Emergency Plumbing

How Do I Know My Toilet Is Blocked?

If you flush your toilet and the water rises to the rim or overflows, you’ve got a clog or blocked toilet.

Why Is My Toilet Blocked?

The most common reasons are objects blocking either the trap, plumbing vent is blocked, or there are main sewer line problems. Check out our Tips, Hints & DIY for more information.

Why Does My Toilet Keep Clogging?

Old toilets or low-flow toilets often don’t produce enough pressure to flush away waste. There needs to be enough pressure to clear out the trap and drain or else you get a blocked toilet. If you have an old toilet you can do a few things to prevent toilet clogs. Try and use less toilet paper and ONLY flush toilet paper and nothing else your toilet. Otherwise, the next best thing is to call Emergency Plumbing and have a new, higher pressure toilet installed. Modern toilets are water efficient and provide dual flush settings for various needs.

How To Plunge A Blocked Toilet

So you’ve flushed the toilet and the water is rising rapidly. Here’s how you stop an overflow and plunge a clogged toilet:

1. The water is rising. Take the lid off the tank and close the flapper. That’s the rubber stopper that’s connected to the chain which is connected to the flush handle. Push it down so that it closes the hole
2. Take the plunge! Run your plunger under hot water before you use it. This will make the rubber more pliable. Push the rubber end into the exit hole at the bottom of the toilet bowl. The trick here is a good seal.
3. Add a few cups of hot water to the toilet bowl before you start plunging. Let it sit for a few minutes to help break up any clogs.
4. Give the plunger a few good downward strokes. If the water clears from the toilet you’ve successfully unclogged it.

How To Unclog Blocked Toilet

If you don’t have a plunger handy or don’t want to use one, there are still a few things you can do to fix a blocked toilet.

1. It is helpful to remove water from the bowl manually first, especially if the water has filled up the bowl to the rim. Sometimes just waiting a few minutes is enough to do the trick. Water will naturally drain from the bowl.
2. Squirt dish soap or shampoo into the toilet
3. Add hot water to the bowl
4. If the clog hasn’t broken up, unravel a wire clothes hanger, feed it into the exit hole and use that to break up the clog

Should I Use Chemical Drain Cleaners To Unclog My Toilet?

It is not recommended that you use chemical drain cleaners to unclog your toilet. There are few reasons for this.

1. Drain cleaners contain corrosive chemicals that can damage the porcelain of your toilet.
2. If the drain cleaner doesn’t work, your toilet is now full of corrosive chemicals that can burn your skin or eyes if you try plunging or come in contact with that water.

Can A Clogged Toilet Cause A Leak?

A broken seal between a the toilet and the floor can cause a leak. Also, sometimes plunging too hard can break the wax seal between the toilet and the floor which can cause a leak. Loose bolts at a toilet base can cause leaks. Condensation around the toilet base can also cause leaks or dampness on floors.

Will A Clogged Toilet Unclog Itself?

It is possible that with enough time a partial clog will clear itself out. However, don’t count on it. If you toilet is backing up regularly this might be the sign of a bigger problem like low water pressure, bad habits (too much toilet paper), blocked vents or traps.