How to Unblock a Toilet Easily & Quickly
Clogged toilets are an unfortunate fact of life. Fortunately, most blockages can be dealt with quickly and easily using very basic tools. Here are 6 steps to help you unblock a toilet:
1. Stop Flushing!
If you flush the toilet once and it doesn’t clear the bowl, it is tempting to flush again. Resist this temptation! If a blockage is preventing your toilet from flushing, pumping more water into the bowl will only cause it to overflow all over the floor. Instead, turn off the water supply to the toilet (there should be a valve close to the toilet) or open the top of the toilet and lift up the float arm to prevent any more water flowing into the bowl.
2. Remove any Obvious Blockages
If you can see what is blocking the toilet, then you need to don a pair of rubber gloves, reach in, and remove it. Before you do this, it’s a good idea to cover the floor around the toilet with old newspapers to prevent dirty water from splashing onto the floor.
3. Use Hot Water and Dish Soap to Loosen Clogs
Half-fill a bucket with hot (but not boiling) water and add a little dish soap. Pour all the water into the toilet from waist height. The pressure exerted by the falling water might be enough to dislodge whatever is clogging the toilet. Wait a few minutes to see whether the hot soapy water is able to loosen the clog. If the water level does not go down at all during this time, then you need to try another method.
4. Plunge the Toilet
Every household should own a heavy-duty rubber plunger. If you don’t, then now is the time to dash to the nearest store and buy one. Push the plunger down into the water so that it completely covers the hole. Slowly push down on it to create a seal, then pull up sharply. Keep going with this motion for a few minutes to see whether you can loosen the clog.
5. Push Out the Obstruction with Wire
There is a tool called a plumbing snake that can be used to dislodge obstructions buried deep within the pipes connecting your toilet. This flexible cleaning tool consists of a flexible coil of wire that can be pushed through the pipes until it reaches an obstruction. If you don’t have a plumbing snake, you can unbend a wire coat hanger, tie a rag around one end to prevent it from scratching the porcelain, and carefully feed it around the bend in the toilet. When you feel an obstruction, try twisting, pushing and circling the tool to try to dislodge the blockage.
6. Call a Plumber
If you have tried all of the above and your toilet is still blocked, then you need to consider calling in the experts. Professional plumbers know how to unblock a toilet effectively, using their tools, skills and experience to remove any blockage and get the toilet working again as quickly as possible. If you are tearing your hair out trying to work out how to unblock a toilet in the Toronto area, then call ExpressRooter right now at 416-760-7656.
