How to fix a clogged toilet:

Here we explain how to accurately determine the cause of a clogged, stopped-up toilet or slow toilet drainage.

Understanding the cause of a blocked toilet helps assure that the right repair is made at the lowest cost.

Here we explain how to diagnose and repair problems with toilets, leaks, flushes, odors, noises, running and wasted water.

Toilet Flushes Slowly or Backs Up - How do I Fix a Clogged Toilet or Sewer Drain?

All modern toilets receive human waste, urine, feces, and are intended to dispose of that matter in a sanitary fashion.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Before launching into our series of articles on diagnosing and repairing toilet problems such as clogged toilets, toilets that don't flush properly, running or leaky or noisy toilets, toilet odors, and loose toilets, take a look at the simple connection between a typical reservoir-tank toilet and the soil stack (waste piping) in the Carson Dunlop Associates sketch (above left), and review our description of basic types of toilets

at TOILET TYPES, CONTROLS, PARTS.

If your toilet is backing up,

here we give some advice on how to proceed. For added details on alternative methods to un-clog a blocked drain, also

see BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS for details of methods used to un-block a clogged drain line.

If you have had sewage back up and spill out of toilets

 into the building, cleanup is needed and you may face bacterial hazards.

See SEWAGE CONTAMINATION IN buildings for advice.

Is the sewer line or soil stack clogged? 

If flushing the toilet leads to a backup, or worse, a toilet overflow, it's possible that the toilet drain pipe has clogged, or there may be a clog right at the base of the toilet itself.

Before going to work with a toilet plunger - (as shown in our photo at page top) which is normally the first thing to try, ask some questions about just when and how the clog occurred.

Because if a child or pet has dropped something into the toilet, you do not want to push that blockage further into the piping system where removing it will be more trouble and more expensive.

Our grandson, learning toilet training, flushed his peed-in underpants down the toilet.

We have also found child's toys, and once, a dog's bone clogging the waste line just below the toilet.

It might have been possible to fish this obstruction out of the toilet drain with a wire, but ultimately the owners simply removed the toilet to retrieve the blocking underwear.

If other building drains are working fine, but one toilet is flushing poorly, it is possible that there is a local blockage close to the toilet itself.

Brian Gilligan found this drain clog by asking Chase what happened to the missing underpants.

He then removed the toilet from the floor [image], and by luck, the underpants were able to be easily retrieved - unblocking the clogged toilet drain before a backup and toilet overflow catastrophe had occurred.

How to Use a Toilet Plunger to Clear a Blocked Toilet

If no one has thrown any toys, clothes, or objects into the toilet, try using a toilet plunger. If there is sewage in the toilet you might want to wait a bit to see if the water and sewage level lowers before plunging - just to reduce unsanitary splashing.

At BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS we discuss alternative methods used to clear a blocked drain.

How to Use a Toilet Plunger

The toilet plunger, an old stand-by, is often effective if

• The blockage is near the fixture 
  
  where you are plunging
• The drain line is full 
  
  or nearly full of water and waste (if the drain is not full - you have a slow drain not one that is totally blocked) try flushing the toilet and as the water begins to flow down the drain, immediately start using the toilet plunger.
• You plug any sink traps, overflow openings, 
  
  or vents that are close to the drain line you are plunging. This step might not be needed to clear a toilet, but it certainly is if clearing a blocked sink or tub.
• Persist:
  
  don't give up too soon.
  
  We have successfully un-blocked recalcitrant clogged toilets that did not respond at first, but that began to work just fine after five minutes of plunging. Plunge! Plunge! Plunge!

Watch out: don't flush a toilet if the bowl is already at a high level of water or waste - you're asking for a toilet overflow if you do.

In the unattractive example at left we show sewage backing up into the bowl of a clogged toilet. Flushing this toilet with the wastewater high in the bowl means an almost certain overflow of sewage into the bathroom. That mess wioll require both a mop-up and disinfection of the area.

Watch out: if you get toilet water on your skin, wash with soap and water. Same with clothes. Do not put a dirty finger in your eye, mouth, or in a cut - you are risking an infection.

