Toilet clogged? Let Roto-Rooter show you how to plunge it like a pro.
Just about everyone has faced a clogged toilet at one time or another. It can be a stressful situation when you push the flush handle but the bowl won’t drain. It gets worse if the toilet bowl continues to fill and threatens to overflow.
The moment you realize the toilet isn’t draining and the bowl is filling, the first thing you need to do is prevent an overflow.
First, remove the tank lid and, depending on what kind of toilet you have, lift the ball float or fill valve. Water will immediately stop filling the tank. But to stop water from flowing from the tank into the bowl, remove the water line from the overflow tube or push down on the flapper valve.
Next, turn off the water shut-off valve behind the toilet. This will prevent more water from reaching the toilet.
Now you’re ready to deal with the toilet blockage but make sure you have the right plunger. The red shallow cupped model is actually a sink plunger so it’s not very effective on toilets. But the black plunger is specifically designed for toilets. It has a deeper cup and a flange at the bottom that seals around toilet drains.
A toilet plunger works by forcing pressure against the blockage in the toilet's U-trap. The force should push the clog out so the bowl can drain.
Remember, you need water in the bowl to plunge effectively so if the bowl is empty, allow more water to flow into the bowl before plunging.
Now grasp the plunger with both hands and seat it carefully around the drain in order to create a good seal. Then give the plunger several forceful thrusts. Ten or twelve rapid thrusts will usually clear out most soft clogs. You may have to repeat the process several times to break up stubborn clogs.
If the blockage is solid, like a child’s toy, the plunger may or may not dislodge it. And if the clog is beyond the toilet, deep inside the branch drain or main sewer, a toilet plunger won’t help.
To clear a major clog, call a plumber. If your problem is serious, a plumber is well equipped to deal with any issues involving your home’s drain system.
Remember, your Roto-Rooter plumber is available 24 hours a day and we’re only a click or call away.
Call Roto-Rooter, that’s the name, and away go troubles down the drain. Roto-Rooter!