2 Mistakes To Avoid When Attempting To Unclog Your Home's Only Toilet

If your home's only toilet is clogged up, you may be frantic in your attempts to get it unstopped. As a result, you may have decided to try a few things you may have either heard about or read about online. However, there are a couple of mistakes that you should avoid when attempting to unclog the toilet because they could result in larger problems than the clog itself.

1.  Pouring Boiling Water into the Toilet Bowl

One method of clogging a stopped-up toilet that you may decide to try is pouring a cup or two of boiling water into the toilet bowl. The premise behind this method is that the hot water will help to break up whatever is blocking the pipes, allowing you to either plunge it more easily or simply flush it away.

However, pouring boiling water into a cold porcelain bowl is not a good idea. The sudden contrast in temperatures can cause the bowl to crack or shatter.

Instead of using boiling water, try pouring a half of a cup of dish detergent into the bowl, giving it about a half-hour to an hour to work. The detergent may help break up the clog while creating a slippery surface to help the blockage glide through more easily.

2.  Using a Drain Snake to Clear out the Clog

After multiple attempts at plunging and trying other methods, you may be ready to grab a drain snake so that you can manually clear out the clog. While this may seem like a good idea, a standard snake is not designed for the bends and crooks of the toilet's pipes.

If you try to force a standard drain snake down the toilet, it could end up cracking or breaking the trap or pipes. This is also true of any other items that you may try to use, such as a metal coathanger.  

Ideally, you should use a toilet auger that is specially designed for a commode. It is flexible enough and has a more fluid motion so that the end of it can easily go through the pipes. 

If you are unable to unclog your toilet after multiple attempts and it is the only one in your house, the problem becomes classified as an emergency plumbing situation. Since your household cannot go without a toilet, you can contact a 24-hour emergency plumbing service to have them come out and clear out the toilet for you.

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