For every clogged toilet, there is only one remedy, a toilet plunger; the simplest tool that keeps all your worries away and leaves your home free from toilet stench, running drains, and dirty shower rooms. But how do you use a plumber to clear a clogged toilet? Read along to find out the tricks.
Choose the Right Plunger
This is usually the very first step for anyone who wants to get his toilet cleared using a plunger. The reason is simple. The right toilet plunger will get the job done easily and without much ado. It will save time and leave you with the best results. In order to choose the right type of plunger, you should follow these tips.
Get a plunger with the right shape. There are two types of shapes to choose from, the cup plunger (sink plunger) and the toilet plunger (flange plunger). Sink plunger is good for sinks and tubs while flange is the master of clogged toilets.
The sink plunger will have a dome shaped rubber at the bottom while the flange plunger has a head cup that’s slightly taller than the one on a sink plunger. It has a sleeve like extensions usually called the flange.
The flange’s work is to fit into the head cup so that it can be easily used in toilets. So if you are thinking a flange plunger for your clogged toilet, you are damn right as a sink plunger is generally less effective if used on the toilets.
Unclogging the Toilet Using a Plunger
After you choose the right type of plunger to unclog your toilet, the very first things that you will need on how to unclog a toilet with a plunger are many. However, they are included in this simple unclogging guide.
Step 1: Keep Stagnant Water in the Toilet Bowl
Ensure there is pooled water in the toilet bowl. The water should sit from the neck downwards. The plunger’s head should be able to completely get submerged in this water. You can also go with just enough to cover the plunger’s rim.
Step 2: Pull Out the Flange of the Plunger
If your flange plunger has the capped part, make sure that it’s completely pulled out of the cap. Then lower your plunger in the bowl at an ideal angle. Make sure the cap of the plunger fills with as much water as you can.
Don’t go down straight. If you do, the cup will trap a lot of air. This will compress much more than just water and eventually reduce the plunging force. You need as much force as possible to push through the clogged waste.
Step 3: Fit the Cup over the Hole of the Drain
When doing this, make sure that the flange is inside the hole. The cup should therefore form a complete seal around the outside part of the toilet drain’s hole. This is very important for the most ideal compression you’d take.
Step 4: Grab the Plunger with Both Hand and Push
You should do this carefully. Even so you should make sure that you apply maximum force while pushing the plunger. Once you have pushed in forcefully to the end, pull back up the plunger. Make sure that you don’t break the seal.
Repeat the push and pull motion for at least six numbers of times. This is to make sure that the result is actually more efficient too.
Step 5: Pull the Cup of the Whole On the Last Thrust
This is to work with (step 4) above to create a rapid alternating force that ensures maximum compression and suction of your toilet’s drain. This will loosen the clog and eventually help to clear the drain for a smooth flow.
If you notice your compression forcefully blowing out at the side of the cup rather than completely inside the drain, it would mean that your seal is poor and you should redo it once again.
Step 6: Asses through Flushing to See if Unclogged
After removing the cup, you can flush your toilet to see if the clog is cleared. If the water flows through fast – the clog is gone. If the water is still stuck up, you can repeat the steps until the step 5 above for a more ideal result.
What to Remember When Using Plunger to Unclog the Toilet
Remember to use your flapper as your emergency water shut off in case your toilet is clogged even while you had tried to unclog it. The flapper is the round rubber trap door that sits at the center of the tank right at the bottom level.
Make sure you flush the toilet after every plunging process. If you’re toilet flushes and the water runs through really fast, your toilet is unclogged and you can set back the lid of the tank and allow your toilet to resume its normal use.
If the clog persists even after a series of trials, you can always call in an expert plumber or try using a plumber’s auger or snake to clear the drain. This however works differently and you’ll need to learn how to use the plumber’s snake first.
Toilet Plunging Tips for any First Time User
The basic reality is, a plunger once fitted over the toilet drain should be able to clear your toilet of any clog easily. However, for better results always remember the following options too.
#1
Wear protective gears. Face mask and gloves are highly advisable. This is to allow you to work confidently and to protect you as things can sometimes get messy.
#2
Always make the very first plunge a gentle process. Initially the cap is often full of air. Forcing the first plunge could break the streak and get the whole place messy.
#3
Follow the first plunge with a vigorous one. This plunge is often vigorous because the air has been let out and the absolute vacuum reestablished in the plunger’s cup.
#4
Don’t just plunge once or twice. For better results, make sure that you stick up with process. You can always repeat the process for as much as you can (sometimes even 20 times more).
#5
You should be patient with the process. Clogs often form overtime. This means they might be really heavy. Alternating between simple plunges and occasional heavy heaves is cool.
#6
Make sure you keep enough water in the toilet bowl. This will ensure that the toilet plunger stays connected. It will prevent air from getting through and maximize the clearing force.
#7
Don’t mix the process with powerful chemicals. Well powerful chemicals may work sometimes. However, they are often slow and might take eternity to give you the best results too.
#8
If you have small kids, you should make sure that you keep the toilet lid down. This will help you to remain safe from a clogged toilet. Kids might accidentally sit on the toilet yet.
#9
Don’t be cheated into pouring hardening compounds into the toilet’s drain. Compounds such as grease and caulk might cause the drain to block more rather than open up and get smooth flow.
How to Prevent Your Drain From Clogging
Even when learning how to unclog a toilet with a plunger it is important that you learn how to keep your toilet from clogging. This is usually the safest way to ensure for a smooth flow across your drain. Here are simple tips that might help.
Don’t Throw Any Unwanted Things Down the Drain
Hair remains, sanitary towels, baby diapers, and cloths are some of the things that are notorious for causing toilet clogs. You should make sure that you keep the away from the toilet drain as much as you can. Additionally, you should also keep baby toys outside the drain system always.
Stick with the Right Use of the Toilet Forever
Proper use of the toilet demands that the toilet is reserved for human waste. You should stick to that and also the use of a toilet paper. With proper use, your toilet will last long before developing any type of clog however minor.
Get an Ideal Toilet Plumbing Maintenance Routine
Tough as it might sound, this is the surest way to keep the flow smooth and also to identify possible plumbing problems that could be waiting to occur. Many people think that keeping a plumber on the sides is expensive. Well it could cost more but never as much as you would pay when you have a clogged toilet back at home.
Flash Your Toilet after Each and Every Use
Some people prefer flushing their toilets after a series of usage. This is not cool. Often, flushing your toilet after every use prevents the need to push heavy waste down the drain. The lighter the waste, the better the drainage patterns too.
Conclusion
Whichever way you look at it, prevention is often better than cure. You should therefore take your time to learn the basics of proper toilet use rather than fighting with an annoying clogged toilet after every use. With proper use, your toilet will last and make you happy too.
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