The toilet is clogged: how to clean it yourself using household chemicals, soda, vinegar and mechanical devices. What to do if the toilet is clogged at home - cleaning methods How to clean the toilet from a bottle clogged

Residents of apartment buildings face this trouble at least once in their lives. In old houses, where the sewage system leaves much to be desired, blockages often become a real disaster. It takes time to wait for the plumber. But, if you have a desire, you can easily remove the blockage yourself. From this article we will learn how to unclog a toilet bowl, as well as analyze several cleaning methods.

Finding the cause of the blockage

Typically, the main causes of blockage are:

Large objects entering the drain: accidentally thrown rags, food residues or garbage;

Formation of too large a layer of limescale during prolonged use of plumbing; it forms quickly enough in the presence of excessively hard water;

Illiterate installation of the toilet and the presence in the pipes of excessive convolutions and bends located at a large angle: this is possible when moving the toilet too far from the drain or installing a "cool" toilet of the latest model, the drain hole (inlet) of which is absolutely incompatible with the hole installed in your apartment.

Chemical compositions for cleaning

If the cause of the blockage is the formation of limescale, you can try to soften it using any high-quality compounds intended for this:

Domestos: in addition to Domestos itself, the group of these fairly inexpensive and quite effective cleaning agents also includes the Cif brand, produced by the same manufacturer;

Domestos-gel

Procter & Gamble: able to deal not only with plaque, but also with rust;

Jonson & Jonson: used for cleaning hard-to-reach places, has a package in the form of a "toilet duck" - a tube with a curved dispenser spout, which allows you to spill the composition along the rim of the toilet bowl, simultaneously cleaning the accumulated plaque in this area;

Tiret: remedy for the elimination of lime deposits and their prevention;

Sanita Gel: another quality product from a Russian manufacturer.

If you have already encountered the problem of clogging and know some other brands of products that can clean the plumbing from plaque, you can certainly use them. We have listed only the most famous manufacturers whose products really work (unless, of course, you buy a fake).

Important! Before using any formulation, be sure to read the instructions. Most of these cleaning products are intended for use in sewers with cast iron or plastic pipes... Unfortunately, they can damage steel pipes.

If the blockage is small, you can try using a mixture of 9% vinegar and baking soda... To do this, you need about half a packet of baking soda and a glass of vinegar. To enhance the effect, it is better to drain the excess water from the toilet before this.

We fall asleep soda, then add vinegar

Mechanical toilet bowl cleaning
The first step is to make sure that the toilet is clogged. Turn on the tap, for example, located above the washbasin or the mixer above the bathtub. If the water passes without problems, then the blockage is in the toilet.

If you know for sure that a foreign object has fallen into the toilet, try to get it out. He may not have gone too far yet. Put on rubber gloves (if not handy, you can use a large, sturdy bag) and check the drain.

If we are unlucky and the rag or debris has gone too far and cannot be reached by hand, try using a plunger. A tool with a small rubber valve will not work here - its diameter should be slightly larger than the drain. Place it tightly against the edges of the drain hole and begin to make sudden forward movements, forcing the water down. Under the action of hydraulic pressure, an object that has fallen into the toilet will be pushed into a common, wider drain.

Cleaning with a plunger

Council. The plunger can be replaced by the cut-off top of a plastic 1.5-liter bottle with a tightly closed cap. For the convenience of capturing water along its edges, several cuts can be made.

The plunger will only help if the object that has fallen into the drain is not too large

Cleaning the toilet with a cable

If you do not have this useful item in your house, be sure to purchase it. After all, plumbers use it to clean all types of pipes. With the help of a cable, even compressed and dense and hard deposits can be removed from the drain, as well as to push through sufficiently large debris.

For use in an apartment, it is better to purchase a tool with a diameter of 9 mm and a length of 5 m. At the end of the cable, for convenience, there is a handle that you will rotate. At the other end, there is a small spiral or ruff tip that can be used to crush or pick up debris.

Since dirt and droplets of dirty water may fall on the floor and surrounding objects when pulling the cable back out of the toilet, cover the area around with old rags or an unnecessary blanket. When punching, it will be better if someone helps you to unwind the cable (although you can do it alone).

