How to Fix a Clogged Toilet

Fixing a clogged toilet is by no means a pleasant experience but if you have one-the experience may be necessary. Depending on the type of clog, this is something you can fix yourself. Fixing the clog on your own will save you from a large bill from the plumber. In most cases there may be an abundance of toilet tissue that needs help getting through. On the other hand, if there is an obstruction by something that has fallen into the toilet, it needs to be removed.

Things you will need:

• Rubber gloves
• plumber’s plunger
• bucket
• something to scoop water
• old rags and plumber’s auger (only for stubborn clogs).

1. First flush toilet once to try to fix clog. If water begins to rise turn off the water with the knob behind the toilet bowel.
2. Second, protect your hand with a rubber glove. Explore the bowel for anything that might have gotten in there. Reach in as far as you can to fish for any hard objects. Squeeze and remove used toilet tissue and place in bucket.
3. Third, with no hard objects found, place old rags or towels on the floor around the bottom of the base to catch the water that will inevitably find its way there when you are fixing the clogged toilet.
4. Fourth, scoop the water from the bowel with a cup or large plastic bowel and place into the bucket to be disposed of later. Remove as much of the water as you can from the bowel.
5. Fifth, use a plumber’s plunger-the kind with the small rubber cup attached to the larger plunger-and begin the plugging motion to clear the clog.

If the Toilet Is Still Clogged

There may be something deeper down in the toilet that you are not able to reach with your hand. In order to fix the clogged toilet at this point, you will need a plumbers auger. It cost just under $10 and looks like a thin plastic tube with a wire inside that extends further into the bowel to reach the clog. Stick the auger into the toilet bowel and turn the top piece in a screwing motion. This screwing motion will cause the auger to grab onto or push the obstruction further and through the canal.

Once you have fixed the clogged toilet, it is time to disinfect your equipment and dispose of the toilet water that you collected in the bucket. Empty the water from the bucket back into the toilet bowel and flush. Place bucket in the bathtub under hot running water-add a household detergent of your choice with ½ cup of bleach-and place the plumbers auger, bottom side first, into the bucket to disinfect. Turn the auger in the same motion used while clearing the clogged toilet to clean off the wire end. Rinse under clean running water and empty bucket water down the drain. Store away for future use. Pick up old rags and toss in washing machine to wash or laundry bin until next laundry cycle.