Don't use excessive force when plunging a clog. Also, keep in mind that you shouldn't use too much pressure because it can damage the drain line connection, which will lead to further problems eventually. Don't use caustic chemicals or Acids to unclog your drain.
Plunging down too hard
A hard thrust downward can break the wax seal between the toilet and the floor, causing a leak. And a really hard thrust could even crack the bowl. The proper toilet plunging technique: Place the plunger in the toilet bowl so that water is covering the lips of the plunger.
Attempting to force a clog through a toilet with a plunger can often make the problem worse. Instead, create a seal and slowly push down on the plunger before pulling it back sharply. The suction can help pull the clog back up toward the bowl, breaking the blockage and allowing gravity to take over.
Structural Damage – if your clog is not immediately addressed, the pipes can burst and cause other structural damage to your home. In addition, your toilet might back up and flood your bathroom floor.
Bacteria and Smells
We're spoiled by the fact that we flush and our mess goes away. You might not realize just how strongly a clogged toilet is going to smell after a few hours. Along with the smell from the clog, you may smell bacteria as it grows. The sitting water gives bacteria ample time to set up shop.
Sometimes clogs cause a toilet to slowly drain its bowl. You cannot plunge a toilet that is empty, so if there is no standing water, use a cup to fill the toilet with water from your sink. If the toilet is empty, take the opportunity to use hot (but not boiling) water, as high temperatures can help clear clogs.
Is it okay to leave a clogged toilet overnight? In most cases, you can leave a clogged toilet overnight. However, calling an emergency plumber near you might be warranted if water starts leaking from the pipes. A simple clog likely won't cause this, but an inexperienced homeowner messing with the plumbing could.
Water Sounds—When pipe damage lets air in, your water may make gurgling or bubbling noises. Unusual Colors—Brownish water coloring is often a sign that your pipe is corroded and damaged. Foul Smells—Sewage-like smells coming from your faucet, showers, or sinks often indicate an issue with your water mainline.
Usually happening about 30 seconds after the flush, the main cause of the noisy pipes when your toilet flushes is a faulty part in your fill valve. The fill valve is the part inside your toilet's tank that's responsible for bringing water into the tank.
Water backing up into other drains.
If water starts coming out of the drain in a main floor tub or shower, or if the toilets start filling up when you use a drain or run the washing machine, most likely you have a main sewer line clog.
Caustic soda is a nasty chemical that can burn, but it's very effective for unclogging toilets. To use this chemical, you need to get some rubber gloves and eye protection. You can pick the chemical from the local hardware or grocery stores. Pour a ¾ gallon of cold water into a bucket, and add 3 cups of caustic soda.
We recommend you add a cup of baking soda to your blocked toilet and wait for some minutes. Next, pour two cups of vinegar slowly into the toilet. Vinegar and baking soda will typically react to form bubbles, so ensure you pour carefully and slowly to prevent the toilet water from overflowing or splashing.
Place the plunger over the hole in the toilet. Maintain a seal and plunge up and down rapidly, keeping the plunger under the water level and lifting it only an inch or so on every upstroke. Be patient, as it may take multiple plunge cycles, of a dozen plunges per cycle, to loosen the clog.
Combine Vinegar and Baking Soda
Add a cup of baking soda to your bowl. Slowly pour the vinegar into the toilet until you get a fizzy chemical reaction. The fizz will hopefully disintegrate and nudge the clog through the pipe.
Start slow and add force as needed. Several gentle pumps will usually work better than a couple of hard pushes. If your blockage is going to come out, it should happen in less than 10 minutes.
Once the plunger has created a good seal, push down and pull up a few times without breaking the seal. Then, flush. If the water does not go down, open the tank again and make sure the flapper is closed, so the water does not overflow.
More than just producing an annoying clamor, water hammer can actually damage the pipe connections and joints, resulting in water leaks and costly repairs. Worse, the noise may also indicate a larger problem, like excessive pressure in your water supply lines or loose piping.
The cause of your toilet gurgling is a blocked line somewhere. A clog is creating negative air pressure, Instead of air flowing through the lines,the air pushes back and causes the gurgling sound. Sometimes, you'll also see the toilet water bubble.
The easy fix for high-pitched plumbing noises is lowering the water pressure to an appropriate level. Residential water supply lines work best around 50 psi at the water-main. If the water pressure in your home is suddenly higher than it used to be, your pressure reducing valve may be work out or broken.
Pipe Material
Regardless of the material, each of these plumbing products have a life span that you should know so you can gauge whether you need an upgrade. Brass, cast iron, and galvanized steel have a life span of 80 to 100 years, copper lasts 70 to 80 years, and PVC piping only survives for 24 to 50 years.
Weakened sections of pipe may burst with a loud “popping” sound similar to a car backfiring. Although property owners usually don't hear pipes bursting, if you do happen to notice this sound consider requesting the assistance of a water leak detection plumber.
So, let's recap the common reasons why a toilet won't unclog — excessive toilet paper use, non-flushable solids, hard water, and clogs in the main sewer line. Thankfully, they can be prevented via methods like double-flushing, covering the toilet bowl, routine inspections and dealing with tree roots.
Check water level in toilet bowl
Listen for a gurgling sound from the drain (a good sign) and check the water level in the toilet bowl. If nearly all the water drained from the bowl, then you've probably cleared the clog.
Pour 1 cup baking soda and 2 cups vinegar into the toilet.
Distilled white vinegar is commonly used, but any type of vinegar will work. The mixture will fizz a great deal. If you don't have baking soda and vinegar on hand, try adding a few squirts of dish soap to the toilet bowl. The soap may help to loosen the clog.