No homeowner likes it, but sooner or later, almost every homeowner is faced with needing to fix a toilet that is backed up. Your friends and family won’t talk about it because it’s considered secret homeowner business.
In short, to unclog your toilet, you can either call your local handyman or plumber, or try fixing it yourself and consider it your rite of passage as a homeowner. Here’s how to unclog a toilet…
Fish It
Toilet blockages are stressful because they always come with a sense urgency. The first rule of business is to stay calm. Be a detective and investigate whether or not an object could have found its way into the toilet bowl accidentally. Families with small kids are very prone to toilet blockages caused by toys in the toilet. If this is the case, then the process is easy… put on some sturdy gloves and fish out the object.
Drown It
You can also try to wait for the water to slowly drain to its normal level, and then vigorously pour a bucket of water into the bowl to dislodge the object. The added pressure should cause the object to dislodge and send it on its way. However, unless you are sure that the object is soluble in water, this method is not recommended. The object may lodge deeper in the drain pipe and cause an even more serious blockage.
Plunge It
If water fails to work, do not panic just yet. Try using a plunger. Not needed often in Australian toilets, but still a good idea to keep at the bottom of the bathroom cupboard.
In particular, flanged plungers often work the best because they increase the amount of pressure you send down into the discharge siphon tube.
Accordion plungers are good too. Just ensure the suction cup is fully covered with water before commencing plunging. Also add water into the toilet if needed before plunging.
Snake It
Another option is to try and dislodge using a closet auger or a plumbing snake; a length of coiled metals that you can push down from your toilet bowl through the serpentine piping to free anything typed there. Plumbing snakes are normally an inexpensive option, and they are readily available in most local home improvement stores.
Pressure It
If none of these options work to dislodge your toilet, home improvement stores (and most plumbing supply stores) offer compressed carbon dioxide cartridge delivery tools that can offer stronger pressure than regular plunger to clear the clogs.
Uninstall It
As a measure of last resort, you have the option to uninstall the toilet, upend it and dislodge the clog. There is definitely a gross-out factor but if you are determined to do this on your own, without the help of a professional handyman or plumber, the option is there for you.
Good luck!