what is the correct way to plunge a toilet

How to Plunge a Toilet Correctly

• Use the right plunger. Before we start, you need to understand the three basic types of plungers. ...
• Drain standing water from toilet. While your toilet could fill up with water when plugged, some water may drain out slowly before you start plunging.
• Wear rubber gloves. ...
• Make a seal on the toilet. ...
• Plunge the toilet. ...
• Flush the toilet. ...

Full Answer

How to unclog a toilet when a plunger doesn't work?

Mar 01, 2022 · Here are some extra tips for plunging a toilet. Tip 1: Begin plunging your toilet gently. Like we said before, if you are too rough at first and immediately force the plunger in your toilet, water can splash all over the toilet seat, floor, and on you. Tip 2: After your first gentle plunge is when you can begin plunging in and out with more force.

How to unclog a toilet in 11 seconds?

How to Use a Toilet Plunger to Plunge the Toilet. For the best results, warm the rubber cup on the plunger with hot water for 30 seconds. Place the toilet plunger in the bowl and try to seal it over the toilet drain. You can rub some petroleum jelly along the …

How to unclog a toilet in 7 ways?

Step #1: Use the right type of plunger. There are two different types of plungers—a standard plunger that is round, and a flange plunger that has a rounded extension on the end. To unclog a toilet easier, you need a plunger with a flange. A standard plunger can also be used but may not be as effective at removing more difficult clogs.

How to unclog toilet naturally?

Wear rubber glove—things can get messy—and follow these plunging tips: Make your first plunge a gentle one. Initially the bell is full of air. Once you force out the air, plunge vigorously in and out, maintaining the seal. Be patient. Keep enough water in the bowl so the toilet plunger stays ...

How do you plunge a toilet full of poop?

Is there a trick to plunge a toilet?

How do you unclog a toilet when a plunger doesn't work?

Will dish soap unclog a toilet?

What is the best liquid to unclog toilet?

What to do when a toilet is filled with water?

Another cleanliness-oriented tip: Before plunging a toilet whose bowl is completely filled with water, don gloves and use buckets to bail out half of the fluid.

What to do if toilet clogs up after 30 seconds?

To protect your toilet’s finish, it’s best to use an auger made specifically for toilets. Good luck!

How to get better suction on plunger?

An easy method of improving plunger suction is to rub petroleum jelly on the rim of the flange—the part that goes into the drain hole. Before you plunge, it’s recommended that you plug any other drains in the bathroom (for example, the sink and shower drains).

How long does it take for a plunger to clear a clogged drain?

Now move the plunger forcefully up and down for about 10 or 20 seconds. That’s about as long as it should take for the force of the water and air going back and forth in the drain to clear up the clog.

Where to keep plunger in bathroom?

While most homeowners are wise enough to keep a plunger somewhere in the house—if not in the bathroom itself, then perhaps in the linen closet or basement —a remarkable proportion don’t actually know how to plunge a toilet. The correct technique is easy to master. Certainly, practice makes perfect, but just about anyone can capably handle the task.

Is it bad to plunge a toilet?

As mentioned, plunging a toilet can get a little messy, so it’s a bad idea to attempt to plunge after you’ve poured in a drain-clearing chemical. If that chemical finds its way out of the toilet, it can harm your skin or even corrode materials on the toilet or elsewhere in the bathroom.

What happens if you plunge a toilet?

Regardless of the type of clog that you need to eliminate, the water level is essential. If there is too much water standing, the water will splash all over when you plunge, especially if a toilet is clogged. However, if there is not enough water, the plunger will not seal properly around the drain.

What to do if you clog a toilet?

If you clog up the nearby drains, you will increase the strength against the toilet clog. For example, if you are plunging the toilet, put a stopper in the sink drains and the bathtub. If you do not have a stopper, use a wet rag. Having a good seal is imperative when you are ready to plunge.

How long to plunge a plunger?

Once you have a good, secure seal, plunge for thirty seconds in an up and down motion.

What to do if you can't get water out of a plunger?

However, if there is not enough water, the plunger will not seal properly around the drain. You’ll want the water to be deep enough to cover the cup of the plunger completely. If you need to remove some of the standing water, use a bowl or bucket and wear some rubber gloves.

Do you need a plunger for a drain?

Every plumber knows that you need the right plunger for the job if you want to get rid of a clog. A plunger comes in a variety of diameters for different types of drains, so you will want to choose one that is only slightly bigger than the opening to the drain.

Can a plunger unclog a toilet?

The everyday toilet plunger is pretty much a no-stress, self-explanatory tool. Nonetheless, it does require the correct technique to unclog a toilet or a drain successfully.

What do you need to clear a stopped toilet?

You’ll need a suitable plunger, some rubber gloves if you don’t want to worry about touching toilet water, and possibly some Vaseline to rub on the cup to give you a tighter seal.

How long does it take to fix a clogged toilet?

Having a clogged toilet is a potentially messy and embarrassing situation, but as long as you have a plunger on hand, you can usually fix it in just a few seconds — provided you know what you’re doing.

Why is my toilet clogged?

There is a number of reasons why a toilet might become clogged, from using too much toilet paper to getting a foreign object lodged inside. While a plunger might not work in every case, it’s a good starting point. The way a toilet plunger works is simple.

What is a plunger in a bathroom?

This is probably what you think of when you think of a plunger. It’s a simple rubber cup with a stick coming out of one end. The standard plunger may well be what you have in your bathroom — but it shouldn’t be. It’s designed to sit over drains in flat surfaces, like sinks.

What is a taze plunger?

The taze plunger looks a lot like a standard plunger, except it’s bigger. A lot bigger. Also, the handle is usually made of steel, not wood. You’ll likely only see a taze plunger in a plumber’s truck, rather than in a residential bathroom.

