How to Unclog a Toilet With a Plunger

A elementary plunger will brand you the family unit hero! Learn how to unclog a toilet here.

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Time

An hour or less

Complexity

Beginner

Cost

Less than $xx

Introduction

Chock-full toilet? No problem. With a niggling exercise and a plunger or a toilet snake, even a domicile repair rookie tin can get most clogged toilets back up and running in minutes (without flooding the bathroom and making the situation worse.)

Tools Required

Toilet Not Flushing All the Way? Hither's What to Do.

A poor flush means that your toilet bleed is partially or completely plugged. Almost clogged toilets are what are known equally "slow drainers." That is, flush water partially fills the bowl but doesn't rush out and make clean away the waste. The water level remains high, then usually drains downward to normal height within a minute or 2. You might not even know the toilet is clogged until y'all affluent it. Then if yous doubtable a problem, test the drainage first, then attain for the toilet plunger.

Project step-past-footstep (4)

Footstep 1

How to Test the Drainage of a Toilet That Won't Flush

Before trying to unclog the toilet through brute strength, remove the tank lid, lift the flapper valve slightly to let a loving cup or two of water into the bowl, and see if the h2o goes down. Have towels ready, though, because flushing a clogged toilet may alluvion your floor!

Lift toilet flapper to release a bit of water

Footstep ii

Unclog a Toilet: Brainstorm With a Plunger

For about xc percent of clogged toilets, you but need one special tool — a toilet plunger. Buy a toilet plunger with an extension flange on the rubber bell-shaped end. A toilet plunger with an extension flange is designed to fit toilets amend, so yous can deliver more "oomph" to the plunge. The toilet plunger will unplug sink and tub drains, too, if you but fold the flange back into the bell.

How To Utilize a Plunger

First, plunge the toilet with the rubber flange pulled out to become a better seal. Push in and out vigorously, keeping plenty water in the bowl to encompass the plunger. As always, towels handy to wipe up whatsoever water that splashes out.

Plunging Tips

A toilet plunger fits over and seals the toilet drain. Habiliment rubber gloves — things can get messy— and follow these plunging tips:

  1. Make your outset plunge a gentle one. Initially, the bong will be full of air. A hard thrust will force the air back around the seal and blow water all over the bathroom and you!
  2. Once y'all strength out the air, plunge vigorously in and out, maintaining the seal. Y'all'll be forcing water in both directions in the bleed, which will effectively loosen most clogs. Stick with it, plunging 15 to xx times if necessary.
  3. Be patient. Try alternating between steady strokes and occasional monster heaves.
  4. Keep enough water in the bowl and so the toilet plunger stays covered. Trying to forcefulness air through the toilet trap won't generate much pressure level.

Most of the time, plunging is all it takes to clear the clog. But for tougher clogs, try using a toilet snake.

(Note: If you have repeated clogging, it might exist a toilet performance issue. Acquire how to improve your toilet's performance hither.)

how to use a plunger to unclog toilet diagram

Step iii

Major Toilet Surgery (If All Else Fails)

If the clog resists all your efforts, you'll probably have to pull upwards the toilet. This job volition take several hours, because y'all have to turn off and unhook the water supply, partially disassemble the toilet, and unscrew it from its mounting band. Chances are you tin can so get at the problem. Be sure to purchase a new wax ring and new mounting bolts to reseal the toilet base of operations to the mounting ring.

If other drains in your domicile are plugged, or if water comes upwardly through them, the trouble is probably farther downwardly in the principal drain pipes out of piece of cake attain. For those clogs, you may have to telephone call a plumber. Plumbers are expensive, but they can put your bathroom back in service fast, fifty-fifty if there'due south a major blockage.

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Family unit Handyman

Step iv

Bonus Toilet Unclogging Dos and Don'ts

1. Avert Chemicals.

Don't exist suckered into thinking powerful chemicals will do the messy piece of work for y'all. They sometimes work, but they're slower. And when they don't work, y'all have a drain full of corrosive water on your easily. If you tried chemicals and they didn't work, run as much water into the toilet as possible and allow it sit down overnight to drain through the clog. Then, when you plunge, vesture safe goggles and safety gloves to keep the water out of your optics and off your blank pare.

ii. Keep the Toilet Cover Down.

A good way to avoid preventable clogs in the first place, peculiarly if you lot take small-scale kids, is to shut the toilet lid. This keeps toys, crayons and hairbrushes from falling into the toilet.

3. Don't Cascade Hardening Compounds Down the Toilet.

Simply pour a liquid downward the toilet if it's going to stay a liquid. What shouldn't you pour down your toilet? These include such things every bit drywall joint compound, grease, caulk and wax products.

toilet plunger

Originally Published: January 16, 2020