Dip it into the drain and gradually, effortlessly try to push it as far as possible. Note that there are several bends to overcome, so take your time. As soon as the cable reaches the place of the jam and rests against an obstacle, begin to rotate the handle. Try to pull out the cable. You may have been able to catch trash in the drain. If nothing happens, push the cable again until it stops and start turning the handle. And so on to the bitter end!

Punching with a rope

Prevention

In order not to suffer from blockages in the future, use the following tips:
do not throw large objects and food waste into the drain;

After washing the floors, be sure to check if there is a rag left in the bucket;

Regularly, for prophylaxis, use modern chemicals to combat limescale; if the water in the house is hard, such prevention should be carried out more often;

If possible, replace old clogged and rusted sewer risers with new ones;

If you find that your toilet is installed incorrectly, call the plumbers or (if you have at least basic skills) change it yourself.

Video: How to clean the toilet with a plastic bottle

Hard water, salt deposits and sediment deposited on the walls of plumbing are the main factors that provoke clogging of the toilet. But often such a problem can arise through the fault of the owners themselves, who "sin" by pouring food remnants or fermented home preservation into the toilet.

And the cases when, when draining dirty water after cleaning the apartment, they forget to get a floor cloth from the bucket, and it floats away with the sewer, are not so rare. After such "feeding" the plumber refuses to work, blocking the passage of water into the sewer pipes.

If you do not take action in time, then a small problem can develop into a real disaster. How to clean the toilet at home without resorting to the services of a plumber, and what methods of dealing with blockages give the best result? Consider below.

There are many effective ways to remove a blockage in the toilet yourself. But before considering each of them, it is necessary to determine the degree of blockage and identify the cause of the plug.

The drain in the sink is functioning well - it means that the pipe at the outlet of the toilet is clogged, supplying drains to the common sewer riser

There are two types of blockages:

deaf - completely block the passage of water;
leaking - let water through, but very slowly.

To check, pour a couple of liters of water into the clogged toilet bowl and observe for 10-15 minutes how the water will drain: it may drain in a slow trickle, or not at all.

If after this time the liquid has not dropped into the pipe, refill the toilet with the same volume of clean water. Often, minor blockages under water pressure break through on their own.

It is not recommended to use a flush tank for this purpose. When the button is pressed, the entire volume of liquid, which is at least 3 liters, will fill the toilet and, when the channel is tightly clogged, will begin to overflow over the sides.

If the water "stands", the locality of the blockage should be determined. To do this, you need to observe how the water flows into the drain hole of the sink by opening the tap in the bathroom.

When a pipe is blocked in the toilet itself, a mechanical or chemical method is used to fix the problem. If the drain is weak at all points, the problem is in the common pipes. Then you will have to resort to more radical measures.

Mechanical ways to remove blockages

If the reason for the formation of the plug is the presence of foreign objects (large food debris, personal hygiene products, rags), the first thing to do is examine the emergency place manually.

Manipulations are carried out by wearing protective rubber gloves and a bandage on the face, as you move to the location, it is better to scoop the water standing in the bowl into a bucket

Having reached the drain hole with your hand, the presence of foreign elements is detected by touch. Soft objects such as sponges or rags can also be grasped with your fingers. To draw out objects of a denser structure, you can facilitate the task by prying them with a stiff wire with a hook bent at the end.

Some craftsmen, after unsuccessful attempts to get an object out of the plum, try to blow it with air. But such actions can only aggravate the situation, driving the plug even further. And then the problem can be solved only by using the services of specialists.

When cleaning the toilet, you should always follow the rule: no matter what is stuck in the pipe, pulling out the blockage is more effective than pushing it!

Punching plunger

If the cause of the blockage has not been identified, and the liquid, albeit slowly, but seeps into the drain, use the proven method - cleaning with a plunger.

The plunger is a plumbing tool in the form of a rubber cup-shaped nozzle attached to a plastic or wooden handle

This tool is quite simple to work with. It is necessary to attach a rubber nozzle to the drain hole, tightly covering it so that the water in the bowl completely covers it.

To get the desired effect, use a tool with a rubber suction cup that is larger than the diameter of the toilet bowl drain.

Pushing the waste accumulated in the pipe into the sewer is facilitated by the hydraulic shock that occurs when pumping with a plunger.

