DIY: How to Unclog a Toilet

As a preview to the article I would like to begin by explaining why doing the work yourself is important. First off, most plumbers will charge anywhere from $45 to $100 dollars just to show up and look at the problem. Kind of expensive huh. Also they are going to charge you 25% to 100% extra on material costs. That means that a $5 piece becomes anywhere from $8 to $15. Basically they are going to get their money's worth out of that job and definitely out of your pocket.

Another reason to know how to fix your own toilet is it is usually quite simple, unlike some of the other plumbing problems in the house. You do not have to be mechanically inclined or a rocket scientist to solve many of these problems. And while the first thought of a toilet is filth, fixing many of these problems will require very little dirtying of the hands. That being said, let's get on with the instruction.

First thing to do when your toilet is stopped up is identify the reason, not run for the plunger. This is important. If your toilet is clogged because you crammed too much paper or baby wipes (Never flush baby wipes. Toilet paper is made to break apart while flushed down the drain so that it will not clog the line. Wipes do not break down and are a frequent source of income for plumbers.) then you should go ahead and plunge the stool. If you hear bubbling in the tub then there is a good chance your sewer line is clogged. If there is bubbling the first thing you should do is turn on the bathroom sink. If the bubbling gets worse in the tub or the toilet then your sewer line is definitely clogged and no amount of plunging will fix it. You will have to call a plumber out to run a snake down your vent pipe or your cleanout.

If your stool is the only thing clogged then commence plunging. You should use a toilet plunger (if unclear look to the picture below so that you know what it looks like) and pump as hard as you can. Make sure that there is a good amount of water in the toilet when you do this so that when the toilet becomes clear the water will push the clog all the way out of your drain. The best way to do this is when your toilet is clogged, grab a big cup or a bucket and fill the toilet bowl about two thirds full. If you fill it too full you may splash water out of the bowl and that is not a fun mess to clean up.

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If plunging still does not work and your sink and tub are still running properly then you may need a snake for the toilet. This is called a closet snake. (or closet auger) They are usually around $25-$50 in price but are worth the cost seeing as how plumbers are expensive. This is especially valuable if there are children in the house because children will flush wipes, condoms, tampons, toys, and various other non flushable items down the stool. If these are flushed the closet snake will grab them out. To operate the snake, just expand the handle all the way until the head of the snake is flush with the end of the pole. Stick the end of the pole down into the toilet trap and then push the handle down. The snake head will go about six inches or more until stopping. Then just begin rotating the snake handle clockwise and pushing down on the handle simultaneously until the snake is all the way in. (Tip: If the snake does not want to turn and you hear scraping, pull snake back out while rotating counter clockwise and then retry the process. Be gentle or you may crack the porcelain.) After your snake is all the way in pull it back out while still rotating clockwise. Toilet water should at that time flush.

After the toilet is cleared you should flush it about a minimum of five times and run the snake back in and out a few more. This will ensure that the toilet trap is clear of all restricting debris and will be fully operational.

There are always other problems that may interfere with your toilets operations but these are generally the main causes. Doing this yourself provides a quicker fix than waiting for the plumber (especially on weekends) and it will save you money.

Any questions or concerns simply leave a comment and I will respond promptly.

For more plumbing advice see the following links:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1395982/home_remedies_for_your_plumbing.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1247256/5_ways_to_tell_if_your_plumber_is_a.html