A common household problem, clogged toilets. You may have experienced this more than once in your life and it can be annoying to work to get your toilet to flush and drain correctly. But there are some easy ways to unclog a toilet.
Modern toilets help prevent diseases from spreading and keep waste contained, so it is important that yours works properly. Toilets see lots of use and can experience so much wear and tear. Plumbing issues can disrupt your day and can be upsetting. Before you call a plumber, there are a few tricks you can try at home to help unclog a toilet, that may work just as well.
Plunger
Plungers are tools made specifically for this problem alone. Using a plunger is one of the typical and easiest ways to unclog a toilet. Plungers include a suction cup attached to a shaft to help pull debris or clogs from drains and pipes without getting messy or creating your own tool.
If you don’t have a plunger, or the tool is not sufficiently doing the job, there are other household items that can help get your toilet back to working order.
Baking Soda And Vinegar
The common cleaning combination of baking soda and vinegar reacts together and can help break up debris. It is used for other drains across your home including sinks and bathtubs.
Before you just dump vinegar or baking soda into the toilet, make sure to remove some of the water. This might not be the best option if there is waste currently in your toilet bowl. The baking soda and vinegar will bubble and react. Let the mixture sit for about 20 minutes and then try to flush and drain the toilet again.
Makeshift Drain Snake
Using a drain snake may be able to help move a blockage out of the way or break out of the drain. If you don’t have a drain snake, you can use a metal hanger to help unclog a toilet.
Cut the hanger and straighten it out, bend one end and cover it with a cloth and duct tape so that the edge does not scratch your toilet. Wear rubber gloves to keep your hands clean, and use the drain snake to push down the drain. Once you feel a block you should twist and push the wire in a circular motion. If you can not find the block, it may be too far out of your reach and will possibly need a plumber.
Hot Water And Dish Soap
One last home remedy to try is hot water and dish soap. The water should not be boiling but just hot enough. The hot water and dish soap will help to soften the clog and your toilet should flush freely. Let the hot water and soap sit for about 10 minutes before trying to flush the bowl again.
Call A Plumber
If none of this seems to work, it is time to call a plumber. If the clog is too far down the pipe, or too dense for you to handle alone, a plumber can help. An experienced plumber will have better tools and knowledge to help unclog a toilet and get it back to proper order.
Before you continue to try more and more tricks, it is best to call a plumber. Too many substances in your toilet could cause more damage to the toilet itself or the surrounding area. S&B Plumbers are always ready to handle your plumbing emergencies and can solve the problem quickly.
Work With S&B Plumbing
We have been in business since 1985, so you can trust that we continue to improve our tools and knowledge. S&B Plumbing works hard to keep our customers satisfied and make sure our work is the best quality. As a family owned business, we know how it feels to have someone in your home, so we treat you and your home with the utmost respect.
We offer many services for residents in Utah. Not only do we handle plumbing emergencies, but we offer water heater installation, faucet repair, main water line services, installation of the new plumbing or remodeled spaces, and more! We want to help you with anything that gets in the way of your day-to-day life. Handling plumbing professionally keeps your home from damage.
Contact us today for pesky plumbing problems or with any plumbing questions. We want to be the plumbers you trust. Check out our website for testimonials, services, and our blog for more plumbing information.