For advice on using other methods to clear a blocked drain, including mechanical removal of an obstruction, use of drain clearing chemicals, more on using a toilet plunger, using a plumbing snake, using a kinetic water ram.

See BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS.

 

If you cannot immediately un-block a clogged toilet, short of going to the neighbor's to use their bathroom, you might want to use aportable or chemical toilet.

• Call a port-a-john portable toilet company,
  
  if all else fails and you have lots of guests who will be in the building over an extended time.
  
  You can rent one or more portable toilets.
  
  In a pinch you may be able to borrow a camping toilet or chemical toilet like this Thetford porta-potty from someone who has that device.

If you have had sewage back up and spill out of toilets

into the building, cleanup is needed and you may face bacterial hazards.

See SEWAGE CONTAMINATION IN buildings for advice.

 

at CONTINUE READING is our list of toilet trouble diagnosis and repair articles. You will see that some toilet problems are fixed easily and right at the toilet by a simple adjustment, while others may not be the toilet's fault at all, and may need more thoughtful diagnosis and repair.

Taking off the toilet tank top:

Some of these simple toilet diagnosis steps require that you look into the toilet flush tank on the back of the toilet.

Just lift the top off of the toilet tank and set it carefully aside on the floor where you won't break it or trip over it.

If you leave the tank top on the toilet seat (as we did for this photo) you're asking for trouble, and also, it's a bit in the way.

Our sketch below shows the parts you'll see inside the toilet tank. You may want to refer back to this drawing while reading the details of each class if individual toilet problems listed above and how they are detected, diagnosed, and repaired.

This article series discusses the cause, diagnosis, and repair of toilet problems (water closet problems) such as a toilet that does not flush well, clogged toilets, slow-filling toilets, running toilets, loose wobbly toilets, and odors at leaky toilets.

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Reader Question: ALL of our toilets are overflowing - they take turns, but the problem comes & goes

All three of our toilets are taking turns overflowing if we let them. Some days it's one, another day it's it's another and on and on~ All other house drains are perfect. What is the problem and how do I fix it. Thank you! - Cynthia 7/29/12

Reply:

Cynthia the helpful observation in your note is that all three toilets overflow - telling us that there is a system problem, not a blockage at an individual toilet drain line.

There are some more subtle possible problems to find, but I'd start with these directions of investigation:

• A partial blockage of the main system drain at some point between where all 3 toilets have joined a common drain line, and the ultimate connection to a sewer main or septic tank.
  
  The reason that the clog or toilet backup might be intermittent could be due to the combined usage wastewater volume.
  
  When you have a partial drain blockage at a distance, pretty far down in the main building drain system, you can run water or flush a toilet without backup if the drain line is sitting there empty.
  
  The wastewater rushes to the blockage, slows there, but slowly drains past the blockage. But when you are using more water at once, the drain line can fill up enough to back up into the building.
  
  The intermittent nature of which toilet overflows depends in this case on which was flushed last.
• If you are connected to a private septic system, a blockage at the septic tank, piping, or failing drainfields - though usually this problem would not intermittent though it might be weather dependent (in wet weather if the drainfield is saturated the system may back up)
• Less likely, a blocked plumbing vent system, as I think the toilet clog problem would not be intermittent in this case, though it might be weather dependent (snow covers the vent exit for example)

We discuss slow drains and clogged or failing septic systems - onsite waste disposal systems - septic tanks, drainfields, separately

at SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR.

Reader Question: just ONE toilet flushes poorly: is our septic system blocked?

Hi, I was hoping to inquire on your probono service, I'm not working at this time, also I'm 5 months pregnant. Was really hoping you could help answer my question. I have a well system, so I have a septic in backyard.

I have 2 bathrooms, everything is draining and flushing normally except for the one toilet in my master bedroom.

When I flush it it just fills up with water in the toilet bowl, after some time the water goes down, but never all the way or completely flushes, this has been going on for a few days now.

