What To Do When A Toilet Is Clogged
There is no denying that having a clogged toilet is an inconvenience. It is not only embarrassing but can become costly if left alone. However, panic is usually unnecessary as you can often unclog a toilet without calling a plumber. If you try tackling a clogged toilet on your own, here are some simple tips and tricks to follow.
What Causes A Blocked Toilet?
A few common culprits usually cause a clogged toilet. The most common causes include the following:
- Too much toilet paper
- Foreign objects such as female hygiene products, children’s toys, cotton wool balls, or baby wipes
- Worn-down and older pipes
- Calcified minerals from hard water
- Tree roots that have interrupted your pipes
How To Stop Your Toilet Overflowing
It is worth noting that before you can attempt to unclog your toilet, you will need to ensure it will not overflow. There are two easy ways that you can do this. You can turn the water supply off by reaching behind the toilet and turning off the shutoff valve. Alternatively, you can also turn off the main shutoff valve for your house if you cannot locate the toilet shutoff valve.
Best Ways To Unclog Your Toilet
Now that you have ensured your water supply is off and the toilet will not overflow, you can begin unclogging your toilet. Here are two easy ways that you can do this.
Plunger
The humble plunger is the hero that usually saves the day when your toilet is blocked. It is an inexpensive household essential that everyone should own. To unclog your toilet, you must cover the toilet bowl’s bottom with the plunger and gently push it up and down. You will need to ensure that the suction does not break while you do this. After doing this a few times, release the suction by pulling the plunger up with force. If the water has not drained entirely, then repeat the previous steps.
Hand Snake
A toilet snake is another inexpensive tool to help unclog toilets and drains. Before using it, lay down some old towels on the floor surrounding the toilet. You will most likely need a bucket and cleaning gloves within reach too. Place the end of the toilet snake inside the toilet bowl and gently turn the handle to extend the snake into the drain. Keep rotating until you feel resistance, which means you have reached the clog. You must push and pull the snake back and forth to break up the clog gently. When you feel less resistance, reel the snake back in and put any rubbish or waste into the bucket. You can then attempt to flush your toilet, and if the clog has not disappeared, repeat these steps.
If you have tried both of these methods and are still struggling, then it is best to call a plumber. At Botanical Plumbing, we have specialised equipment and training to clear difficult blockages. Get in touch with our friendly team today to organise a call-out.
