3 Ways to Unplug a Toilet Fast

There is nothing worse than watching a toilet bowl water slowly creep to the rim when you flush. You hope it won’t overflow and that you can get it unplugged in time. A backed-up toilet is not usually a plumbing emergency – at least not one where you need a plumber. But it is an urgent issue that you need to resolve quickly. Here are three ways to unplug a backed-up toilet to avoid a big, nasty mess in your home.

  1. The plunger. First tool to grab when that water starts rising in the toilet bowl is your plunger – no home should be without one. Create a seal around the drain in the bottom of the toilet and push down. This can remove most minor clogs that are in the toilet drain.
  2. The snake. If the plunger is unable to remove the clog, it may be further down the drain. A snake can be used to unclog pipes. You may not have one of these at your home – almost any home improvement or hardware store will have one. The snake allows you to go several feet down through the pipe to remove any clogs.
  3. The phone. If the plunger or snake do not do the trick, you may have a major drain clog that needs a professional drain cleaning. Get on the phone and call your local plumber for a service call to remove your toilet drain blockage.

At least nine out of ten times, you can handle plugged toilets on your own. But when you get a stubborn clog, call in a professional to get your toilet back to flushing the way it should.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 884-467

Three Common Toilet Problems

Let’s be honest; toilet problems aren’t anyone’s favorite issue to deal with as a homeowner. Whether it’s a slow-flushing toilet or one capable of flushing by itself, we would rather ignore it than try to fix the problem. However, these issues do crop up, and must be dealt with before they lead to bigger plumbing headaches. Many toilet problems are easy and inexpensive to fix on your own, if you know what the problem is and how to address the situation. Here are three of the most common problems and what needs to be done to resolve the issue.

  1. Slow-flushing toilet. If your toilet is flushing slowly but isn’t clogged, you may have mineral build up in your tank and fixtures. Check to make sure your tank is filling correctly; it the float is corroded, it may be shutting off prematurely. Try cleaning the mineral deposits off your fixtures or replacing them altogether.
  2. Self-flushing toilet. If the toilet is flushing on its own, most likely water is leaking from the tank into the bowl, causing it to fill and then flush. Put a few drops of food coloring in your tank and wait to see if the colored water leaks into the bowl. If it does, you probably have a leaky flapper valve.
  3. Clogged toilet. The first and easiest fix for a clogged toilet is to use your plunger to remove the clog. However, if the clog is farther down into your plumbing, you may need a snake to remove it, or a professional plumbing service.

Most toilet fixtures and parts can be found at almost any hardware or home improvement store and are fairly easy to install. If you aren’t handy with tools or just don’t particularly like working on your toilet, your local plumber can always come to the rescue to fix these common problems.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283

 

Unclog That Toilet!

How frustrating and sometimes messy or embarrassing is a clogged toilet? Worse, it never seems to happen at an opportune time but, rather, at the time when you are most in a hurry. Fortunately, most toilet clogs can be cleared relatively easily with a hand plunger, just make sure that enough water remains in the bowl to cover the rubber end of the plunger. If not enough water remains in the bowl, do not reflush the tank as the clogged bowl will then overflow. It is better to transport additional water in a bucket or pan from the sink in order to cover the plunger cup. When there is sufficient water in the bowl, pump the plunger to remove the plug.

If the plunger is ineffective, you may next try a closet auger, which has a long sleeve to guide the snake with a hook into the toilet’s water trap. After inserting the auger into the toilet trap, turn it until it feels tight. This is a sign that the snake has twisted into the blockage. Whatever is clogging the toilet should, then, be removed when you pull in the auger. Should this attempt achieve unsatisfactory results, you may need to resort to a regular plumber’s snake because it reaches a greater distance.

Should all efforts at removal fail, the toilet itself may need to be removed from the floor. This is not an easy task and perhaps you may wish to contact your local plumbing professional for further help with this problem. Rather than struggle through the process yourself, your plumbing contractor can quickly and cost effectively have you back in good running order in no time.