Could this be the septic clogged? Or just my one toilet? - 2017/09/26 Anonymous by private email

Reply: how to distinguish beween a system drain blockage and an individual fixture drain blockage

Most likely the clog is between the toilet and the point at which its drain joins the main drain into which the other bathrooms drain. If the failure were in the septic system or main drain then normally ALL of the fixtures would drain poorly.

An exception that's more subtle is this: if a blockage is distant from a toilet that toilet may seem to flush OK because its waste simply flows rapidly into the open section of drain ahead of the blockage, while a toilet very close to the blockage may flush poorly.

You would identify that situation by noticing that the more-distant toilet flushed poorly when flushed multiple times in succession and when other water from other fixtures was also filling the partly-blocked drain line.

Details are at CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR

Question: using caustic soda on toilet clogs?

(Apr 1, 2014) Anonymous said:

1. I think this is the one of the best way to unblock a seriously clogged toilet. Especially when you have disposed organic waste into it and have tried, plunger, wire hanger, loads of water etc and have been unsuccessful.

2. Please take extreme care while handling caustic soda. You will require about 3 kgs of caustic soda, a plastic bucket, a plastic pipe or any long plastic object to help stir, rubber/plastic gloves, goggles for your own safety and protection.

3. It is ideal to do this at night. take about 3 to 4 liters of water in a plastic bucket, cover your nose with a piece of cloth, slowly add about 1 kg of caustic soda into the water very slowly. Stir the mixture slowly. make sure the room is well ventilated and do not inhale the fumes.

Get away from the room if it is taking longer to mix water and caustic soda.

Always add caustic soda to water, do not do it the other way, do not add water to caustic soda. the exothermic reaction between water and caustic soda will make the water boil quickly. so adding water directly to caustic soda is not advised.

4. The water will heat up during mixing and will generate fumes. do not touch the mixture with bare hands as it will be highly corrosive. if a drop of the mixture falls on your skin, wash it will lots of water.

5. once mixed, slowly pour the solution into empty toilet bowl, cover the toilet seat and get away from the toilet for about 45 minutes.

6. Again mix caustic soda and water as described above for the second time. and slowly pour it into the toilet and leave it over night.

7. in the morning pour couple of buckets of hot steaming water into the toilet from about waist length. By now the toilet will be able to flush out quickly. If not mix water and caustic soda again as described above and pour it into the empty toilet. Wait for couple of hours and pour hot water into the toilet.

8. Never pour caustic soda directly into the toilet. Caustic soda crystals can solidify inside the toilet pipes creating a bigger block.

Reply: really? Caustic soda is dangerous and not recommended for homeowner use on clogged toilet drains.

Watch out: Caustic soda is not only dangerous to work with, it can burn the skin, cause blindness if you get it in your eyes, and it can destroy septic tank and drainfield bacteria and contaminate the environment.

Furthermore, using harsh chemicals as blocked toilet de-cloggers should not be attempted before a proper diagnosis of the reason for clogging has been determined. For local clogs at a toilet simple plunging with a toilet plunger will often do the job safely and immediately.

For remote drain clogs you will probably need help from an experienced plumber who may use a power snake or other drain cleaner or may use a drain line camera / scope to determine if the line is broken, crushed, or damaged.

Question: I dropped a plastic cap into my flushometer toilet and it went down the drain

(May 4, 2015) Alan said:
I dropped a plastic cap into my flushometer toilet and it went down the drain. Now it flushes slowly and overflows. Please tell me what to do. Is the cap still retrievable. THANK YOU.

Reply:

Alan

I've retrieved toys, underpants and the like from toilet drains when by luck the obstruction was close to the toilet. We had to remove the water from the tank and bowl, remove the toilet, and fish in the drain.

If the obstruction is not close by it's probably lodged at the next trap or bend in the waste line.

Or it may be possible to push the obstruction onwards to the next cleanout by using a plumbing snake.

