What to Do When a Toilet is Clogged. If your toilet is not flushing properly, take immediate steps before plunging. To keep the toilet from overflowing, either remove the lid of the toilet tank and close the toilet flapper or turn off the water supply to the toilet at the shut-off valve.
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.)
Force Airflow
Larger bottles or two-liter soda bottles work well because they hold a larger air capacity and are wide enough to plug the drain hole. Insert the bottle upside down into the drain of the blocked toilet and squeeze firmly and fast. The air will force into the pipes and disrupt the clog.
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.
You need to obtain at least a gallon of water to pour directly into the toilet bowl. It doesn't matter where you find the water, whether it's from water bottles or a friendly neighbor who can lend you some of theirs. Pour slowly in the beginning, then quickly dump the remainder of the water into the bowl.
When you notice a nasty clog or your toilet won't flush, your best bet is to pour in some hot water. You can turn the tap in your bathroom sink or tub to the hottest setting or heat the water up a bit on the stove, but don't let the water get to boiling point.
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 most common cause of a toilet that doesn't drain properly is simply that it's clogged, which itself can happen for any number of reasons. Typically, using a plunger is enough to dislodge the clog and allow the water to drain properly. If that doesn't work, you may be dealing with a different issue. Venting issues.
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.
This can melt PVC piping and pipe seals, causing serious damage. In addition, using boiling water to clear a clogged toilet can melt the wax ring around the toilet, or even crack the porcelain bowl, leading to a pricey trip to your favorite hardware store.
A running toilet is typically caused by the overflow tube, flush valve, or fill valve. Check the water in the tank to determine if it is running into the overflow tube. If the water is running into the overflow tube, the water level might be too high, or the overflow tube might be too short for the toilet.
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.
A constantly running toilet also presents an increased risk of flooding. This risk can come in a few forms. When you have a septic tank, excess water can go over the tank's capacity, which can lead to sewer backups and basement flooding.
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.
If your drain is clogged with ice cubes — then yes, boiling water can unclog a drain.
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.
A Clogged or Blocked Drain
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.
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.