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.
Ideally, no more than five or 10 minutes. One plumber told us that if plunging goes on any longer, it's time to try a toilet snake or call an expert.
Plunger. While this tool might appear basic, it remains the best way of unclogging a toilet. We recommend all households to have this tool and preferably one with a flange because they work best to unblock toilets.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
If the plunger doesn't work, Rod says it's time to bust out a toilet auger. An auger is a cable-like device that you snake through the toilet hole to help loosen up a clog. You can find augers at most hardware stores. To use an auger, you simply snake the cable down the hole.
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. Go back to step 1 and repeat the plunge and flush process.
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.
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.
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.
A second flush will only create another disaster, in addition your current problem. Remember: don't flush again! Here are a couple solutions to fix your clogged toilet. All solutions will effectively get rid of the clog, but take various amounts of time and effort to get rid of the clog completely.
Many clogs can be solved by using a toilet plunger, but some more severe clogs will require a special tool called a drain snake to get the job done. A drain snake, also called an auger, is a long, flexible cable that winds down into drains and works to dislodge stubborn clogs.
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.
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.
Using a plunger is one of the most effective methods used for unblocking a toilet as it can unclog a wide variety of waste pipes.
A Clogged or Blocked Drain
Spotting a blocked drain is a fairly easy task. Water will overflow from the toilet's bowl rather than the tank, causing a huge mess. In order to stop the overflow, you must treat the clog. For simple clogs, a plunger and some elbow grease will usually do the trick.
STEP 3: Inset your plunger into the toilet at a 45-degree angle, allowing water to enter the plunger head – this will prevent splashing and prevent water from overflowing when the toilet bowl is full. STEP 4: Tilt the plunger upright. This will allow the plunger to seal to the outlet hole.
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.
The most common causes for a slow-draining toilet are: A clog in the drain line. A blockage between the tank and bowl. Poor or Clogged Venting.