First you wil need to identify the type of blockage
Do not wait for your toilet to become completely obstructed. There are three clear signs that your toilet is forming a blockage. These include:
- Water draining slowly from the toilet. Do not wait for the toilet to become totally obstructed, act early so that you can clear the bowl quickly and effectively.
- Water in the bowl is full or limited. This occurs when there is an issue with air circulation in the waste pipe.
- Water levels rise towards the brim but does not drain away. If this occurs, move as much water as possible from the bowl into a separate bucket.
How To Unblock A Toilet With A Plunger
Firstly, protect your flooring from overspill with old towels or newspapers at the base of the toilet bowl, ensuring to have a bucket on standby should a blockage arise. Then, apply protective wear including rubber gloves and old clothing.
Before reaching for the plunger, check to see if you can remove the obstruction manually. If not, select a plunger that has a rubber flange that can fold back into the suction cup; a plunger without a rubber flange is used for sinks only. To make this process easier, you can soak the rubber in hot water for several minutes.
Before plunging, ensure the plunger is submerged fully in water and is covering the pipe, you can add water to achieve maximum results. Create a seal by slowly but firmly pushing down and then pulling sharply with your plunger to dislodge the obstruction. When picking up the pace you will notice water will begin to drain. This process should take at least fifteen minutes. Some water may dislodge and move the blockage. If this does not happen, fill the bowl with water to its usual level and repeat the process until fully drained.
How To Unblock A Toilet With A Plumber’s Snake
Inset the plumber’s snake into the toilet, positioning the curve at the curved part of the toilet bowl. If you are still able to see the cable you will need to push the plumber’s snake in further. Hold the plumber’s snake house in one hand and rotate the handle slowly with your other hand. Slowly, turn the handle in one direction until you get resistance. When it cannot go in any further, you have reached the blockage. If the cork-screw tip breaks the blockage you will be able to pull the cable out along with the foreign object. Alternatively, the plumber’s snake can break the blockage into smaller pieces which can be flushed away. In the instance the cable can be pushed in deeper than before and there is no resistance, pull it out by rotating the handle in the oppositive direction. We recommend you ensure the blockage is completely clear by flushing the toilet twice. If not, repeat the previous steps until drained.
How To Unblock A Toilet With A Coat Hanger
When unblocking your toilet with a coat hanger, we recommend using one with a plastic covering to avoid scratching your toilet. If you only have a wire hanger, wrap tape or old fabric around the hook to protect your toilet bowl. Once done, insert the coat hanger into the toilet. If you feel the obstruction, push against it in order to drain the blockage.
How To Unblock A Toilet Using Baking Soda And Vinegar
Mixing equal parts baking soda and vinegar can create an easy and cheap solution to unblocking your toilet. This method works best when unblocking clogs caused by excess waste. However, if you have a septic tank or a cesspit we do not recommend using this method as it can disrupt the enzymes in the tank that help them to work correctly.