How to Fix Your Clogged Toilet

People use the toilet every single day without bothering to appreciate its importance. But, when it shows signs of malfunction, people panic. This is why having an overflowing or clogged toilet can be a nightmare to many homeowners.

A clog not only damages your toilet. It may also result to expensive repairs to your plumbing and other parts of your home.

Causes of Toilet Clogs and How to Fix Them

When facing a clogged toilet, most homeowners would easily point to improper waste disposal. In reality, there are lots of other possible reasons for clogged toilets. These include:

• Throwing too much waste at once
• Low water flow
• Drain line backup
• Toys and other small objects
• Sewer line problems
• Blockages in the plumbing vent

Some of these are easy to fix, and there is a number of methods you can use. For an old toilet that has low water flow, for example, a replacement may be necessary. Meanwhile, you should use less toilet paper and minimize throwing other waste until you have replaced the bowl. On the other hand, you need to address the other issues right away. Here’s what you should do:

1. Control the overflow – When your toilet overflows, you should not panic, though it is not easy to control your emotions, especially when water has started to damage your bathroom, walls, and floor.

To fix the problem, remove the lid, making sure that the flopper is keeping more water away from the bowl. Then, turn off the water. Make sure it doesn’t flow into the tank. Skip this step if the toilet isn’t overflowing.

2. Use the plunger – Keep in mind that the type of plunger you use matters. A sink plunger or a cup-ended one will not work in this case because it doesn’t generate the necessary suction. Instead, get a flange plunger. It looks just like a sink plunger, except that its end comes with a lip that will help you insert the plunger into the drain to generate better suction. This will then easily remove the clog.

3. Use an Enzyme Cleaner – If using a plunger fails, then maybe a natural cleaning solution might work. (Liquid drain cleaning chemicals are not recommended by experts because of the harm they can do.) An enzyme cleaner is ideal for use if the clog is made up of natural waste materials. This may not be a quick fix since you need to allow most enzyme cleaners to sit overnight before finally removing the clog.

4. Invest in a Toilet Auger – A toilet auger can reach deep down the toilet base. Because of its flexibility and shape, it can navigate into the drain, getting rid of clogs in the process.

5. Call in the Experts – It’s time to call a professional plumber if all the other methods fail. You may have a bigger plumbing problem at hand, and only a pro can handle it well.

Follow the tips provided in this post. These will be of great help in case you experience a clogged toilet in the future.

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