Got a clogged toilet and no plunger around to help you? Here are the steps to fix the issue.
No one wants to have to deal with a clogged toilet. There are few feelings as bad as pushing down the flusher handle and instead of the water and waste spiraling away, that water level starts creeping up. While you silently say a prayer that it doesn’t overflow onto the floor, you probably also reach for the plunger. But what if you don’t own a plunger? While it is a vitally important tool to have in your arsenal, it is not the only way to deal with a clogged toilet. Read on for some steps to try, but if none of them work, it is time to go buy a plunger.
Stop The Water
The first thing you need to do is stop the water that is flowing out of the tank and into the toilet bowl (and hopefully not yet onto the floor). To do this, take the lid off of the toilet tank and pull the float up. This will stop the water flow. Next, turn off the valve that is near the wall at the base of the toilet. Finally, if the toilet is close to full, you are going to need to bail out some of it with a bucket or cup to make room to work.
Hot Water
The first thing you should try is very hot, but not boiling, water. Pour it in a few cups at a time and wait. Ideally, the hot water will loosen or break up the clog.
Soap
If hot water alone isn’t budging the clog, add a surfactant like dish soap or shampoo. After removing as much water as you can, squirt a good amount of the soap or shampoo into the toilet and follow it with more hot water. If all you have at home is bar soap, this could still work. Break the bar into small pieces and drop it into the bowl, then follow with very hot water.
Physical Removal
If neither of those options works, it is time to try to manually push the clog through. You can use a drain snake (but you probably don’t have one, since you don’t have a plunger), or you could use a coat hanger and prod the clog till it breaks up and moves. In a pinch, you may be able to pseudo-plunge the bowl with a toilet brush, and the swishing it causes may be enough if the hot water and soap loosened things up. Once the water flows freely, turn the water back on at the valve and flush a few time to get rid of the soap residue.
Call Mahon Plumbing Today
If you’re ready to see how an upgrade can help your home, the experts at Mahon plumbing are here to help. Mahon Plumbing has been serving the Baltimore region’s plumbing needs since 1994. We’re ready to offer quality plumbing services and gas installation for both commercial and residential uses. Our tracks and employees are ready to handle the toughest of jobs.
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