What happens when you push down on a plunger?

When you push down on the plunger, water is forced towards the blockage with great force. This might be enough to dislodge it and get your toilet running again.

How many types of plungers are there?

That’s right, there are four different types of plungers, and they’re all designed for different things. Let’s take a look at your options, as well as reveal which one is best for plunging a toilet.

What angle do you need to plunge a toilet?

The angle that you need will depend on your specific toilet bowl ; however, since the plunging needs to be performed in a downward motion, chances are you will need to stand directly over the toilet bowl.

How to break up a clogged toilet?

To break up any additional clog, use several strokes of the plunger, as discussed above, until the water level goes down, then flush the toilet a final time.

What is a Tb1234 plunger?

tb1234. The plunger that looks like a basketball that has been cut in half is commonly known as a standard sink plunger. Another kind features an extended flange, which is meant to fit snugly into the toilet drain hole to ensure a tight seal. When you have a good seal, it results in superior suction power.

How to stop a toilet from overflowing?

Turn the knob to stop the flow of water to the toilet to avoid any messy overflow. Take the tank lid off the back of the toilet and shut the toilet flapper while wearing rubber gloves to keep from picking up harmful bacteria that live in the toilet.

What to do if toilet won't flush?

If you’ve tried the above methods for unclogging your toilet, and it still won’t flush properly, you may have to call a professional plumber to take care of the problem.

How to clean a toilet with vinegar and baking soda?

After you’ve removed enough water, pour the baking soda and vinegar into the toilet bowl. Let the ingredients sit for a couple of hours. Flush the toilet, and let the toilet bowl refill completely. Remove as much water as possible using one of the above methods.

What is the flapper in a toilet?

The flapper is a plastic or rubber piece in the toilet tank that lifts, via a chain, to provide more water supply to the bowl. To stop the water flowing into the bowl, push down this flapper manually.

What to do if toilet clogs up?

Your plumber has access to special tools and equipment like a sewer camera and toilet auger they can use to pinpoint the location of the clog and remove it for good.

Why does my toddler flush toys down the toilet?

Even your sewer pipe outside your home could be damaged or have tree roots growing through it, causing the clog.

Is it hard to plunge a toilet?

As you can see, how to properly plunge a toilet is not that difficult or hard to do when using the steps we shared.

Can you flush a plunger with water?

Make sure to leave the plunger in the bowl when you flush it in case it is still partially clogged. This way, you can start plunging right away, taking advantage of the force of the water to help remove the clog.

What to wear when you plunge in the toilet?

Plunging your toilet might be a messy job, however, I’d always recommend you to use goggles and gloves. Also, wear clothes that you can get stained.

What does plunging a toilet do?

By plunging your toilet, you are using the pressure to help your toilet drain clean itself.

How to stop a toilet from clogging?

To prevent your toilet from clogging again, you should always keep the cover of your toilet down. Especially if you have children. By keeping your cover down, you will prevent objects such as toothbrush falling inside the bowl.

How to get rid of a clogged toilet bowl?

Forcing the water both ways in your bowl does wonders. You will effectively loosen many clo gs in your toilet bowl. It’s important to stay patient because not all clogs will be easy to plunge. My advice would be to switch between gentle and heavy strokes.

Why do you have to make the first plunge hard?

Always make the first plunge a gentle one. The reason for that is because the bowl is full of air. If you force your first plunge hard, all the air from the bowl will come back. The plunging might get messy.

Why is my toilet clogged?

But for toilets that are getting clogged daily, something else is the problem. The waste reservoir can be full which is causing the toilet clog. Dispose of human waste doesn’t have anywhere to go. If you haven’t regularly had someone to check at your human waste reservoir. It’s most likely clogged down there.

What is a toilet bowl made of?

They most of the time made from rubber. Keep in mind that you choose the size that will fit the size of your toilet bowl.

How to unclog a toilet?

Typically the first, and easiest, method to use to unclog a toilet is to use a plunger. However, many people are unaware that there actually is a "right" and "wrong" way to plunge a toilet. The key to proper plunger usage is to push gently, and pull vigorously. Many people think that a forceful push into the plunger is what frees up the clog, ...

What is a plunger in a bathroom?

The most common plunger you may find in a home is a simple orange suction-cup style plunger . This style is actually more useful in the kitchen than the bathroom, since they are designed to mainly clear clogs from sinks, not toilets; these are used in the toilet with some success, but there are better tools for the job.

What is a clogged toilet?

The majority of the time, a typical clogged toilet is a slow-drainer that can be cleared using a plunger. A no-drainer is just as the phrase implies - a complete stoppage - and there is no movement of the water in the bowl. This is usually due to an object completely obstructing the drain and may require the use of a toilet auger to remove.

How to cover a plunger head?

If there is not enough water in the bowl, carefully remove the tank lid from the toilet, reach inside the tank and gently pull the flapper up to allow enough water into the bowl to cover the plunger .

What action is used to clear a clogged toilet?

It is the pulling action that actually creates suction, which effectively and safely frees up the clog. Remember that whatever clogged the toilet got stuck on the way down, so the pulling action will likely be more effective in dislodging the clog, rather than pushing it further.

How to get air out of a plunger?

Empty some of the water into a bucket. Let the air out of the plunger by tipping the head of the plunger towards the water surface; you will see a couple of big bubbles come out of the plunger. It is important to make sure you are pushing and pulling with water, not air.

Why flush a toilet when it's clogged?

We recommend this method, versus flushing the toilet again, because you can control the amount of water going into the bowl . If you flush a toilet while clogged, you run the risk of overflowing the toilet, creating a much larger mess then you'd care to deal with.