It happened! Your toilet is not flushing anymore. This is an annoying problem as you use the toilet a lot. Will this problem fix itself?
The toilet will probably not unclog itself. A toilet clog can be caused by a number of different reasons. If it is only a small clog, it might go away by itself. Let’s take a look at some other solutions to this problem.
If there is too much paper in the toilet, you can try to remove it. Flushing a few times in a row can do the trick as well. The water pressure can push away a small clog.
If the clog is further down the drain, you will probably have to use a plunger to push the clog away.
In some instances, the toilet drain is completely blocked and a plumber will have to use water pressure to break it down. For instance, tree roots can grow in drains and clog them up.
The good news is that is a quick and easy process. Just place the plunger in place and flush a few times. Then start using the plunger. In most instances, the toilet will get unclogged after a few pushes.
You might consider wearing rubber gloves while doing this. Having a bucket and some towels nearby is also a great idea. Fill the toilet with water after you have put the plunger in place.
This will add more pressure once the clog has been removed. You might need to use quite a lot of force. Also, try it multiple times before giving up.
Toilet plungers are different than sink plungers so make sure that you get the right one. Sometimes you can fold the plunger so that it works for both. Don’t apply too much pressure as this can break the toilet wax ring. If you notice that pushing a few times doesn’t work, you can try an auger and see if this works.
This whole process should take less than 5 minutes so it is not a big annoyance.
You can also try to use salt or vinegar to get the toilet unclogged. While there is no guarantee that this will work, it can be worth a try as these products are rather cheap.
Most people have vinegar and baking soda in their kitchen. This can be used to unclog a toilet as it creates a reaction and starts to bubble.
These bubbles can break a clog and the toilet might flush again.
Simply mix the same amount of soda with the same amount of vinegar in a bucket. Once this is done, you can pour the bucket in the toilet bowl.
Some clogs (for example a toy that has been flushed) won’t get fixed with this method. It generally works if there is dust or dirt that blocks the toilet.
Be careful with this method if you have a septic system as it can stop the process in the septic tank and you might need to get your tank pumped out.
Finally, you can also try to use an auger or snake to unclog the toilet. These are more advanced methods so you might not want to do this yourself.
Get gloves and be careful when the auger has been used before. You can get the line loose by unclipping it. Get towels and place these around the toilet. The head of the auger is inserted into the toilet. Toilets have a trap that holds dirty water away. This can make it harder to get the auger deeper so be patient when you start out. Once the auger is in place, you spin the head around. This pushes the cable in the toilet and closer to the clog.
Some augers can be extended if you open up the handle. Getting it back out means spinning in the other way. You can have a clog stuck in the auger so don’t spin too fast. The auger can be wet so be careful when you get it out. An auger is an investment but it can work for more than a decade so if your toilet clogs from time to time, it can be a great idea to get one. You can also stop flushing the things that clog up the toilet in the first place. This includes wet wipes, cat litter, tampons, dirt, food scraps and so on. Toilets should only have excrement, water, and paper. Nothing else.
Not everyone feels comfortable using one and there is nothing wrong with this. You can ask someone to do it for you or just call a plumber. A plunger is easier to use.
If this didn’t work, you will probably have to call a plumber as the problem can be inaccessible to you.
They will charge more if they have to fix a toilet with poop in it so it is better to look after it immediately. Plumbers are also very busy so it can take a day or longer before they come to your house. This is really annoying if you only have one toilet.
Therefore it is best to fix this issue as soon as possible. They have special equipment that allows them to see where the problem is and solve it quickly. Some things need to be done by the pros!
To conclude, we can state that toilets generally don’t unclog themselves. You will need to use a plunger or other tool to get this fixed. Luckily, this is quite easy to do and in most instances, the toilet will work again in 15 minutes.
In some instances, you will have to call a plumber to get more help with this. Plumbers have advanced equipment for this, including cameras, that allow them to find the problem and fix it. Often this is done under an hour.
In extreme situations, the drains will have to be replaced. This can be expensive repairs. If your toilet clogs up often, it might be time to replace it. If the toilet is overflowing, you might have to read up about it here.
If there is a lot of poop in the toilet, you can consider these steps to break it down.
https://www.northerntool.com/images/downloads/manuals/52445.pdf