Reasons Your Toilet May Become Clogged

Clogged toilets are the bane of the homeowner. They can happen at the most inopportune time and are not always easily remedied. Fixing a clogged toilet can be as simple a few good pushes on a plunger. Other times, clogged toilet repairs can be much more work. What it takes to unclog a toilet depends largely upon what the reason is behind the clog. There are several causes for a clogged toilet and therefore several different means of clearing those clogs. Here are some of the most common causes for a clogged toilet:

  • A foreign object lodged in the toilet is common problem, especially in homes with small children. Small toys or toothbrushes are common culprits. Often times an object is beyond view and the fact that there is something in the drain pathway is not easily evident. Clogs that seem to keep recurring in a toilet may be due to a foreign object.
  • Blockage in the vent pipe. If the toilet’s vent pipe has a blockage it can affect the flushing ability of the toilet.
  • Too much waste at once. Too much paper and organic waste trying to flushed at once can clog a toilet and make a real mess.

A professional plumber will have the tools and experience necessary to determine the reason behind a clogged toilet. He will be sure to check the vent stack as well as the toilet drain for blockage. A plumber will also have a plumbers snake to sure as an auger to break through clogs or fish out foreign objects. If necessary, a plumber can lift the toilet from its seating and then reseal and set it in place again. If the plunger isn’t solving the problem, call your plumber.

Unclog the Toilet

Dealing with a clogged toilet is never any fun. Procrastination is usually the first resort when it comes to clearing a clogged toilet. You sit there and watch it, hoping the problem will take care of itself. Surprisingly, this method does work fairly often and the only fix necessary is an extra flush. When this doesn’t work, however, there are a few more steps you can take before calling for a licensed plumber. The following list includes a few tips that not only work pretty well but don’t involve harsh chemicals and unhealthy fumes.

  • The Plunger – As an archaeological relic, the toilet plunger is only about a half-hour younger than the first toilet, and has served mankind commendably since then. While a cup plunger will work, it is best-suited for sinks and tubs. For toilets best results will be achieved with a flanged plunger.
  • Hot Water and Detergent – Sometimes the heat and volume of the extra water and lubricating effect of the detergent are enough to loosen the stoppage.
  • The Snake – As with a plunger, the drain snake (aka the drain auger) should be a mainstay in any basic homeowner tool set. Be careful to not scratch the porcelain bowl with the tip of the auger or get it stuck in the plumbing.
  • Long-Sleeved Rubber Gloves – Sometimes you just have to do things manually to dislodge or retrieve a blockage. Plumbers all have some story to tell about things they have found while clearing a stoppage, everything from organics to combs and hair-clips and cell phones. 

If none of these measures are productive or you just don’t want the hassle, then don’t be afraid to call a pro. A reputable plumber can often handle these problems much quicker than the standard do-it-yourselfer.

Clear Your Clogged Pipes Properly and Professionally

A clogged sink drain or toilet can be a real nuisance and even the simplest clogged drain cleaning task can involve technical issues that can make the job challenging for the average home owner to tackle alone. Clogged pipes and drains should be cleared properly and professionally or you will find that they frequently will quickly become clogged again.  In addition, a homeowner can inadvertently cause damage to their plumbing or create a clog that is even more difficult to remove.

Having said that, depending on the type and severity of the blockage in the drain there may be some simple techniques that you can try before calling on the services of a plumber.  Stoppers and strainers in the sinks and bathtub regularly accumulate grime and hair so the first step when you notice that the water is not draining properly is to remove them and give them a good cleaning.

If cleaning the stoppers doesn’t make a difference we turn to the trusted plunger. There is a reason this simple tool has been around for so long and that is because it is highly effective.  A little petroleum jelly on the rim of the plunger can help make a good seal.  Put the plunger into the clogged sink or toilet and carefully but firmly push down on the plunger to force the clog to break loose.

If the plunger doesn’t work, the blockage may be too servere or too far down the line to get to yourself. More specialist tools will be required and you may decide that this the time to call in a plumber. A plumber will know exactly how to remove the entire clog, leaving your pipes in good condition and your water draining freely.

What To Do When a Toilet Clogs

A clogged toilet can ruin your day or, more likely, your morning, weekend or evening since toilets seem to clog after hours, when you and your family are getting ready for work and school, or just when you are sitting down to relax and watch the game.  Calling a plumber is always your best bet, but sometimes a clogged toilet can be cleared easily and you can save yourself a little money along with the time and hassle of waiting for the plumber.

First, if you see the toilet start to back up, you need to turn off the water before the bowl overflows.  There should be a shutoff valve at the wall below the toilet tank.  If the water has already overflowed onto the floor, get it cleaned up with some old towels or paper towels before it finds its way under the toilet and other fixtures and soaks into the subflooring.

