting off your water at the shut-off valve located near the wall behind your toilet to prevent accidental flushing of chemicals or flooding from taking place.

Pour one cup of distilled white vinegar into your toilet bowl. The reaction between acid and alkaline in the vinegar will create a fizzing action which should dislodge many forms of clogs from within your system; more vinegar may need to be added if your toilet is severely blocked up.

While your mixture is in action, pour a pot of hot water down the drain to help loosen any obstructions and avoid an explosion of baking soda onto your floor. This should prevent its overflow from your toilet into other parts of your home.

Wait at least 30 minutes after applying baking soda and vinegar before trying to flush your toilet again. This will allow the clog to fully break down, avoiding further overflowing during this critical step, thus potentially saving money by avoiding more severe calls to plumbers for more serious clogs. During this time you could always try clearing it with either a plunger or coat hanger (if it is safe in your pipe) but remember that more serious clogs require professional assistance from licensed plumbers.

Dish Soap

Owing to their unpredictability, clogged toilets can often come as an unpleasant surprise; however, often can be quickly resolved using common household items. Pouring hot water with some dish soap into your toilet can help break up and dissolve clogs that would otherwise be difficult to dislodge with traditional tools such as plungers.

Before using this hack, be sure to switch off your water supply so as to prevent an unsafe overflow of your toilet. Also consider mixing in some bleach as this serves as an effective disinfectant and sanitizer while helping break up any buildup which may have formed.

This method works best on toilets that have become blocked by nonbiodegradable materials like cotton swabs, baby wipes or tampons that cannot be broken down biodegradable. Keep in mind, however, that if your clog is more serious it might require professional assistance; don’t rely on these methods alone as they won’t likely do the trick alone.

If the above steps don’t work, caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) may also help. Although this product should only be used by professionals and must always adhere to manufacturer specifications when working with it, caustic soda may be effective at clearing away clogs caused by non-biodegradable materials. Wear rubber gloves while handling this chemical.

Fix a Clogged Toilet

If you’ve tried these methods and your toilet is still clogged, it’s best to call a professional plumber. They have the tools and expertise to handle even the most stubborn clogs. Remember, a timely fix can prevent further damage to your plumbing system.