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How to Fix a Clogged Toilet
HOW TO 
Tags: Clogged Toilet, Toilet, Plumbing Problems, Plumbing Repairs
A clogged toilet can really put a damper in your day. Here is an effective way to fix it, remember to wear your gloves!
| 1. | Put on a pair of rubber gloves. Toilets are inherently unsanitary places to work, but a good pair of rubber cleaning gloves will protect you from the germs within. |
| 2. | Protect the floor. What's worse than a clogged toilet? An overflowing toilet. Prevent or stop overflow quickly to avoid a disgusting mess and damage to your house. |
| 3. | Stop flushing. If the toilet is blocked, don't continue to flush, as this will cause more water to be pumped into the toilet bowl. If you let the water in the bowl sit for a while, it will usually drain at least a little bit, although it may be very slow |
| 4. | Remove some water. You'll need a little room in which to work, so if the toilet is about to overflow, remove some of the water by scooping it out of the bowl with a dish or whatever is handy. Pour the water into a bucket, not into the sink or bathtub |
| 5. | Place newspapers on the floor. Minor splashes and spills are bound to occur when you're unclogging the toilet. Several layers of newspaper around the toilet will help protect your floor. |
| 6. | Use a plunger. Put a plunger into the toilet drain. Push down slowly, and pull up. Do this several times until you can hear the water begin to drain. You may need to plunge the toilet 10 times or more before you get the desired effect. |
| 7. | Use a wire coat hanger. If plunging fails to unclog the drain, a wire coat hanger may clear the obstruction.Unravel the coat hanger. Twist the top ends of the coat hanger apart until they are no longer connected. Stick one end of the wire into the drain. Once the wire is in the drain, twist it, push it, and maneuver it in a circular motion to clear the drain. This will generally work if there is an obstruction in the first few inches of the drain. |
| 8. | Use a plumbing snake. A snake (also sometimes called a "flexible cleaning tool") is a flexible coil of wire that can "snake" through the curves of a drain and get deeper than a wire can. Insert one end of the snake into the drain and push down, feeding the snake further into the drain until you feel an obstruction. Twist and push the snake through the obstruction until the water begins to drain. |
| 9. | Flush the toilet. When the water seems to drain OK, flush the toilet to make sure it's working properly and to flush any remaining debris into the sewers. |
| 10. | Use a chemical drain cleaner. If nothing else works, you can try a drain-cleaning chemical. They're available at most grocery, hardware, and "big box" stores. These chemicals are harsh on the environment, so try to avoid using them if possible. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and to use only chemicals that are specifically listed for toilets. |
| 11. | Call a plumber. If nothing works, you may have a problem deeper in the plumbing lines, and you'll probably need to call a plumber. You'll usually be able to clear the clog yourself, but even if you can't you at least fought the good fight. |
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