When you have a clogged toilet, but you don't need to use it right away, you might wonder if you can just wait and let the clog sort itself out. 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.
Do nothing but wait, then flush. Toilets, like all plumbing drains, work by the force of gravity. A full bowl of water exerts its own pressure on the clog and, over time, often will clear the clog for you. So if you have more than one bathroom in the house, just wait it out overnight, or as long as you can.
One of the most popular methods of unclogging a slow draining toilet is using hot water and liquid soap. Pour the boiling water into the bowl and then add the liquid soap. Let it sit for about 15 minutes before flushing.
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.)
You might want to see if the clog works itself out in time. If you have another toilet you can use, let the clogged one set overnight. The water pressure that builds up in the bowl might actually cause the toilet to unclog itself. After a day's wait, flush the toilet again.
The water level will go down after 15 minutes, so pour more hot water into the bowl to restart the lubrication process. After another 15 minutes of waiting, you can flush the toilet and the clog will be gone!
How to Unclog a Toilet With a Plunger. After the water is turned off, try using a conventional plunger to unclog the toilet. Be sure the water covers the cup of the plunger; if it doesn't, you may need to manually control the flapper until enough water enters the bowl.
Then pull up sharply to disturb the clog and loosen it. Continue vigorously pushing and pulling until the water begins to drain. It may take 15 to 20 cycles before the toilet unclogs. Be patient.
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.
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.
The longer you leave a clog, the more opportunities there are for the clog to get worse.
Many people think that a forceful push into the plunger is what frees up the clog, but this can often worsen the problem. In fact, pushing the plunger in with enough force can even break the seal of the toilet gasket (the seal between the toilet and the floor where the plumbing exits).
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.
When it comes to simpler clogs, expect to pay no more than $150, while more extensive blockages that require dismantling the toilet's plumbing could cost between $150 and $500. A DIY drain snake costs between $5 and $50, so it may be affordable for homeowners to take the first attempt at unclogging themselves.
The answer might surprise you: dish soap. Yes, that's right. Dish soap can be your savior when it comes to unclogging toilets quickly and efficiently. Simply pour some dish soap into the clogged toilet bowl and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes.
How to Tell if Your Toilet is Clogged. Signs that your toilet (or sewer line) is blocked include: The water does not flush properly, stays in the bowl for long periods or ends up overflowing over the top of the bowl. When the toilet is flushed, water starts to gurgle up in your shower or bathtub drain.
For toilet clogs specifically, add one cup of baking soda to your toilet and let it sit for a few minutes. After that, pour in two cups of vinegar. Make sure to pour slowly, as you don't want the bubbly, chemical reaction these two products cause to come jumping out of your toilet.
Soap and water
Add a half cup of dish soap to the toilet bowl and let sit for 10 minutes. Flush to see if the soap cleared the clog. If the dish soap didn't do the job, add hot water. Pour the water in from about waist level—this will help create pressure and along with the dish soap, dislodge the clog.
Slow drainage
Water should go down quickly when you flush the toilet. If it takes a while for your toilet bowl to drain, there might be something stuck in the pipes preventing normal flow. Clogs can cause a complete blockage as well as slow drainage. Either way, you need plumber assistance if this is the issue.
The heat created by the chemical reaction can cause the porcelain in your throne to crack. And then you might need a whole new toilet… all because of some Drano. Plus, if the drain cleaner doesn't work and you still have a clog, the toilet is now full of chemicals.
When it comes to simpler clogs, expect to pay no more than $150, while more extensive blockages that require dismantling the toilet's plumbing could cost between $150 and $500. A DIY drain snake costs between $5 and $50, so it may be affordable for homeowners to take the first attempt at unclogging themselves.
Vinegar and Baking Soda Mixture
To start, completely dissolve one cup of baking soda in one cup of hot water. Pour the mixture into your blocked toilet and wait a couple of minutes. Then, pour two cups of vinegar into the toilet. Allow the vinegar and baking soda to react for at least 15 minutes.