When attempting to clear a clogged toilet, remember that time is your friend.  Take your time and don’t be in a rush.  Trying to rush it usually just results in a bigger mess.  Sometimes just the weight of the water in the bowl will clear the clog after it has had a few minutes to soften up.  If you are not so lucky, your next step is to try using a plunger.

Place the rubber plunger in the bowl completely under the water so that the rubber part covers the hole completely.  Push firmly but gently to try to force water pressure down the pipe.  Go easy at first until you get the hang of it.  If the clog does not clear after a dozen good plunges, it’s probably time to call a plumber.

Clogged Toilet Do’s and Don’ts

Nobody wants a clogged toilet, but in most cases it is little more than an inconvenience.  Here are a few tips to keep your clogged toilet from becoming a major hassle.

Don’t try clearing a clogged toilet by flushing it again.  That’s just wishful thinking. If it’s clogged and didn’t overflow after the first flush, it darn sure will after the second flush.

Don’t try to clear a toilet clog using chemicals.  These chemicals can harm your pipes and are bad for the environment, but most importantly if they don’t work then you have a toilet full of dangerous chemicals to deal with.  If you try to use a plunger after pouring chemicals in the toilet you could easily splash these chemicals on your skin or in your eyes and be seriously injured.

Do take your time with a clogged toilet.  Once you have the water turned off and cleaned up any spilled water, you have plenty of time to carefully consider your options and deal with the clog.  Most toilet clogs can be cleared with an old fashioned plunger and some patience. If you are in a hurry to get to work, just leave the clog and deal with it when you get home.  In fact, you might get lucky and it clears while you are away.

Do call a plumber if you are unable to clear the clog with a plunger or if the toilet clogs easily and frequently.  Your clogged toilet could be a sign of other issues such as a septic system or sewer line problem or there could be an obstruction in your drain pipe causing clogs to form.

Dual Flush Toilets

Many consumers shopping for new toilets are looking for ways to save money on their water bills.  Since the early 1990s, toilets sold in the United States have been required to meet federal standards for using no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush but consumers seeking to save even more water have several options.

One option is to use a WaterSense certified high efficiency toilet.  These use 20% less water than a standard low flow toilet without sacrificing efficiency.  Manufacturers designed these toilets to have high flushing performance with low water usage.

Another approach is to use a dual flush toilet.  These toilets conserve water by offering two flushing options: a full flush that uses 1.6 gallons or less and a partial flush that typically uses about half of a full flush.  The idea is that flushing liquid waste only needs a water-saving partial flush while a full flush is available to flush solid wastes and avoid expensive clogged toilet repairs.

Many dual flush toilets are WaterSense certified and when used properly average less than 1.28 gallons per flush.  This can save a typical family of four about 2,000 gallons of water per year compared to a standard 1.6 gallon per flush toilet.

The flushing mechanism inside a dual flush toilet is slightly more complicated than a standard toilet and the toilet may cost a little more but some consumers prefer the availability of a full 1.6 gallon flush over a 1.28 gallon per flush toilet.  In addition, the toilet must be used properly to achieve water savings.  Always using the full flush will result in the same water usage as a standard low flow toilet.

Clogged Toilets

Nothing ruins your morning faster than a clogged toilet.  One minute everything is going great:  you’re getting ready for work and the kids are getting ready to head off to school.  The next minute the toilet is overflowing, the dog is barking, the kids are yelling, and the bathroom floor is covered with water and sewage.

When you are faced with a clogged toilet, your instinct is often to try to get it cleared so you can get on with the important things you need to do that day.  Before you take any action you should first try to find out what type of clog you are dealing with.  You may be able to save yourself the mess and frustration of wasting time on a clog that needs a professional plumber.

A backed up toilet is usually the result of a localized toilet clog, a vent stack clog, or a clogged sewer main.  You can tell if the clog is most likely a localized toilet clog by seeing if your other drains are flowing freely.  Try flushing a different toilet or running water in a sink in the lower level of your home.  If these drains flow freely, then the clog is probably localized in the stopped up toilet.

If you are so inclined, this type of clog can often be cleared using a plunger or common plumbing snake.  Otherwise, one of your local experienced Smyrna plumbers can quickly get it cleared for you.

If there are drainage problems in other areas of your home, you probably have either a clogged vent stack or a clogged sewer main.  For both of these types of clogs, don’t waste your time with the plunger.  Clean up the water on the floor and call a plumbing professional.