In the process of pumping out, you just need to perform a few gentle pressure on the handle until the rubber nozzle is pressed inward, and then sharply raise the tool

The efficiency of work directly depends on the speed and force of pressing. If, after removing the instrument, the water has not left, the manipulations should be repeated. After cleaning, press the flush water button and make sure the system is working.

There are several models of plungers on sale:

A simple bowl-shaped one is the cheapest, effective for dealing with small blockages and cleaning pipes in sinks, but not toilets.
Tapered - effective for cleaning toilets. The nozzle, made of dense rubber, has a cone shape that fits perfectly into the pipe and provides a better grip on the drain hole.
Pneumatic - an improved model with more power and speed. It is equipped with narrow, wide and rotatable nozzles for maneuvering inside the drain pipe.

But regardless of the chosen model, the main advantage of working with the tool is that to achieve the effect, the plunger can be used an unlimited number of times without damaging the inner surface of the pipe.

Pneumatic plungers are professional and work on the principle of a piston creating a vacuum over a blockage that causes a water hammer, due to which the plug is broken into small particles and freely passes into the pipe

But if the plunger turned out to be useless, you will have to use another method.

Cleaning with a spring cable (auger)

Deeper blockages can be easily removed with a plumbing auger available at your plumbing store.

"Snake" made of flexible steel wire is able to reach and break up blockages in inaccessible places outside the drain hole

The auger, in the common people referred to as "toilet wire - rope", is equipped with a special handle, which is designed to rotate the cable.

To clean the pipe, it is necessary to carefully run the end of the tool through the drain hole and slowly move it along the pipe, carefully turning the other end of the tool remaining on the surface.

When working with a cable, it is important to monitor its position: it should be as stretched as possible, since when twisting the steel auger can damage the walls of the plumbing equipment

Feeling that the end of the cable rested against an obstacle, they try to drill a plug with rotational movements, winding the sewage on the wire, and then carefully pull it back with the "load".

Having pulled out the contents, the auger is re-launched into the pipe to identify the remains of the accumulation. After making sure that the interference has been removed, press the flush button and flush the toilet.

Watch a video on how to work with a flexible hose:

The easiest way is to work with a plumbing auger together: the first rotates the handle, and the second guides the cable in the desired direction.

Chemical control methods

If mechanical cleaning did not give the desired result, try to "eat away" the blockage by filling it with "chemistry". The chemical method is remarkable in that the solutions are poured directly into the pipe cavity.

Folk remedies

In the kitchen, every housewife always has baking soda and vinegar on hand. They will help you unclog the toilet.

Soda and vinegar, reacting with each other, cause "eruption", which contributes to the detachment of fat and mud deposits on the inner walls of the pipes

The cleaning procedure is performed in several stages:

A glass of dry soda powder is poured into the pre-emptied toilet bowl drain. The powder must not be mixed with water and cleaning agents.
Pour half a glass of vinegar at room temperature into the drain.
The treated drain hole should be plugged with a cotton piece of cloth so that the foam mass generated during the reaction does not go into the drain, but passes into the sewer pipe.
The mixture poured into the pipe is left for half an hour. During this time, it will dissolve small debris and all deposits on the pipe walls.
In the meantime, you need to boil a couple of liters of water. After half an hour from the moment of filling the soda, open the hole and rinse it with boiling water.

Pouring boiling water should not be used to process plumbing, in which the connecting corrugation is made of thin-walled plastic. In this case, it is better to use water with a temperature of 60-80 ° C for final processing.

We offer you another effective, but at first glance unusual cleaning method.

Many of us love the sweet carbonated drink "Coca-Cola", but not everyone knows that one of the components of its composition is phosphoric acid

Phosphoric acid is capable of cleaning even metal surfaces from rust. It is not surprising that Coca-Cola, which contains this substance in the form of an E 338 additive, is capable of “eating away” fat and mud deposits on the pipe walls.

To clean the toilet, just pour one liter of drink into the drain and wait one hour. After this time, the system only needs to be rinsed abundantly with hot water.

Shop formulations

If the opportunity permits, special products can be purchased as a chemical wash.

The principle of operation of the compositions proposed by manufacturers is to dissolve local deposits, thereby clearing the way for the unhindered passage of water flows

Store products are available in the form:

sprays;
liquids;
powders;
granular substances.

