Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
There are two different types of toilet clogs. The most common is a clog that simply prevents the waste and water from going down the drain. The second, and more distressing, is a clog that causes sewage to back up into a bathtub or other fixture when the toilet is flushed.
The common clog usually indicates a blockage in the pipe below or immediately adjacent to the toilet. The more serious clog usually indicates a blockage in the main drainpipe (or “stack”) or the the drain pipes beyond the area of the toilet. If your home utilizes a septic system, it may mean that the septic tank is full. (For more information on septic tanks, see Septic Tank Care & Maintenance.)
If your toilet is clogged but not backing up elsewhere, don’t try to flush it or it may overflow. Instead:
1) Remove the lid from the tank and raise the flapper valve to let a little water pass through so you can see whether the toilet is indeed clogged.
2) If it is, first try plunging with a bell-shaped toilet plunger. Wearing rubber gloves, place the plunger’s head over the center of the toilet drain hole. Then rapidly push the plunger’s handle up and down to force air and water into the pipe, creating suction to free the clog. If waste water drains from the toilet, you’ve probably managed to break the clog loose. Gradually pour about a gallon of water from a bucket into the toilet to flush it.
3) If this doesn’t do the job, you can attempt to snake out the toilet with a closet auger (named after “water closet,” a plumbing term for toilet), which will reach down about 3 feet. Work the end of it down into the drain hole, turning the handle clockwise until the cable won’t go any further. Then push it repeatedly to dislodge the clog. If it seems to have hooked onto the obstacle, try pulling it out. If it seems balky, work it back and forth carefully so as not to scratch or break the porcelain. If you are able to break through the clog, plunge the toilet again.
You can use a longer drain auger to reach a deeper clog, but you won’t be able to work it through the drain from the toilet’s location unless you remove the toilet first. (For information on how to remove and replace a toilet, see How to Install a Toilet.) Often, an easier route is to work a long plumbing auger through a nearby cleanout or a vent pipe.
4) If your plumbing system has a clog that is causing sewage to back up into other fixtures when a toilet is flushed, you can attempt to snake out the main drain pipes yourself with a long drain auger. (For more about how to do this, see How to Snake a Drain Clog.) Inexpensive drain augers are available for purchase, or you can rent a high-powered model from a tool rental supplier. If this is more than you want to attempt, call a plumber or drain-clearing service.
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