One might say a clogged toilet is one of the worst plumbing emergencies out there. And, as an emergency plumber for the Twin Cities, we’ve encountered our fair share. Residents throughout the area trust our emergency plumber to save them from situations such as this. So as your trusted plumber for the Twin Cities, we’d like to provide a how-to to hopefully get you out of this unpleasant situation. After all, with the right plunger and just a little bit of elbow grease you could see a crisis averted.
But if these tips don’t work, or if you’d rather have the professionals handle it, give our emergency plumber a call here at All Ways Drains. We will come out to your home or business and have your toilet working again in no time!
Many people are unaware that there is actually a right and wrong way to use a plunger to unclog a toilet. The key to proper plunger use is to pull forcefully and push gently. Many people assume that a forceful push is what frees up the clog, however this can actually worsen the problem. Pushing the plunger too hard can even break the seal of the toilet gasket. So remember, push gently; pull rigorously.
It is also important to select the right plunger. As an emergency plumber, we always have the right one on hand. But your local store may only sell the wrong, least effective kind. The most common plunger you may find is a simple suction-cup plunger. However, these can be pretty ineffective. Did you know they are actually more useful in the kitchen than the bathroom, since they are designed to mainly clear clogs from sinks? They may yield some success in the bathroom, but the most effective plunger for the toilet is actually the ball shape or fold-out style plunger. These are a better fit for the toilet, providing a greater seal and a better amount of pressure to release the clog.
It is also important to determine what kind of clog you’ve got. Is it a slow-drainer or a complete clog? The typical clogged toilet is a slow-drainer that can be cleared using a plunger. However, a total clog does not drain at all and may require a professional emergency plumber to unclog.
Sometimes a clogged toilet could actually point to a bigger problem, with the sewer line itself, which, depending on the location of the issue is either yours or your municipality’s to fix. An emergency plumber can help solve the mystery.
If you need assistance from our emergency plumber in the Twin Cities or any of the surrounding areas, call All Ways Drains at 612-922-9422, or you can contact us and get a Free Estimate.