A Guide to Troubleshooting Clogged Toilets Without Damaging Your Plumbing
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Clogged toilets are a nightmare for many homeowners. Often, they lead to calls to plumbing professionals for emergency repairs.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to fix a clogged toilet on your own without damaging the plumbing in your home. It’s best to try these techniques first before calling in a plumber, and you can use items you already have on hand for this task.
The Trusty Plunger
The toilet plunger is one of the most common tools for tackling a clogged drain. It works by pumping water down the pipes and changing their pressure, which can force a clog to move or break apart.
To get started, place the plunger firmly in the toilet bowl and start pumping it up. Repeat this process until you notice the clog moving or breaking down.
You can also push the plunger down a bit more vigorously to help dislodge any lingering clogs that may be stuck in the pipe. This can sometimes be the most effective method for tackling a clogged toilet, but it may take a few flushes before you see any signs of progress.
Another easy option for tackling a clogged toilet is to use a plumbing auger or drain snake, an inexpensive tool you can pick up at any hardware store. This is an excellent tool for dislodging and snagging a clog from a drain or sewer pipe, but it can also be handy in snagging a loose object that’s getting stuck in the toilet.
If you’re short on cash, a wire coat hanger can also be a useful tool for snagging and bringing objects out of your toilet drain. Just make sure you bend the wire hanger so it doesn’t scratch the porcelain.
It’s important to note that a wire hanger can be quite dangerous, so you should always wear rubber gloves when using this technique.
Mixing Hot Water and Dish Soap
A combination of hot water and dish soap is an effective way to unclog a toilet. This can help to soften the clog and make it easier to remove.
However, you should be careful with this technique; too much heat can cause the water to crack your porcelain, so only apply a small amount at a time. You should also remember that dish soap won’t do much for your plumbing; it can only act as a lubricant, so you need something more powerful to clear a clogged drain.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Finally, a simple combination of vinegar and baking soda can be an effective way to solve most clogged drain issues. Just add a cup of each to the toilet and let them work for a few minutes, then flush.
These two household cleaning aids are also good deodorizers and are non-toxic. When they mix together, they create bubbles that can break up the clog and get it moving again.
If you find yourself in a clogged toilet situation, don’t forget that it’s perfectly normal to flush a little too hard or accidentally overflow the bowl. Just be aware that this can lead to more serious plumbing problems, so make sure you’re wearing protective gloves and don’t try to flush too hard again before addressing the problem.
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