The use of each of them depends on the type of blockage. They have proven themselves well: the universal product of the American manufacturer "Bio-Favorit", "Pothan" of the Israeli production.

Among domestic manufacturers, the following are especially popular: "Mole", "Biocomposition Vantuz", "Tiret" gel.

The chemical agent is poured or poured into the depth of the drain and wait for the time period indicated on the label, after which the treated pipes are rinsed abundantly with hot water

Some hosts, trying to enhance the effect chemical treatment, leave the composition for a longer time than indicated by the manufacturer in the instructions.

For the same reason, it is unacceptable to use 2-3 products at the same time. The outcome of such experiments can occur according to one of two scenarios: either none of the means will work, or the cumulative effect of both compositions will lead to serious consequences.

Preventing clogged toilets

Any problem is easier to prevent than to fix. To avoid a repetition of an unpleasant situation, you should adhere to a number of simple rules.

Do not throw foreign objects into the toilet. To prevent accidental ingestion of bathroom accessories, do not place shelves with every little thing near the toilet

In case of hitting a large object, immediately get it out before it has penetrated the drain hole.
Use filters that capture large debris. Compliance with this condition is especially important when pouring into the toilet. dirty water after cleaning.
Press the flush button after each use of the toilet for its intended purpose. Timely flushing of the system will prevent the settling of urinary stones and lime deposits.
Educational conversations with children. Young children love to test their strength plumbing equipment, "Bathing" their toys in it. Explain to the kids that this is absolutely impossible to do.
Replace rusty pipes. The rough surface of a rusty pipe accelerates the formation of any kind of deposits. If this is neglected, there is a risk that blockages will form again and again.

Use preventive chemicals to keep your plumbing equipment lasting as long as possible. This will prevent the formation of grease plugs, which often accumulate on the bends of the toilet and in the area of \u200b\u200bthe drain hole.

Few people think about how to clear the blockage in the toilet until the appliance stops functioning normally. But as soon as he gets clogged, the eternal question immediately arises: what to do. Consider how to clean the toilet at home using improvised tools, household tools and special preparations.

Sewerage device

Sewer system apartment building was developed by engineers in the last century. The standard collector scheme in an apartment is a system of connecting all pipes into a single transport line, in which, due to the slope, the drains move by gravity into the house riser. Their further transportation from home is carried out in the direction of a centralized collector. To ensure ventilation of the sewer system, the upper part of the house riser extends to the roof. At the lowest point of the apartment sewage system, a tee is installed in the house riser:

the diameter of one of the branches of the tee is 100 mm and a toilet and a bidet are connected to it;
the other two taps have diameters equal to 50 mm: one of them is connected to bathroom plumbing, to the other - kitchen appliances.

To prevent unpleasant odor in the designs of plumbing, a water seal is used. It is a water barrier that forms in a curved canal technical device when filled with water. At the time of wastewater discharge, the hydraulic seal ensures the passage of wastewater and prevents blockages. After draining the water, the odor trap is renewed.

Most often, in the apartment sewage system, the places of wiring turns are clogged.To prevent pipeline blockages in problem areas, certain requirements must be met when installing the sewer system.

The pipes connecting the technical devices of the kitchen, bathroom and toilet with a tee of the input are installed at a slope towards the riser. it required condition uninterrupted passage of wastewater in the pipeline with a gravity sewage system.
Pipe slope parameters according to SNiP:
- for pipes with a diameter of 50 mm - 3 cm for each meter of the pipeline;
- for pipes with a diameter of 50 to 100 mm - 1.5–2 cm per 1 m of the pipeline;
- if the diameter is more than 100 mm, then the slope should be 0.8 cm for each meter of the pipeline.
It is not recommended to install pipes at right angles in places where the piping turns. Instead of one corner joint at 90 °, it is advisable to make two at 135 °. This design will significantly increase the throughput of the sewer pipeline and reduce the risk of blockage.

A water trap is a part of the apartment's sewer system, which prevents the formation of blockages and unpleasant odors

Why a home toilet can get clogged: the main reasons

Toilet and sewer blockages occur for technological, mechanical or operational reasons.

