How Do You Go About Unclogging A Toilet?

With the holidays coming upon us and family members staying for days on end, chances are there will be at least one clogged toilet in your home. When you have to tend to unclogging a toilet in your home, there are many different ways you can try to get it done. Save yourself some money and try any of the following tricks before you call a plumber.

Flushing

When you see your toilet is clogged, do not flush the toilet more than once. The first time you flush, it may not overflow, but I can guarantee that it will overflow if you try to flush it again. Prepare yourself to unclog the toilet by putting on a pair of rubber gloves, place newspapers or paper towels around the base of the toilet and turn the water to the toilet off. This can be done by turning the little faucet-type knob that is at the back of the toilet. Once you have done the preparations, the next step is to decide which is the best way to unclog the toilet.

Dish Soap and Hot Water

One method you can try is placing a few squirts of dish soap into the toilet bowl and then dumping a large container of hot water into the toilet. This causes the temperature of the water to be raised and after setting for a few minutes may soften and loosen the clog enough to clean the pipe. If this doesn't work, you will need to try a different method.

Plunger

Do not use this method if you know that the clog is caused by something such as a child's toy. When buying a plunger, remember that the larger the plunger, the more pressure you will be able to force down into the drain. Buying a heavy-duty plunger with a rubber flange on the bottom or the ball-shaped types are your best bets. Use these types of plungers for getting the best seal when you need to clear a clogged toilet.

To begin, you need to place to plunger into the toilet bowl and make sure the hole is covered completely. To be the most effective, you will want the plunger to be submerged in water, so you may have to add more water to the bowl. You want to do this so that you are using water pressure and not air to push through the pipe to the clog. Slowly begin plunging, making sure you have a firm hold on the plunger. If this doesn't clear the clog either, you may wish to try one more method before calling a plumber.

Plumbing Snake

A plumbing snake is a flexible piece of coil wire that can easily move through the twists and turns of your water pipes. A closet auger is a plumbing snake that is specific to cleaning out clogged toilets. Insert one end of the snake into the toilet drain and slowly work it through until you reach the clog. Twist and push the snake through until you have gotten past the clog and the water begins to drain out.