How To Unblock Toilet

A blocked toilet can be a frustrating and unpleasant experience. However, before you reach for the drain cleaners, there are a couple of simple steps that you could take to unblock your toilet. Read on to uncover a step-by-step outline on how to effectively unblock your toilet and other relevant information.

Major Causes of Blocked Toilet

Understanding the major causes of a blocked toilet drain can help you take preventative measures to avoid them in the future. Here are some of the top causes of clogged toilets:

• Flushing inappropriate items down the toilet: This is the most common cause of blocked toilets. Flushing items like baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, and paper towels can all cause blockages in your toilet drain.
• Low-flow toilets: Low-flow toilets are designed to use less water than traditional toilets, which can lead to blockages. If you have a low-flow toilet, be mindful of what you flush down and consider upgrading to a more powerful toilet.
• Hard water: Hard water can cause mineral buildup in your toilet pipes over time, leading to blockages. To prevent this, consider installing a water softener or using a cleaning solution designed to dissolve mineral buildup.
• Sewer line problems: If you're experiencing frequent toilet blockages, it could indicate a more significant problem with your sewer line. In this case, it's best to call a professional plumber to assess the issue.
• Incorrect installation: If your toilet was installed incorrectly, it could be causing blockages. Ensure your toilet is installed correctly, and consider calling your plumber if you suspect there may be an issue.
  

Steps Taken to Unblock a Clogged Toilet 

Step One: Assess the blockage

Before trying to unblock your toilet, assessing the situation is essential. This means looking at the bowl's water level and determining whether the blockage is partial or complete.

If the water level is high and the toilet won't flush, you have a complete blockage. If the water level is low and the toilet flushes but doesn't drain properly, you have a partial blockage.

If you are dealing with a partial blockage, you could use straightforward methods such as pouring hot water, adding dish soap, and using baking powder and vinegar to loosen the clog.

All you need to do is allow your preferred solution to sit for a while to effectively loosen the clog, then flush the loo. However, a complete blockage requires plumbing tools such as a plunger and toilet auger. These tools are effective for proceeding to the next step.

Step Two: Preparation 

To unblock your toilet, you'll need a few essential tools. These include the following:

• Rubber gloves
• Plunger
• Toilet auger (also known as a "plumbing snake")
• Bucket (optional)
• Old towels
  

Rubber gloves are crucial to protect your hands from any germs or bacteria that may be present in the toilet. A plunger is the most commonly used tool for unblocking a toilet, while a toilet auger can be used for more stubborn blockages. Old towels will prove helpful in protecting the floor from any spillages. You could also place a bucket near the toilet to catch any excess water.

Before trying to unblock your toilet, you must turn off the water supply. Look for the water valve behind your toilet and turn it clockwise to switch off the water.

Step Three: Use a plunger

The plunger is the most common tool used to unblock a toilet. Here's how to use this plumbing tool effectively:

• Put on your rubber gloves and place the plunger over the toilet drain, ensuring it covers the entire hole.
• Create a good seal by pressing the plunger down firmly and pushing it up and down several times. This will create suction and dislodge the blockage.
• Keep plunging until the water level in your toilet bowl starts to go down. Once the water level goes down, flush the toilet to see if the blockage has been cleared.
• If the toilet still doesn't flush, repeat the process several times.
  

Step Four: Use a toilet auger

If the plunger doesn't work, you may need to use a toilet auger to clear the blockage. Here's how to use it:

• Put on your rubber gloves and insert the toilet auger into the toilet bowl.
• Push the auger down into the drain until you feel resistance.
• Turn the handle on the auger clockwise to break up the blockage.
• Pull the auger back out of the toilet and flush the toilet to check if the blockage has been cleared.
• If the toilet still doesn't flush, repeat the process several times.
  

Tip: If you don't have a toilet auger, create a DIY alternative from a coat hanger. Simply straighten out a wire hanger and wrap the curved end with a cloth or duct tape to prevent it from scratching the toilet bowl.

Step Five: Remove excess water

If the blockage has been cleared, but there's still excess water in the toilet bowl, you'll need to remove it before you can use it again. Use your bucket or a cup to remove as much water from the bowl as possible and pour the water into a nearby sink or bathtub.

Once you've removed as much water as possible, switch the water supply back on and flush the toilet to ensure the blockage has been completely cleared.

Step Six: Prevent future blockages

Once you've successfully unblocked your toilet, you'll want to take steps to prevent future blockages. Here are some top prevention tips to help you do that:

• Install a lint trap: If you have a washing machine, consider installing a lint trap on the drain line to prevent lint and other debris from clogging the toilet.
• Avoid using chemical drain cleaners: It's important to note that using drain cleaners should be avoided as they can damage your plumbing and cause more harm than good. Drain cleaners are harsh chemicals that can corrode your pipes and cause toilet leaks. They can also be hazardous to your health and the environment.
• Use a septic-safe toilet cleaner: If you have a septic system, be sure to use a toilet cleaner that is safe for septic systems.
• Only ever flush human waste and toilet paper down the toilet. Avoid flushing any non-flushable items, as they easily clog toilet drains. These items include non-flushable wet wipes, sanitary products, or cotton swabs.
• If you have small children, educate them so that they understand what can and cannot be flushed down the toilet. Consider installing a childproof lock on the toilet lid to prevent children from flushing toys or other objects down the toilet.
• Use less toilet paper, or consider switching to a brand that breaks down easily in water.
• Regularly clean your toilet to prevent the buildup of residue and debris that could lead to blockages.
  

If you notice slow draining or gurgling sounds when you flush the toilet, this might be a sign of a partial blockage. In this case, deal with it as soon as possible to eliminate the possibility of it becoming a complete blockage.

Can Your Toilet Unclog Itself?

Depending on the reason for the toilet blockage, your toilet could unclog itself. For instance, if the blockage is due to toilet paper, it could eventually unclog itself because of water pressure from flushing.

However, waiting for your toilet to unclog itself isn't advisable because it could worsen or overflow, leading to flooding, and you don't want that to happen. Consequently, it's wise to unblock your toilet as soon as you notice any of the signs of clogging mentioned in this article.

Hire an Expert Plumber to Unblock Your Toilet

Unblocking a toilet could be a messy and unpleasant task, but with the help of the tools and techniques outlined in this article, it's something that anyone can do. However, if you're unable to unblock the toilet yourself, or if the blockage is recurring, consider calling a professional plumber near you to assess and fix the problem immediately. Professional plumbers are equipped with all the necessary tools and techniques and can help you with all toilet installation, toilet repair, and toilet maintenance services.