There's nothing scarier than flushing a toilet and seeing the water slowly rise up instead of going down. Toilet clogs come in all shapes and sizes. Some are easy to fix. Others require professional help.
Before you call in the professionals to help fix a clogged toilet in Springfield Missouri, you can try these methods to see if you can remove the toilet clog on your own.
Use A Plunger
The toilet plunger is generally your first line of defense in fixing a clogged toilet. Make sure your plunging movements are short and fast, which creates the suction needed to push the air through and eliminate the clog. But if the toilet clog isn't removed after a few tries, be careful not to overdo it.
It's actually possible to plunge a clogged toilet too much and you can get the clog jammed up inside the toilet to the point where it can't be removed and the entire toilet will need to be replaced.
Toilet Snake
The next tool to try if a plunger won't work is a toilet snake. Plumbers have professional augers that can clear a toilet all the way to the sewer line. But a simple toilet snake that you can get at the hardware store is relatively inexpensive and can be effective at getting the job done. They’re not quite as easy to use as a plunger, but once you’ve learned how to properly wind it around the inside of your toilet, a toilet snake can be effective in clearing toilet clogs.
Dish Soap And Hot Water
You don't want to buy Drano to unclog a toilet. It could be dangerous if you later try to plunge the toilet and the chemicals splash back on you. Instead you can opt for a more natural and inexpensive solution. Dish soap can be a very cheap, safe, and effective alternative. Just pour a little bit into your toilet bowl, then follow that up with very hot — but not boiling — water. After about 10-15 minutes, give the toilet a flush to see if it cleared things out.
Baking Soda And Vinegar
Baking soda and vinegar work great together in many different ways, including cleaning and deodorizing, but they can help with your plumbing clogs too. Start by pouring a cup of baking soda into your toilet, wait a few minutes, then add two cups of vinegar. Don’t forget to pour slowly so you don’t get a big, foamy mess. Within a few minutes, the clog should clear. Otherwise, run another batch through and try again.
Give It Some Time
Sometimes an effective means of unclogging your toilet is just waiting for it to unclog itself. If your clog is toilet paper related and you have alternative facilities to use while you wait, you might consider simply allowing the paper products to break down naturally over time.
Call The Experts
Sometimes a toilet clog is simply beyond the capabilities of the average homeowner to eliminate. If you've got tree roots or another type of blockage in your main sewer line, then you'll need to call on a professional plumber in Springfield, Missouri to get the job done for you.
At United Plumbing, we have all the tools of the trade and years of experience to clear your clogged toilets quickly and efficiently and get all your toilets back in working order with no headaches and no mess.