In an effort to dislodge whatever is clogging the toilet, many homeowners get overzealous and thrust too hard downward into the toilet with their plunger. 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.
Once you force out the air, plunge vigorously in and out, maintaining the seal. You'll be forcing water in both directions in the drain, which will effectively loosen most clogs. Stick with it, plunging 15 to 20 times if necessary.
Lower the plunger into the toilet bowl at an angle, and fit the rubber cup over the toilet's drain hole. Grip the plunger handle with both hands. With a forceful motion, move the cup up and down without breaking the cup's seal around the hole. Repeat this action for about 10 to 20 seconds and then remove 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.
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.
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. Flush to see if the clog has cleared. If not, repeat.
You may just be using it incorrectly. Do this: Next time you have a clog, use your plunger like this: Ensure the flange lip is unfolded. Get a good seal on the toilet drain (that is, make sure you're covering the entire drain or you won't have enough pressure to loosen the 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.
Baking Soda And Hot Water
Pour about half of a cup of baking soda down the drain and then follow up with a pot of boiling water. Let it sit for an hour or two before you try flushing again. It might take several attempts, but this method has been known to work really well in unclogging slow draining toilets.
First, shut off the water supply to the toilet. To do so, find the valve mounted on the wall behind the toilet. Turn it until the water flow stops. If you can't find the water shut-off valve, lift the top of the tank and lift the float ball high enough to stop the flow.
Check water level in toilet bowl
After plunging for thirty seconds, quickly break the seal and remove the plunger. 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.
Plunge Correctly
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.
If water is rising in the bowl immediately after you've already flushed, that means a clog is blocking the water from moving through the toilet drain. If you flush again, there will be even more water that's unable to make it past the clog, and you'll end up with even more flooding from the toilet bowl.
But a larger clog or one that's deep into your home's plumbing system may not respond to the pressure of a plunger. Never use excessive force to plunge a clog. If the drain won't open with normal plunging pressure, you need a professional's help. Forceful plunging can damage the drain line and cause leaks.
If you find that your toilet bowl still drains properly — but slowly — then the issue may lie in the jet holes that surround the rim of the toilet bowl. The build-up of sediments and minerals along the side of these holes can gradually reduce the water pressure released with each flush.
A manual drain snake, also known as a plumber's snake or a drain auger, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it's physically pushed through a stubborn clog. The terminal end of the device is a corkscrew-shaped hook that is fed into a clogged drain or toilet.
A drain auger is a better choice, but the wire hanger will work in a pinch.
Will a toilet eventually unclog itself? It sure would be nice, but it's fairly rare for a toilet's clog to clear up after a few hours. It can happen, but only in select circumstances.
Plungers are the go-to option when dealing with toilet clogs. If you decide to use a plunger, be sure to seat it tightly against the hole and use it forcefully to create enough pressure that'll break down the clog. You can confirm that you dissolved the toilet paper clog by noticing the water level of your toilet bowl.
Before plunging, it's important to ensure there is enough water in the toilet bowl to sufficiently plunge it. If there isn't, then pour some water into the toilet bowl to create some suction, but only do this if the water level in the toilet is already low.
The plunger is full of air and a hard push will release a massive air bubble in the clogged toilet bowl, causing a large amount of water to splash back at you. Wait 10-15 minutes, as some water might drain on its own.
Lift the plunger and pour the water inside the plunging end. Put it back in the toilet water and swish. Allow it to sit for five minutes to soak off any particles. Move the plunger off the toilet drain.