If the plunger isn't working, your next best option is to use a drain snake. A drain snake is a long, thin tool that can help you remove clogs from your toilet.
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.)
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.
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.
However, if the clog is especially tough, your plunger may not be enough. So, what else can you do to clear a badly clogged toilet? The first thing you should do is stop flushing. If your toilet doesn't drain, persistent flushing will only fill the bowl with more water, making the problem worse.
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.
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.
Boiling Water
You need to boil the water and pour it down the drain. Now, leave it for 10 minutes so that it will clean up the clogged pipe with ease. Repeat this twice or thrice if the drain is still blocked.
So Drano is now sitting in your toilet, not only harming it, but has the possibility of harming you if you try to use another method to unclog the drain. For example, if you use flange plunger or toilet auger to unclog the toilet after using Drano, it could accidentally splash on you and burn your skin.
DON'T use excessive force when plunging a clog. Too much pressure can damage the drain line connection and ruin the trap. DO use a plumber's snake if plunging didn't work.
If Drano does not clear the toilet, this heat can crack the porcelain, soften PVC pipes and dissolve old, corroded pipes. It can hurt you—If you try using a plunger after the Drano does not work, some of it may splash on you, burning your skin.
Plunge Out the Water
After shutting off the water supply valve, place the flange of a toilet plunger (also called a closet plunger) firmly into the drain hole in the bottom of the toilet bowl. Plunge with an up-and-down motion to get most of the water out of the bowl. This should force out any clog into the drain.
You should never flush a clogged toilet more than once. Instead, take the lid off the back of the toilet and close the flapper. This will prevent any more water from running into the toilet bowl while you're working.
Pour in Some Hot (But Not Boiling) Water
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.
After plunging for thirty seconds, quickly break the seal and remove the plunger. 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.
Give a few good up and down strokes with the plunger and flush the toilet. If the water clears from the toilet, then you've successfully unclogged it. If the toilet starts overflowing again, just close the flapper to stop water from entering the bowl. Repeat the plunge and flush sequence until your clog is gone.
Take note that if you plan to use a chemical for unclogging drains that you don't use a plunger (as noted on the warnings on the bottle). A plunger could splash around the toxic chemical and cause harm to you. If you unclog a sink drain, tub, or shower, make sure to cover the overflow drain if one is present.
Although plumbing chemicals like Drano are designed to break up clogs and clear your pipes, they often make a clog worse for homeowners.
Baking soda and vinegar may unclog your drain better than Drano ever could. Start by getting rid of the standing water in your drain. If it will go down slowly, just wait until it's gone. If it isn't moving, use a cup or a spoon to get it out of there.
Can liquid plumbers make clogs worse? Yes, it is possible for drain cleaners to end up making a clog worse. This can happen for a few reasons. First, the chemicals in drain cleaners can corrode pipes and cause damage over time.
Boiling water: Sometimes the heat is enough to break up a new clog or melt some of the grease that's built up in your pipes. Plunger: A good old plunger can clear clogs from your toilet as well as your kitchen sink (though make sure you have the right one for each).
High Water Pressure with Baking Soda and Vinegar
To do this, use a 2:1 ratio of vinegar to baking soda, and mix it into 60 gallons of water. As you pour the water down the drain, use a drain snake or plunger to dislodge debris that is blocking water flow.
If water starts coming out of the drain in a main floor tub or shower, or if the toilets start filling up when you use a drain or run the washing machine, most likely you have a main sewer line clog.
The most common reason for sewage coming up through your bathtub is a clogged sewer line. All the sinks, toilets, and tubs connect to a single drain pipe that leads to the sewer line under your house. This drain line carries all wastewater and sewage away from your home to the city's sewer system.