If you can't unclog the toilet using a plunger or a snake, your next best option is to use boiling water. Boiling water can help to dissolve the clog and free up the pipes. To use this method, bring a pot of water to a boil and pour it into the toilet. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then flush the toilet.
To resolve this situation, you will first need to troubleshoot the toilet flushing issues. Toilets may not flush for various reasons, including a disconnected chain, faulty flapper, low water level, a damaged float, rim jet clogs, or simply a drain blockage that needs to be cleared with a plunger.
Pour about half of a cup of baking soda down the drain and then follow up with a pot of boiling water. Let it sit for an hour or two before you try flushing again. It might take several attempts, but this method has been known to work really well in unclogging slow draining toilets.
Stop Flushing!
If your toilet doesn't flush properly the first time, the last thing you want to do is try flushing again. The clog will prevent the water from going down the drain, meaning it will overflow the toilet and get all over the floor. This can create a much bigger (and must smellier) mess.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
If a plunger or plumbing snake doesn't work, water and soap might do the trick. 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.
Confirm that there is standing water in the toilet bowl. Sometimes clogs cause a toilet to slowly drain its bowl. 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.
Then pull up sharply to disturb the clog and loosen it. Continue vigorously pushing and pulling until the water begins to drain. It may take 15 to 20 cycles before the toilet unclogs. Be patient.
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.
Plungers are the go-to tool when it comes to plumbing and blocked toilets. These easy-to-use and effective tools can be used to unblock all kinds of toilet waste pipes.
Surprisingly, snaking your main line can potentially make the clog worse. The snake could pack the clog in even tighter, meaning your plumber may have to remove that section of the pipe.
If the drain won't open with normal plunging pressure, you need a professional's help. Forceful plunging can damage the drain line and cause leaks. Along with clogs that require extra force, avoid plunging obvious major obstructions.
Bring water to a boil and then pour it down the slow clearing drain (recommended to use a whole kettle) Put half a cup of baking soda into that drain and let it sit for a few minutes. Add 1 cup of vinegar for every 1 cup of hot water you pour down the drain. Cover the drain with a plug and let it sit for 10 minutes.
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.
Amateurs will mistakenly apply way too much force. The damage to the protective zinc can lead to significant rusting and cracking, which may lead to serious flooding in the future. The drain snake can break off pieces of metal that can add more damage. Flooding can result if pipes break during snaking.
A snake is safer to use on tough clogs than a plunger, which can apply too much pressure on the wax ring at the base of the toilet, causing it to break—and it's also gentler than a liquid dissolving solution, which can corrode your pipes.
Do you need a plumber to snake a drain? For more minor clogs, you can snake your own drain. However, for heavy-duty clogs or to reach a clog far into your home's plumbing system, you'll need a power auger. A trained plumber best uses this type of tool as untrained individuals can cause pipe damage.
Using a snake is also more invasive and time-consuming than using a chemical cleaner is, and can often become a dirty job. When it comes to getting at and removing major clogs or clogs that are deep down in your pipes, however, a plumber's snake is your best bet.