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Many times, toilets can get clogged due to known or unknown reasons. A clogged toilet is a hygiene risk and has to be dealt with asap. If you have a toilet that’s clogged up, and you want to get it cleared up, here is the guide.
Reasons Why A Toilet Gets Clogged
The following are the major reasons why toilets get clogged:
Waste And Non-Flushable Items Blockage
The most common mistakes that get the toilet clogged are due to throwing in non-flushable items in the toilet. Toilet paper and waste, debris, large objects such as toys, clothes, or in unfortunate cases, mobile phones drop in the toilet bowl.
These are all non-flushable as they get stuck in the trap of the toilet pipes. Flushing down a large amount of toilet paper at once also can block the trap. Cotton products, pads, and paper wipes also possess the same risks.
Messed Up Sewer Or Vents
If the main sewer system is somehow clogged due to any accident or has a massive blockage, then all lines connected to it will malfunction. However, if it’s only one toilet, then it could be due to the non-flushable materials piling up over time into a large blockage.
Having a non-functional vent prevents proper gas displacement, which can pose problems like rising the water layer in the toilet.
Nonfunctional Septic System
Septic systems when full will cause backflow and clogging. It is mandatory to clean out septic tanks regularly.
On the other hand, if the line towards the septic tank is somehow disrupted, then the waste has nowhere to go and causes overflow.
3 Steps To Stop A Clogged Toilet From Overflowing
An overflowing toilet creates a mess you just don’t want to deal with. Here is how to prevent it;
Turn Off The Water Line
If you feel that the water level is higher than usual in your toilet hinting at a clogged toilet, firstly do not flush again. Flushing a clogged toilet many times will only get the waste on the floor and you will be in trouble.
Look for the water line to the flushing tank and turn it off. This will cut off the water supply to the tank and avoid it from filling up in the first place.
Disable The Float Arm
This is the more efficient way to ensure that the flush tank stays empty. Simply open the lid of your flush tank and pull the ball part of the float arm upwards.
Now, put something under the lever of the float arm so that it does not go down and thus prevent the auto-filling of the tank.
Removing Excess Asap
In most cases, you are likely to end up with clogged water on the front. To stop it from spilling out, take the initiative to remove some water from the toilet basin. Use a disposable plastic bottle to suck up excess water.
5 Methods To Unclog A Toilet Easily
From different ways to deal with toilet clogging problems, here are the most efficient five.
Using A Plunger
Choosing the right plunger gets half the job done. A flange plunger performs far better than a sink or cup plunger. It provides a stronger seal with the toilet making it much easier to clear out the blockage.
Always place the plunger angled sidewise while inserting it into the toilet bowl. This allows the air inside to fill up with water and purge the air out. Place the plunger along the bottom of the toilet opening.
You should put force while pushing the plunger down with each stroke. A stronger push allows for greater force clearing the clogs in mere seconds. Make sure that the plunger doesn’t lift away from the bottom opening. We actually found these toilet unclogging tips on a well-known toilet blog here.
Dish Soap And Hot Water
Clogs made up due to tissue and waste can be opened up easily. Firstly, put a decent amount of dishwasher into the toilet and wait for half an hour to an hour.
Afterward, get warm water and dunk it into the toilet bowl. Give it a few minutes and press the flush. It opens up the clog by lubricating and breaking down the tissue and waste clumps. Do not put it in boiling water because that can harm the porcelain covering of your toilet.
Vacuum Machine
If the plunger or dish soap doesn’t work, you can try a wet/dry vacuum with water-resistant properties. Firstly, clear out the water on top by vacuuming it.
Then place a wet towel to coil around the vacuum hose and place the hose into the bottom opening. Then turn on the vacuum, it should suck out the items clogging up your toilet. Although in this method, the vacuum cleanup is a considerable issue if you wish to use the vacuum a second time.
Using A Toilet Snake (Closet Auger)
It is the best tool for toilet clogging and retrieving an important item from the toilet if necessary. Augers have hooks on their end. Normal drills are 3 feet tall and can extend up to 6 feet.
Enter the hooked part into the opening of the toilet carefully. Allow the metal retriever end to get inside the bend while not touching the exposed porcelain.
Place one hand over the bar and another on the handle of the auger. Turn the handle with force as it will turn the hook and break down the clogged waste. This method works the fastest and can retrieve most types of items from the toilet. However, it is also the most expensive of all the other options.
Hanging Wire DIY Toilet Snake
Considering you do not have an auger, you can make a DIY toilet snake with a hanging wire. First, straighten out the wire and then make a loop on one end. Cover the loop with a piece of fabric and secure it with duct tape.
Push inside the bottom opening of the toilet and move it in a circular motion. It’s easier if the clog is near the opening. Push back with the snake if you feel an obstacle. However, solid materials that do not dissolve might only get pushed further backward using this method.
Final words
A clogged-up toilet can be a mess and there is never a warning when it will happen. It is a good idea to always have a plunger or auger in the toilet. Hope the above-mentioned methods will come in handy next time you end up with such a situation.
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