Unblock a toilet drain in your home can save you valuable time and money. Blocked toilets occur for several reasons, but most of them are not serious and they can be removed by following a
Unblock a toilet drain in your home can save you valuable time and money. Blocked toilets occur for several reasons, but most of them are not serious and they can be removed by following a few easy steps.
Before you are going to unblock your toilet drain, apply some damage limitation firstly. Don’t flush your toilet repeatedly to remove a blockage – it results in overflow and then you’ll have a mess to clear up as well as a blocked toilet drain.
Following are the steps to unblock a toilet
1. Source & Locate the Problem
If you find the cause of toilet blockage, put on a pair of rubber gloves and remove it. If you can’t able to find the cause of the blockage then it’s time to experiment.
2. Add Dishwasher Liquid & Hot Water
Put on a pair of rubber gloves and drop a small amount of dish-washing liquid and also take a half bucket of hot water, pour it into the toilet bowl and leave it for a few minutes.
3. Sink the Toilet to Release the Blockage
Choose a heavy-duty sinker having a flange on its base. Place the sinker completely over the hole at the bottom of the toilet bowl until it immersed in water. Press down firmly and slowly. Repeat.
4. Hook Toilet Blockage With Coat Hanger
Next, try using an untangle wire coat-hanger to catch the blockage. This technique is more helpful when the modern toilet blockage is in the first 5cm – 10cm of the drain.
5. Use Plumbing Snake/Auger to remove Deeper Blockages
If the blockage is too deep to unblock with a coat hanger, you can use a plumbing ‘snake’ or ‘auger’ is great to remove difficult toilet blockages. A plumbing auger consists of a coiled wire that can ‘snake’ through twists and turns in drains. Due to its high flexibility, a plumbing auger is used effectively in locating and removing deep toilet blockages.
6. Enzyme-Based Chemicals
Another method to unblock your toilet is to make use of enzyme-based chemicals to break down the solid matter that is causing the blockage. This will only work on organic matter and takes some time for effects to take place. Alternatively, You can take a bucket and half fill it with hot water, baking soda and vinegar. This water-based solution is a great alternative to enzyme-based chemicals and can be effectively used in breaking down solid matter.
Causes of a Blocked Toilet Drain?
Blocked toilet drains are usually occurs due to following:
- Use of Toilet paper
- It is also caused by throwing Toys or other items in my children
- Dumping the Food in also cause blockages
- By Throwing Menstrual pads, tampons and sanitary napkins in it also causes blockages
- Cotton balls also is a reason for the blockage
- Dumping the Hair may also create a blockage in the toilet drain.
- Diapers and baby wipes also result in blockages
- Tree roots in your plumbing system also cause blockages
It’s so difficult task when a toilet is blocked, but thinking of few steps to protect can save a lot of problems. If you are having a toilet plunger handy, you must follow these six simple steps to help unblock your toilet.
1. Collect all equipments
Following tools are required to help you unblock a badly blocked toilet:
- A plunger
- Rubber gloves
- Old towels or newspaper
- Bucket
- Coat hanger
- Baking soda and vinegar.
2. Protect the nearby areas
Firstly protect yourself with rubber gloves and wear old clothes. Don’t use your best towels to soak up toilet water, Instead, use old towels or newspapers to soak up spills and protect the bathroom floor.
3. Keep in mind that toilet won’t overflow
Before you start unclogging, it’s important to assure that the toilet won’t overflow.
- Choose the right plunger
Firstly move onto a rubber plunger if you haven’t found an obstruction, this is often the simplest way to unblock a toilet, Toilet plungers are having a fold-out flange which folds up into the plunger cup when it is not in use.
5. Take a vacuum with the plunger
Place the plunger under the water that should completely cover the pipe. Slowly push it down to create a seal, then pull up to create a vacuum to remove the blockage. Repeat this activity, increasing the speed, and continue it for at least 15 minutes.
6. Clean it thoroughly
Once you’ve used your plunger, the next step is to give it a good clean. You may wash it off in the toilet while flushing the toilet for a few times.
How to prevent toilet blockages
One of the easiest ways to keep your toilet clean is to make your own toilet bombs. For this you may need:
- 300 grams baking soda
- 70 grams of citric acid
- A spray bottle filled with water
- Essential oils
- A rubber spatula
- Old ice cube tray.
Firstly mix the baking soda and citric acid in a glass bowl. If you have sensitive skin, you must wear gloves during this process. Then smog that blended powders once or twice with water, stirring with the spatula until the mixture starts to come together – you need very little water for this. Drop-in your blend of essential oils: rosemary, peppermint, lemon, and bergamot are all popular for their clean fragrance. Check our reviews on faucets.
With the help of spatula press the mixture into the ice cube tray and keep it overnight to dry. Store it in a jar in the bathroom, and drop one or two into the toilet bowl at night to clear any potential blockages while you sleep.