A clogged toilet is a common household plumbing issue that most homeowners face. And it will cause inconvenience and frustration. What’s more, most people become baffled when the see the clogged toilet not working properly causing poops to get stuck and become unhygienic and odorous.
Nonetheless, unclogging a toilet is easier than you think. Once you know the reasons of a clogged toilet and how to unclog a toilet, it becomes a quickly manageable task. From the conventional plunger method to the use of coca cola or baking soda with white vinegar, these homemade solutions to unclog toilet will surprise you.
So, let’s dive into the article to see the top five ways to remove clogs from your toilet and maintain its hygiene. “Click here” to learn how to adjust ballcock in water tank?
Reasons for a Clogged Toilet:
A toilet may become clogged if you don’t maintain and clean it timely. Also, use of low-flow toilets, blocks inside the pipes and throwing away undesired objects into the toilet are responsible.
- Excessive Toilet Paper:Many people use excessive amount of toilet paper in a single flush. So, it can overwhelm the toilet’s drainage system, leading to a blockage.
- Foreign Objects:At times, you may accidentally drop items such as sanitary products, cotton balls, or small toys into the toilet bowl. All these can obstruct the flow of water and lead to a clog.
- Low-Flow Toilets: Some older low-flow toilets are not designed to handle large volumes of waste or significant amounts of toilet paper. So, these low-flow toilets are more prone to clogs.
- Flushing Non-Flushable Items: Flushing items like baby wipes, facial tissues, or paper towels down the toilet can result in clogs. It happens as these materials do not dissolve easily in water.
- Pipe Blockages: In some cases, a clogged toilet may be a symptom of a larger issue within the plumbing system. It can warn you about blocked sewer line or tree roots infiltrating the pipes.
How To Unclog A Toilet: Top Five Solutions
Did you see your toilet water and poop not draining properly? Well, as it happens, your toilet trapway and drainpipe may have got blocked. Before it turns into an odorous disaster, you should fix it. You can use a plunger, an auger, dish soap with hot water and even baking soda to unclog the toilet.
Plunger Method:
The plunger is a versatile tool that can effectively dislodge minor toilet clogs. Also, it is ideal for toilets at home with low-water flow and uses.
- Ensure that there is enough water in the bowl to cover the suction cup of the plunger. If there’re not enough water, pour in some water into the toilet blow.
- Place the plunger over the drain opening and apply gentle but firm pressure.
- Use a pumping motion to create suction and dislodge the clog.
- You should continue repeating it as necessary until the water drains freely.
Hot Water and Dish Soap:
For small clogs, you can use dish soap with hot water to remove the toilet blockade. First, boil a pot of water and carefully pour it into the toilet bowl. Afterward, add a generous amount of dish soap to the mix.
Then, allow the hot water and soap solution to sit in the bowl for a few minutes. The heat and soap can help break down the clog, making it easier to flush away. Read more
Plumbing Snake:
A plumbing snake or as many people call it, the drain auger, is a flexible tool used to dislodge stubborn clogs. If the plunger method fails to dislodge the clogs, you can use the plumbing snake. It is ideal for removing major clogs from toilet.
- Insert the snake’s end into the toilet drain until it finds the clogs.
- After that, carefully rotate the handle clockwise while applying gentle pressure. Be careful not to chip the acrylic or porcelain finish of the toilet bowl.
- Continue feeding the snake until you encounter resistance. Then, twist and push to break up the clog. Retrieve the snake and flush the toilet to check if the clog has cleared.
Baking Soda and Vinegar:
This natural solution can be effective for minor clogs. You can start by pouring one cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl. Follow this with two cups of vinegar.
The chemical reaction between the two will create fizzing and bubbles. The heat and fizzing will help break down the clog. You have to wait for 30 minutes to let the mixture sit and soften the debris. Lastly, you should flush off the toilet with hot water.
Toilet Auger:
For more stubborn clogs, a toilet auger (also called a closet auger) can be useful. Insert the auger’s end into the drain hole, turning the handle clockwise while applying downward pressure.
You should rotate the auger until you feel resistance from the clog. Once the clog is dislodged, flush the toilet to ensure it drains properly.
Conclusion:
Dealing with a clogged toilet can be frustrating. Thankfully, with these top five solutions, you can resolve the issue effectively. Nonetheless, we suggest you to clean and maintain the toilet properly to avoid clogs and further inconvenience. It will also help you in ensuring proper hygiene of the toilet which is a must for your home and apartment.
Also, Read How to Snake a Drain – Step-by-Step Instructions and Precautions.
