A blocked toilet is one of the more annoying (and disgusting) plumbing emergencies a home owner can face. Even when you’re the type who does preventive things like not flushing wet wipes or anything other than human waste down the toilet, there’s still a possibility that you’ll have to deal with a blocked toilet sooner or later. When that time does comes, these tips on how to fix a blocked toilet may come in handy.
Use a plunger to remove the blockage
When your toilet is blocked, always assume first that it’s just a simple blockage—like a big object that was accidentally flushed into it—that can be removed by a plunger. Just stick the plunger in the bowl and give it a few good up and down strokes. If it’s just an immediate blockage, the suction created by the plunger should be able to dislodge the object. Flush the bowl and see if the water still overflows. If it still does, continue the plunging and flushing sequence until the blockage is removed and your toilet begins flushing normally again.
However, if the plunger is not working, then it’s time for more drastic measures to take the blockage out.
Use chemical drain cleaners
Chemical drain cleaners have often proven to be effective in removing a blockage, because they are powerful enough to soften or break down the material that the blockage is made of. Just pour the chemical drain cleaner into the toilet bowl and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes. You’ll know it’s working if the water level has gone down when you get back. That means the blockage has been softened or broken down, and is now getting flushed further into the sewage system. One final flush ought to do it and your blocked toilet should be clear.
One thing about chemical drainers is that they can cause harm not only to you and your family but to the environment as well. They are naturally toxic, and could burn one’s skin and eyes if not handled properly. There are many drain cleaning products in the market that are so much friendlier to the environment, so it would be advisable to choose them for fixing a blocked toilet.
Hire a professional plumber
However, if plungers or chemical drain killers don’t do the job, it’s time to call in a professional plumber to fix your blocked toilet. There are professional plumbers who specialise in removing blockages from toilets, which could be caused by tree roots growing into your sewage pipe or poorly installed plumbing and pipes. These “drain surgeons”, as they are fondly referred to by many, have the skills, training and equipment necessary to effectively remove the blockage from your toilet and get it to work normally again.
So if you have a blocked toilet and you’ve tried using a plunger or a chemical drain cleaner to no avail, just give Ready Set Plumb. We’ll be more than glad to send one of our best drain surgeons over to your place.
