Why is my toilet clogged with nothing in it?

Author: Cathy Kerluke  |  Last update: Sunday, November 26, 2023

Blocked Toilet Vent
The toilet vent allows fresh air to enter your home's plumbing system, which increases the pressure of flushes. If a toilet vent becomes blocked, the toilet loses flushing pressure. With poor pressure the toilet keeps clogging more frequently, and clogs become a consistent problem.

How do you unclog a toilet that clogs with nothing in it?

Soap and water

Add a half cup of dish soap to the toilet bowl and let sit for 10 minutes. Flush to see if the soap cleared the clog. If the dish soap didn't do the job, add hot water. Pour the water in from about waist level—this will help create pressure and along with the dish soap, dislodge the clog.

Why does my toilet keep clogging for no reason?

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.

What to do if your toilet won t unclog no matter what you do?

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.

Why is my toilet clogged but drains not all the way?

🛠️ The Fix!

Try unclogging your toilet with a plunger. When using a plunger, ensure it completely covers the drain hole in the toilet bowl. Then, give it 10 to 15 plunges to dislodge whatever is stuck there.

5 Reasons Your Toilet Keeps Clogging

Can a toilet be clogged but still flush?

A fully clogged toilet won't move waste down the drain at all. If it's running slowly, it's a partial clog that does let water through, but not as fast as it's supposed to be.

What is the strongest thing to unclog a toilet?

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.

Do I need a new toilet if it keeps clogging?

Maybe. If your toilet is constantly clogging, the problem could be the toilet itself or it could be something else entirely (like a sewer or septic line problem). So before you rush off to purchase a new porcelain throne, make sure the toilet is really the problem...

Can I put Drano in toilet?

You can use Drano® Clog Removers to unclog a kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower or clogged bathtub, but DO NOT use them in toilets. For clogged or slow-running drains, apply the product and let it work 15 minutes, then flush with hot water.

Can a toilet be permanently clogged?

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.

Can bleach unclog a toilet?

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.

How do you clear a main sewer line clog yourself?

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.

Should I try flushing a clogged toilet again?

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.

How long should you wait for a toilet to unclog?

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.

Will Coke help unclog a toilet?

Surprise! Coke or Pepsi are great for vanquishing a clog! Everyone's heard about how a nail will dissolve in a glass of coke over time, and although most of us know this is a stretch, coke is arguably better than many commercial chemical clog removers because of its strong dissolving agents!

Can I flush a clogged toilet twice?

If water is rising in the bowl immediately after you've already flushed, that means a clog is blocking the water from moving through the toilet drain. If you flush again, there will be even more water that's unable to make it past the clog, and you'll end up with even more flooding from the toilet bowl.

How do I know if my main line is clogged?

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.

How long does it take to unclog a main sewer line?

How Long Does it Take to Clean out a Main Sewer Line? That is totally dependent on what the clog is. Clogs caused by tree roots can take minutes to several hours depending on the amount and length of the infestation.

How much does it cost to unclog a drain?

By Clog Size and Severity

A simple clog can cost about $100 to $150 to fix. In contrast, more difficult clogs that require additional equipment and labor can cost as much as $500.

How do I know if my toilet pipe is clogged?

5 Signs you have a blocked toilet
  1. Slow Draining Toilet. A sure sign your toilet is blocked and your drains are backing up is slowly draining of water from the toilet bowl after you flush it. ...
  2. Toilet Bowl Full or Overflowing. ...
  3. Gurgling Sound. ...
  4. Foul Smell. ...
  5. Overflowing Gully Trap.

Can you put Drano down a sewer drain?

Drano is not only ineffective, but it's also extremely damaging to your plumbing system. The heat created by the chemical reaction is more than your drains are designed to take. Corroded, aging plumbing can easily breakdown. Pipes can split and the glue holding them together can disintegrate.

Why won't my snake unclog the toilet?

A plumber snake is a great tool for clearing drain clogs… if it's working properly. If your snake isn't unclogging your drains it could be because the thumbscrew is loose, the clog is too severe, or the auger is dirty, for example.

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