Question: What style of toilets are the ones used in jails

2020/02/16 Tommy Cook Said:

What style of toilets are the ones used in jails stainless steel tankless toilet sink combos. Need to know how it works so I can fix flushing problem

This Q&A appeared originally

at PLUMBING SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR

Shown above, a Kuge brand stainless steel prison toilet-sink combination. Kuge is a brand used by

• Chuangxing Stainless Steel Products Co., Ltd., a Chinese firm at No. 6, Leyuan Road, Leping Town, Sanshui, Foshan Guangdong China 528137 Tel: 1 380 925 6554 Email: kuge01@sskuge.com

Reply:

Tommy,

Prison toilets generally work like other toilets but are constructed of stainless steel and may use a power flush or gravity flush system.

Shown below is a Kuge brand gravity-flush stainless steel toilet.

If your toilet has a flushing problem start by plunging it vigorously with a toilet plunger as we describe

at TOILET CLOG REPAIR, UN-BLOCK.

On 2021-01-27 - by (mod) - When he removed the toilet there was a lot of waste at the top of the drain pipe

OK so we know the drain wasn't draining;
either there's a clog or a septic failure.

Often that shows up at the lowest toilet or plumbing location.

Ask your plumber to snake and inspect the drain - that's first and easiest and least costly

On 2021-01-26 by Melissa

Toilet kept on draining slow and clogged. I had my son remove toilet because plunging and baking soda/vinegar was not working.

When he removed the toilet there was a lot of waste at the top of the drain pipe (plus the drain pipe was not all the way on there) anyways he fixed the pipe and cleaned out the clog and put on a new toilet but it’s happening again.

Could this be an issue with septic tank. Fyi We only have one bathroom and I don’t see any waste backing into other areas. Also any ideas. I have three teenage boys so bathroom is used a lot.

On 2020-11-15 - by (mod) -

Thank you Fremont for the nice note. We work hard to provide researched, unbiased information that's useful so when a reader finds it helpful we're really grateful.

As you're a plumber of course I also welcome your comments, criticism, suggestions.

On 2020-11-11 by Plumber Fremont

Thanks a lot for sharing this beautiful post.

On 2020-10-28 - by (mod) - baking soda and vinegar won't unblock a clogged toilet

Thanks for the idea, Jenny, Unfortunately no remedy, sitting in a toilet for any length of time whatsoever, will unclog a blockage in the drain line downstream from the toilet.

On 2020-10-28 by Jenny

I would recommend to use a more traditional method, add a tea spoon of baking soda and some vinegar in half full toilet.

However, you need to wait for some period as this concoction requires half an hour or so to work its magic.

On 2020-08-04 by Mary - Both toilets and showers are backing up but all the sinks are draining

Both toilets and showers are backing up but all the sinks are draining found one toilet not sealing could this be issue

On 2020-01-05 - by (mod) -

Anon

It sounds as if you are describing a toilet with a clogged drain. The article above suggests Memphis to clear that including patient but prolonged use of a plunger. I would try that first.

On 2020-01-05 by Anon - toilet fills up when flushed but water wont go down

Hi,
Our toilet fills up when flushed but water wont go down, is there a solution to fix this right away or do we have to call the plumbers?

...

Continue reading  at CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see TOILET CLOG REPAIR FAQS - questions & answers about un-blocking a toilet, posted originally at this page.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR
• CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS
• TOILET FLUSHES POORLY diagnose and fix slow-flushing toilets caused by inadequate water volume in the toilet bowl or in the toilet tank or cistern, or caused by a partly-blocked drain, defective vent
• TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR - home
• TOILET CLOG REPAIR, UN-BLOCK
• TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST - home
• TOILET FLUSH OPERATION
• TOILET FLUSHES POORLY
• TOILET LEAK CATASTROPHES
• TOILET OVERFLOW EMERGENCY
• TOILET PLUGS, SEWER BACKUP
• TOILET REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE
• TOILET RUNS CONTINUOUSLY
• TOILET TANK SWEATS
• TOILET WON'T FLUSH
• TOILET TYPES, CONTROLS, PARTS - home

Suggested citation for this web page

TOILET CLOG REPAIR, UN-BLOCK at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to TOILET INFORMATION

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