The next article in our homeowner’s one-of-a-kind series is likely to share with you what to do for a clogged toilet.
What NOT to Do
When there are a lot of chemical products available on the market that claim to break down blockages, we don’t recommend using these for your clogged toilet, especially not Drano. (Even the packaging says not to use Drano in a toilet, it can lead to serious issues and health risks.)
Not the least of these concerns are the potential for accidentally mixing chemicals in your quest to clear the clog, and creating potentially deadly toxic fumes. Even if you were to just use 1 product, say Drano, here’s what might happen for your plumbing:
The product utilizes chemicals to break down the blockage, and this process generates heat. This is simply meant for certain kinds of clogs in drains, and your bathroom isn’t designed to handle this type of chemical reaction.
If you have PVC pipes, that is a type of plastic, they can soften from the heat. If you have older, corroded pipes, they can be damaged from this reaction, too. Not to mention the porcelain itself can crack, meaning you’d need a whole new toilet.
And, best case scenario, if none of these problems happened to a plumbing, but the blockage did not clear, and you attempted to plunge again, some of the item could splash up and burn your skin.
What TO Do
So if you should not use chemicals to unclog your toilet, what should you do? Clearing toilet blockage is also, as you might have figured, best done with a plunger.
The bell-shaped plungers that are created specifically for toilets are what is going to work best, as this forms the very best suction around the opening in the toilet.
If your plunger is extra stiff, it’ll be hard to get a good seal, which is vital to a proper dip. To soften it up a little, you can conduct the plunger under hot water into your sink for a few seconds until the rubber is a little more supple.
Remember to start slowly, as sudden pressure from the plunger can often cause waves of water to cascade of out the bathroom and onto your bathroom floor. Place the emphasis on the pulling motion, not the pushing, as you are trying to dislodge whatever is stuck in the pipes beneath the bathroom so that it can drain again.
Troubleshooting a Clogged Toilet
If the blockage was caused by an excessive amount of toilet paper, and plunging doesn’t seem to be doing the trick, you may try letting the toilet sit for a while. The bathroom paper will break down after a brief period, and the clog may then pass with another flush, or it may be able to be passed with another form of stirring.