Have issues with a clogged toilet? No worries. Well, there is at least something to worry about, but we are here to make your life plain and simple. Stick with us to know how to unclog a toilet properly.
Unclogging a toilet with a toilet plunger may seem like a straightforward process- but there are some tricks to it. However, these tricks are not will take several months to learn. They are easy to get a grip on, and with the below instructions, you will have it. Also, you might wonder what if you do not have a plunger in your house or are not available at the time you need it. What are the alternative options? Is powdered soap, dish soap, or baking soda good enough?
Continue with us to make all your confusion clear. We do not want any of us to stay long with a clogged toilet in the house. The steps we will describe today will make you a pro at unclogging a toilet with toilet plungers in no time.
Steps To Follow To Unclog A Toilet
Before you start unclogging the toilet, you need to have a few things first. They are-
Toilet plunger
Rubber gloves
Cleaning towels or plastic wrap
toilet snake or drain snake
You need to choose the right plunger to get the best output. There are several kinds of plungers available in the market, so make sure to get the right one. A wide, flat-shaped red plunger is known as a sink plunger. This plunger also has a wooden handle in hand. You do not want to get these plungers. They are used to unclog the sink. You need to get the plunger that has an extensive flange. These types of flange plungers are specially made to unclog a toilet. The extended flange is there to fit perfectly in the toilet drain hole of the toilet bowl, making it a good seal and increasing the suction power.
As you have already got the right plunger you need, now you can follow the below steps to unclog your toilet.
Step #1 Your toilet bowl may get overflowed by the water while clogging it. To stop overflowing, you need to turn off the water supply. The turn-off button exists behind the toilet. Shut it off as it can fill the tank and the toilet bowl. To have the best plunging output, a half-full water level in the toilet bowl is good enough to go. A toilet bowl filled with a full water level impacts the plunging performance. So make sure to turn off the water supply to keep yourself on the safe side.
Step #2 Make yourself prepared before starting to unclog the toilet. Wear rubber gloves in your hands. You also need to put plastic wrap around the toilet bowl as it can spill clogs while water flushes with force. Another practice you can follow is not to plunge hard in the first attempts. A strong thrust with significant force can splash water all around the bathroom and also you. The toilet bowls filled with air at the starting. With enough pressure, this air can force the seal and will ultimately blow the water out. Try to put a soft pressure in the initial phase.
Step #3 Pesky clogs get stuck into the toilet bowl tightly. You need to lose the clogs. You can mix dish soap with hot water and flush them into the toilet to loosen the clogs. You can use a bucket to carry the hot water. Then add some dish soap to make it soapy. Pour this bucket of soapy water directly into the toilet bowl. Wait for five minutes after flushing this soapy water into the bowl. This mixed water will soften the clogs and make them easier to extract.
The shampoo is a good alternative choice if dish soap is not available to you. You will get similar output with shampoo as well.
Step #4 The flange plunger has a cup at one end of it. Search for a flange plunger whose cup covers the entirety of your toilet drain. This way, you will get the maximum suction inside the drain. The more suction it can produce, the more easily you will remove the clogs.
In many households, people can not place their flange plunger inside the bathrooms as it can contaminate the bathroom floor. If you are also facing this issue, you can put a plastic wrap around the plunger, and you do not have to bring the plunger from other rooms for future use. Keep the plunger inside the bathroom by just covering it with a plastic wrap.
Step #5 Now you need to set up the plunger in your toilet. You have to place it in a way that covers the whole toilet drain hole. Do it carefully, even if it takes some time to set up, as it is the most important step to unclog your toilet. Push the plunger with a generous amount of force into the drain hole; otherwise, it might splash toilet water outside of the bowl. While pushing the plunger, make sure you have the handle straight over the drain to ensure the correct pressure and seal also. Sometimes it might seem easier to put the handle at an angle, but this way, you will have a tough time perfectly making the seal.
Step #6 You need to make sure that you have perfectly placed the cup inside the drain hole before starting the actual unclogging. Push the plunger into the hole and then pull it back. Notice the seal while performing this. If the seal remains in the same place, then it means you have placed the cup properly. If you struggle to place the plunger properly inside the toilet drain hole and the seal does not stay in the same place, then you can try petroleum jelly. Petroleum jelly will keep the seal in the right place and will make a good seal in the toilet bowl.
Step #7 After you set the plunger perfectly, start moving the plunger up and down. Do this process for about 10 to 20 seconds. In this period, push down and pull back the plunger five to ten times. Remember to put enough pressure while doing these push and pull patterns. During this time, the water and the air will go backward and forwards. In this process, the clog will get softened and ultimately will lose. Water can flush out from the toilet while doing this.
Step #8 Now it's time to see the output. Detach the plunger after thirty seconds and wait to hear a sound. If you hear a gurgling type of sound, then it means the water from the drain has been cleared properly. The water level nearly at the bottom area of the toilet bowl confirms the proper water is draining. You are probably successful in removing all the clogged materials in your toilet.
Step #9 If you notice the water level is not much low in the toilet bowl and the water did not drain according to your plans, then attach the plunger again. After attaching the plunger, do the same pull back and push down multiple times. Make sure you have a half-full toilet bowl. Add or remove boiling water to make it half full.
Step #10 Look for the final result. Lower the toilet handle and carefully watch the bowl. The water should drain easily if you clog the drain properly. If the water does not drain smoothly, then either you can restart the process again, or you can contact a professional plumber.
Final Words
Removing clogged particles from the toilet with a flange plunger should be an easy task by following all the above-mentioned steps. But sometimes, it does not go as smoothly as you have liked it to go. You can pour enough boiling water into the drains of the toilets or can add enough bleach or shampoo, and still, it might not be enough.
If this is the case where you are struggling to remove several layers of clogs from your toilet, then you can contact Queen Charlotte Plumbing company. Queen Charlotte Plumbing has been serving for a long time in this industry. The hotline number is 704-707-3339.
