A toilet that seems to clog all the time can be really annoying. But as long as you have a plunger, which is also referred to as a plumber’s friend, then there’s definitely no need to worry about. Most of the time, using a plunger can get the job done so there’s no need to call for the help of a plumber in case of a clog. A toilet that’s partially clogged can result to a poor flush, but if there is severe clogging, water may fill the toilet to the brim and even overflow. Before working with a clogged toilet, let the water level drop first and start working using a plunger.


Step 1. Always wear protective gloves when working with toilets as the job can get really messy sometimes. Your first plunge should be gentle as the plunger is usually full of air, and when you thrust it hard into the toilet, you will just cause water to blow over you.

Step 2. Once you’ve set air free from the plunger, you can start thrusting into the toilet forcefully. See to it that there is enough water in the toilet bowl to cover the suction cup so that you can generate more pressure. If there is none, don’t use the flush to get water into the bowl as this may cause water to overflow. Instead, get water from a different source and gently pour it into the bowl using a dipper. After 20 thrusts, you can probably get rid of the problem if the clog is only a minor one. However, you may have to remain patient when dealing with a serious clog.

Step 3. Although using a plunger can get the job done most of the time, there will also be times when it is not enough. If the toilet is still clogged after several tries, you may want to use a plumber’s snake instead. A plumber’s snake is actually a long wire coil that you can insert into a toilet bowl or drain to reach for whatever is causing the blockage and either pull it out or break it down to pieces. Most clogs occur at the S-bend of the toile but you will know that you’ve reach the cause of the clog when you can’t push the snake further.

Step 4. If you’ve tried several times with the plunger and the snake and the clog still remains, perhaps it’s time to pull the toilet out to get to the root of the problem quickly. This method may be the most effective but it is not the least easy one so you should consider it only as a last resort. Once you have unscrewed the toilet and taken it out, you can get to the problem and solve it immediately.

Otherwise, you should call a plumber as the clog may be more serious than you think and may occur not just in the toilet but further in the drain pipe.