It’s difficult to think of anything worse than a clogged toilet. It keeps you from enjoying your bathroom properly and it can cause serious distress for the whole family. There are several reasons for a clogged toilet, ranging from obstructions to build up, to improper plumbing. Do you need to call a plumber for a clogged toilet immediately?
While it might be your first instinct to call a professional plumber, that isn’t always necessary. The best way is to start with a few home remedies to see if you can safely resolve the obstruction or clog yourself. If you’ve tried these simple solutions and are still having problems, then it’s time to call in the professionals. Here are a few steps to see whether or not you need a professional plumber.
Steps to Consider Before Calling a Plumber
Step One: Don’t Keep Flushing the Toilet
To begin with, if your toilet doesn’t completely flush after your first try, then whatever you do don’t flush it again. All you will do is cause it to overflow onto your bathroom floor and pump more water into the toilet bowl unnecessarily. Start by taking the lid off your toilet tank, and close the flapper at the top to prevent more water from flowing into the bowl. The flapper is a circular rubber piece that stops water from flowing in and out of the toilet.
Step Two: Prep Your Environment
After you have prevented the toilet from overflowing onto the floor, it is still a good idea to prep the environment by placing towels or newspapers around the bottom of the bowl. Turn on your ventilation system to keep the air fresh and prevent foul odors from filling up the room. This will make it easier to work and unclog the drain. You might also want to grab a pair of rubber gloves, and throw on some old clothes.
Step Three: Avoid Plunging if There’s an Obstruction
The next step is to see if there is an obstruction inside the pipe. You may already be aware of this if your child has thrown a toy down the pipe or something else is obstructing the water from freely flowing. If you can see the obstruction, grab your gloves and pull out the obstruction with your own hands. If you can’t see it and can’t reach it, then use your plunger gently. However, the best bet is to avoid plunging and try something else instead.
Step Four: Use a Plunger
If there is no solid obstruction, then go ahead and use your plunger. If you do, ensure that your plunger is high quality for the best results. Either a ball shaped plunger or a plunger with a fold-out rubber flange on the bottom part which forms a suction seal, is best. If your plunger is not sealing, then it’s not working. It’s also a good idea to put the plunger under hot water for a few minutes to soften it and prep it for the toilet.
Step Five: Flush with the Plunger Inside
You want your plunger to completely cover the hole of your toilet. It needs to be completely submersed to guarantee a solid suction. You want to push and pull water over the hole to guarantee a real result. Start by slowly pumping the plunger as you flush water into the bowl.
Signs It’s Time to Call a Professional
So you’ve used proper methods and it’s still clogged? If the above methods didn’t work to resolve your clogged toilet, then the only thing left is to call a professional. Although there are methods to try before calling a plumber for a clogged toilet, it’s better to be safe than sorry if you have doubts about the cause. The wrong method could end up costing you more in the end. Contact a plumber today!