There is nothing like facing the day with a clogged toilet. Especially if that toilet is the only one in your house! A toilet clog is really annoying and rather inconvenient and even gross at times. It may seem like a hopeless situation when all you want to do is get on with your day. Luckily, a clogged toilet doesn’t have to stop you from living your life. As many plumbers in Thibodaux, LA will say, there are plenty of options that you have to try before calling a pro for help. Of course, calling a professional is often the quickest route to a solution. Read on to learn how your clogged toilet can be fixed.
4 Ways to Address the Toilet Clog
If you want to learn to fix your clogged toilet, you’ve come to the right place. Grab these following materials and by following our tips, things will flow smoothly once again at home.
Materials Needed
- Plunger
- Hot water
- Dish soap
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Plumbing snake or auger
- Toilet drain cleaning solution
- Towels or a mop (just in case a mess ensues)
1. Find Your Plunger
A toilet plunger is your first hope for restoring a proper flow in your toilet. Place it over the toilet’s drain and plunge in and out about 7 to 8 times. Then, after the last plunge, remove the plunger from the drain with a swift motion and flush. That suction will create a force that breaks apart the clog and helps restore the flow. You may need to repeat this process 2-3 times to completely break the clog.
PRO TIP: Sometimes a toilet isn’t so much as clogged as it is backed up, which is normally a sewer issue. Check the shower or tub drainage system – if the water is slow to leave or the tub is becoming full with sewer matter, you will need to call a plumber in Thibodaux, LA as soon as possible.
2. Hot Water and Dish Soap
So the plunger didn’t work, did it? Never fear, we have another trick up our sleeve. Grab a cup of dish soap and pour it into the toilet boil. Dish soap has a high concentration of degreasing agents that will break up any tough materials or waste that cling to the toilet’s piping system. Allow it to sit for about 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes have passed, pour in a pot of hot water from the waist. This will create more force that will promote that declogging action you need. After pouring the hot water in, flush the toilet. If there are no hard objects in the drain, the clog will clear up.
PRO TIP: Hard objects such as toys, feminine hygiene products, and other non-biodegradable items create a bigger clog that won’t often respond to chemical solutions. A plumber in Thibodaux, LA will need to remove the toilet and clean it out from the bottom.
3. Baking Soda and Vinegar
Another at-home DIY solution you can dry is the typical baking soda and vinegar concoction. Pour one part baking soda to one part vinegar into the toilet bowl and allow it to sit. The chemical reaction will eat through the clog and loosen it up. After about 30 minutes, pour a pot of hot water into the toilet and flush.
This method is especially helpful if the pipes are old and are prone for accumulation of debris and waste. As that collection grows, the pathway for the water narrows and creates a slow drainage and even a clog. If this is a problem you’re experiencing, try this DIY method for cleaning the piping.
4. Plumbing Snake
You can also try a plumbing snake, which is a mechanical tool found in most hardware stores.. Follow the instructions provided on its packaging and see if it helps you clear the clog. One thing to note is that using a snake requires caution so that you don’t ruin the pipes by scratching them or causing other damage.
Leading Plumbers in Thibodaux, LA
Got a clogged toilet at home and nothing you tried helped resolve the issue? Trust us, we’ve been there before. Sometimes, you just have to call the professionals and allow them to get the job done once and for all. Contact us to request the assistance of a professional plumber who has plenty of experience and skill to get the job done quickly.