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.
DO: If water is already rising, lift the tank lid and carefully use the rubber floater to block water from filling the hole at the bottom. If this isn't a fast enough option, turn off (twist right to close) the water at the valve, typically located behind the toilet towards the bottom.
How Long Can You Turn Off Water to a Toilet? Like turning off your toilet's water for a night, it's safe to do so for a week. While you can keep your toilet water off for as long as you'd like, we wouldn't recommend it unless you have a problem with your toilet's plumbing system.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
To cut the water supply feeding your toilet, simply turn the shut-off valve clockwise. After a few rotations, the valve should tighten. Some require only a 1/4 turn (see examples below). You have now successfully isolated the tank.
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.
You may have a first-generation, low flow design. The low flow design was created to help homeowners save on water, but the earliest models ended up lacking the necessary pressure to properly clear the internal trap and drain. In other words, this means that it can continuously become clogged if you aren't careful.
Toilets can develop drain clogs for any one of several basic reasons, usually involving partial or complete obstruction in one of the various parts of the drain system: the toilet trap, the branch drain line, the vent pipe, or the main sewer line.
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.
Baking Soda & Vinegar
The combination of baking soda and vinegar is an excellent way to dissolve clogs. For toilet clogs especially, add one cup of baking soda to the bowl and let it sit for a few minutes. After that, slowly pour in two cups of vinegar. Let the mixture sit again for an hour, then flush down the toilet.
Usually this is caused by one of the following problems: The water level in the tank may be at or above the top of the overflow pipe. The flapper or stopper ball that closes off the outlet at the bottom of the tank may be defective. The fill valve may need replacing.
A stuck/open flapper can be caused by a bound up chain connecting the toilet flush handle or the flush handle getting stuck in the down position, resulting in a potential water loss of 200 gallons per hour.
Opening the valve too quickly can result in damage to the pipes in your home. Be sure to also clear any air from the water lines.
If a gate valve is partially open, the stem that holds and moves the gate will be in the water stream. If left in this condition for a long period of time, the water stream will wear away the stem, especially the end that attaches to the gate.
Gate Valve
They are designed to allow for completely open or closed valves. This type of water valve is very reliable for shutting off water flow. Ball valves are slowly becoming a popular gate valve replacement, as gate valves are known for getting stuck in an on/off position.
NOTE: This valve should always be completely open or completely closed – never leave half-open to control the amount of flow into the house. It is not designed to be left partially open.
Hot Water and Dish Soap
Heat up a gallon of hot water on the stove and pour some dish soap into your toilet while the water is heating up. When the water is extremely hot, but not boiling, pour into the toilet carefully. Wait for 10-15 minutes while the dish soap and hot water soften the clog.