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.
The longer you leave a clog, the more opportunities there are for the clog to get worse. The most water-soluble parts of the clog will dissolve, and the rest will fill in the gaps, making the clog worse. There is also the possibility that human error could come into play.
Wait about 10-15 minutes before trying to unclog the toilet, as some water might drain on its own. Squeeze a lot of liquid dish soap, about one cup, or pieces of bar soap into the toilet bowl.
Make your own drain cleaner by pouring one cup of baking soda and two cups of vinegar into the toilet and adding a half gallon of hot water. Dish soap can also help loosen some obstructions. When using either method, allow the solution to sit overnight and then flush the toilet to see if the obstruction has cleared.
Boil a gallon of water and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes. As you wait, pour a cup of liquid dish soap into the toilet bowl. You can then pour the water slowly into the bowl — leave it for about 20 minutes before flushing. The combination of warm water and soap can loosen the clog, making it easier to flush.
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.
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.
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.
Bleach is an effective way to deal with blocked toilet drains as it is a dilute solution of sodium hypochlorite and also contains a high chlorine concentration. Using bleach by itself or mixing it with boiling water are effective ways to unclog a toilet.
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.
Pouring hot water in is the simplest way to unblock a toilet, especially if the blockage is only partial. Before you start, make sure that the water level inside the toilet bowl is low. If needed, transfer excess water into a bucket and dispose of it through an external drain.
Add Hot Water
If dish soap alone doesn't do the trick, adding water might move things along. Fill a bucket with hot bath water (boiling water could cause a porcelain toilet to crack) and pour the water into the toilet from waist level. The force of the water could dislodge the cause of the clog.
Coke and Pepsi are loaded with phosphoric acid, which breaks down the buildup that can clog your drains! Phosphoric acid can even remove lime scale and another tough buildup that regular cleaners struggle with. This is an effective and refreshing home remedy if we ever saw one!
When you are using a baking soda and vinegar solution to clean out your drain, you are actually causing the rubber and plastic that are used for the drain's pipes to be eaten away by the mixture. Over time, this rubber and plastic will break down, causing the drain to become even more blocked.
Step 2: Start Plunging
First, make sure that the plunger cup keeps a tight seal around the toilet drain. Next, start quickly plunging up and down. The entire process can vary in length, so don't give up. It might take upwards of 20 plunges to completely loosen and dislodge the clog.
Attempting to unblock your toilet with water and washing-up liquid, is one of the cheapest ways to go about it. It's always worth trying this method before calling your plumber. First, take the washing up liquid and pour 2-3 squirts into the toilet bowl.
Home Repairs
If declogging requires you to go the extra mile, i.e., take steps that do not need a plunger—don't DIY it! You must contact a plumber immediately before the clogged toilet causes any health hazard and leads to overflowing water.
A clogged sink or toilet is not an emergency. However, it is a maintenance emergency if the whole plumbing system is clogged.
Most toilet clogs are easy to fix and don't require a plumber's assistance, but a foreign object lodged in the drain or failing sewer pipes can cause any number of bigger problems if not dealt with quickly.
The toilet may have to be dismantled to get the clog, which is a difficult task for most people who are not trained in how to do it. If you have tried corrosive chemicals to remove the clog and it didn't work, it's also time to call a plumber for your clogged toilet.
If the clog still seems to be intact, start over at step 1 and repeat the process a couple of times. For extra-stubborn clogs, you can let the fizz mixture sit overnight or combine this method with plunging.