Tips On Unclogging A Toilet

Many householders think that unclogging a toilet is really a messy affair and in many cases, yes, they are right. That is because toilet outlets are capable of getting clogged, because of things trying to go down the drain and not managing to do that. These things include napkins, toys, large solid waste products, and even papers, which have not managed to get biodegraded into a pulp due to the action of water. Some people use coffee filters and tissues as a replacement to toilet paper, when they do not have access to a roll handy. These items are then flushed down the drain, and they are going to clog your toilet up really effectively. These clogs can happen almost immediately after installing a toilet if the wrong things are being flushed down the drain.

DIY Unclogging a Toilet

So if you do not want to call a plumber, here are some ways in which you can try to unclog the toilet yourself. Use a plunger, because this is the easiest way in which suction and pressure can get the water flowing again. The plastic cup should be made of sturdy and durable rubber material, because it has to create the very forceful suction ring. Place the plunger’s rim to cover the mouth of the hole so that the created suction is able to clear up the passage. Plunge it once or twice and then pull the plunger up. This should allow the passage to clear up. You would need to repeat this action of pushing the rim [plunger cup] into the hole, pumping it three or four times and then pulling it up. The resistance which you feel building up means that the suction is being created and that will need you to “plunge” even more vigorously. The pressure is going to decrease the moment the clog gives away and the waste material goes down the drain, with a “whoosh”. It is only when the water flushes away completely and without any stoppage, and the whole passage is clear that you can consider the unclogging a toilet procedure to have completed successfully. Unclogging the toilet with the help of the plunger will take about 10 to 15 plunges depending on the material clogging the passage.

Have you tried a toilet snake? This is another effective tool to unclog a toilet, especially when you think that it may have been blocked due to some solid article, flushed down the drain. You will need to place the toilet snake down the pipe until you can feel some resistance. The tool at the end of the snake will either fix on that item and pull it up or break it into easily flushed pieces. Flushing your tank now means that the passage is clear and there is no obstruction in its path.

If you are unable to clear up the clogged pipe with the help of a plunger or with the toilet snake, then you are left with no other option than to remove the toilet and clear the drain. This can only be done by a professional plumber, who has experience in clearing up clogs in the toilet. Some of the products available in the market are capable of melting away organic material, and they are also very strong acids, which can remove solid wastes. So if you are taking the option of unclogging a toilet with the help of these market products, remember that they are very powerful and corrosive. They are also capable of harming you, if they come in contact with your skin. So use this option to unclog a toilet, only if you do not want to call in a plumber. However, if these options also do not managed to get the water flowing properly, a plumber needs to remove the waste material blocking your drain pipe. He will do it in a professional manner using plumbing tools which normally do not make up the toolkit of an ordinary household.

Know Thy Enemy When Unclogging a Toilet

Before starting on an unclogging a toilet project you need to know exactly what could have cost the blockage. It is of no use spending a lot of time and effort and opening up your toilet drainage system only to find a number of toys, clothes, cosmetics and toiletries, or something else which went down the drain accidentally. Once you know what could have been flushed down, you can easily remove it with the help of a toilet snake also known as an auger. You can test the toilet by making a ball of about 10 feet of toilet paper and flushing it. If there is no blockage, the water is going to run properly and smoothly instead of backing up. Any blockage means that you need to unclog your toilet again.

So now that you know all about unclogging a toilet, use these tips and techniques to have that water running properly down the drain again.