Across the US, the average person flushes a home toilet 6 times per day. Which means, of course, that the average family of four goes through 24 flushes per day, or 168 per week.
Our point? When a toilet gets flushed often enough, it’s bound to clog sooner or later. Throw small children into the mix, and the likelihood goes sky high when you consider the kinds of things they’re prone to toss in the bowl when parental eyes aren’t taking notice.
So, do YOU have a clogged toilet on your hands and aren’t having much luck busting it up? Here are a few helpful hints worth trying, hopefully including at least one or two you’ve never tried before:
Turn off the water to the toilet. If you’re concerned your toilet might overflow or it already has, locate the faucet handle behind your toilet and turn it off. Then go back to plunging or whatever you were doing before. Once you think you might have succeeded, flush the toilet; the water still in the tank is sufficient to the task.
Use a good old plunger and the type with the flanged bottom especially designed for toilets. Pump as hard as you can with multiple repetitions; one or two plunges at a time usually won’t work with a stubborn clog. Also, wrap an old towel around the base of the bowl to minimize the clean-up afterwards.
Pour stuff in! If plunging alone isn’t getting the job in, try one or more liquid additives like dishwashing soap followed by a pot of boiling water. The soap lubricates the clog, and the hot water flushes it away.
Be patient and keep trying. Sometimes a clog just needs time to break down. This is especially true of clogs that come from wads of toilet paper. But, since toilet paper is designed to break down in water, a little time might be all the extra help you need.
Right now are you thinking “thanks but no thanks?” Well, no amount of self-help tips in the world can clear certain toilet clogs. If you’re currently facing one of those, contact Connor Plumbing for prompt and efficient service with a guaranteed upfront price, and your satisfaction guaranteed.
