Toilet clog quick facts
- Most common cause
- Too much paper in one flush, or wipes and paper towels
- Right plunger
- Flange plunger with a fold-out lip that seals in the bowl outlet
- Next tool
- Closet auger, a short crank cable made for toilets
- Stop and call when
- Other drains back up or gurgle when the toilet is flushed
Clearing a clogged toilet without an overflow
- Do not flush again.If the bowl is filling, lift the tank lid and push the flapper down to stop the water, or close the shutoff valve on the wall behind the toilet.
- Plunge with a seal.Push the flange into the outlet at the bottom of the bowl. Start with a slow push to remove air, then use firm in-and-out strokes about a dozen times.
- Try a closet auger.Set the curved end in the bowl outlet and crank the cable in. The rubber sleeve protects the porcelain. Pull back slowly; it may bring the clog with it.
- Test with one flush.Open the supply valve, let the tank fill, and flush once while watching the level. Keep a hand ready on the flapper.
Why some toilets clog over and over
Repeat clogs in one toilet often trace back to habits rather than plumbing. So-called flushable wipes do not break apart the way toilet paper does and collect in the trapway or further down the line. Paper towels, cotton swabs, dental floss and cat litter cause the same trouble.
Sometimes the toilet itself is the problem. A child's toy lodged in the trapway can let water pass but catch paper every time, which no plunger fixes; the toilet may need to be pulled to remove it. Mineral scale from hard water can also narrow the rim holes and siphon jet, giving a weak flush that leaves waste in the trap.
And sometimes the toilet is just the first place a main-line restriction shows up. Toilets send a large slug of water and solids at once, so a partly blocked line downstream reveals itself there before the sinks notice.
Toilet problem or line problem?
- IfOnly this toilet clogs and everything else drains normallyThenLikely the toilet or its trapway. An auger or pulling the toilet usually finds it.
- IfThe tub or shower rises or gurgles when this toilet is flushedThenThe clog is downstream in the main line. Stop flushing and get the line cleared from a cleanout.
- IfSeveral toilets clog in the same weekThenTreat it as a main-line problem until shown otherwise, especially in an older home with trees near the sewer lateral.
- IfThe flush is weak but the bowl does not overflowThenCheck the tank water level and for scale in the rim holes before assuming a clog.
Questions for the plumber
- Was the blockage in the toilet, at the flange, or further down the line?
- Did you find wipes, an object or roots?
- Does the wax ring need replacing now that the toilet was pulled?
- Would a camera inspection help explain why it keeps happening?
Common questions
Are flushable wipes really a problem?
Yes. They are a frequent cause of toilet and main-line clogs because they do not break down the way toilet paper does. Put them in the trash.
Is a low-flow toilet more likely to clog?
Some early low-flow models were. Modern toilets are designed to clear well, but using less paper per flush helps any toilet.
Can I use a drain chemical in a toilet?
It is not recommended. It can damage the wax seal and is dangerous if the bowl has to be plunged or opened afterward.
General information for Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.