Technological causes of blockage are associated with errors and inaccuracies in the design or installation of the sewer system. Such errors include: incorrect pipe slope, rectangular fitting, insufficient cross-section of the connecting pipe, incorrect installation of the toilet. Frequent blockages arising from technological errors can be eliminated only by re-installing the plumbing and sewer pipes.
The mechanical causes of the blockage are associated with the ingress of foreign objects into the water seal of the toilet bowl and sewer pipes. For example, it is unacceptable to throw paper, fillers into the toilet cat litter, food leftovers, construction debris and more. Observing the rules for the operation of plumbing, you can prevent mechanical blockage. Removing the blockage will require mechanical cleaning methods.
Operational reasons for clogging are due to long-term operation of the equipment. When using a sanitary appliance, fatty deposits form on the inner walls of the toilet bowl and sewer pipes over time. Small debris such as hair, tea leaves, etc. adhere to them, which increases the size of the build-up and thereby reduces the diameter for the passage of wastewater. Accelerates operational blockages such as pouring oily liquids down the toilet. You can remove the blockage by chemical, hydraulic or mechanical.

Locating the blockage

If the water does not leave only from the toilet, then the blockage may be in the water seal or at the junction of the device with the sewer pipe. It is eliminated independently or with the involvement of a specialist from the management company at the expense of the tenant.

If the water does not leave all the sanitary devices installed in the apartment, then the blockage is in the house riser. A sign of such a global blockage is bath filling waste water from the sewer through the drain hole. Clearing the blockage of the house riser is carried out by the emergency services of the utility company immediately.

How to eliminate the blockage of a plumbing fixture yourself

If your toilet is clogged and you decide to fix the problem yourself, the methods below will help you with this.

Cleaning by folk methods

To solve various problems, in parallel with professional methods, there are many folk ways... In some cases, the use of various available tools replaces professional methods. And it also happens the other way around, when, on the basis of folk methods, they are developed and launched into production professional tools and funds.

How to clean a drain with a brush and a plastic bottle

One of the popular ways to remove a blockage in the toilet is to clean it with a plumbing brush and a regular plastic bottlethat replace the plunger.

Clean the toilet water seal with a brush. If you can get to the blockage, then it will be destroyed.
Change the bottle slightly before use: cut off the bottom. The bottle cap must be closed.
To remove the blockage, you need to lower the bottle all the way into the toilet drain hole. By making intense back and forth movements up and down, thereby creating pressure drops, the blockage can be cleared.

Using a brush and a regular plastic bottle, you can remove a toilet blockage

A quick way to break through a blockage using a brush and a plastic bottle - video

Removing clogging with film and tape

You can effectively remove the blockage using thick plastic or vinyl wrap and double-sided tape. The film should not be deformed, and its size and shape should not be less than the toilet lid.

Raise the lid and toilet seat.
Along the rim of the ceramic toilet bowl, attach double sided tape... It should be a closed, continuous line.
Cover the toilet with plastic wrap. Secure the film by pressing it down where it touches the tape. Thus, you create a hermetic closed space inside the bowl of a clogged toilet.
Press the toilet flush button. If you did everything correctly, the film will bulge. If this does not happen, check the integrity of the film, the tightness of its connection to the toilet and repeat the procedure.
Press down on the tape trying to return it to its original position. By doing so, you will create pressure on the contents of the toilet bowl and break the blockage.

How to clean a toilet bowl with film and tape - video

Other ways to clean your toilet fixture

If you are sure that the blockage in the toilet is of an operational nature, you can try to remove it using any means that destroy fats. For example, using whiteness or dishwashing detergent. Hot water dissolves fat well. So sometimes it is possible to destroy the blockage, simply pouring hot water from the shower into the toilet.

It is strictly forbidden to pour boiling water into the toilet! This leads to cracks in the toilet.

You can effectively remove the operational blockage with mustard. This is an environmentally friendly way.

To remove the blockage, you can pour half a glass of dry mustard into the drain hole of the toilet bowl and stir with a brush.
For best results, mustard powder can be dissolved in warm water and then poured down the toilet.
Rinse with water after 2 hours.

How to clean up toilet paper clogs with baking soda

You can eliminate the operational blockage using ordinary baking soda, which in most cases is available from every housewife.

Dissolve half a packet of baking soda in warm water.
Pour into the toilet bowl drain.
After 2 hours, rinse the toilet with water.

There are more effective method using baking soda. Since the baking soda solution has an alkaline reaction, if you ignite it in a pan, it will become more active and be able to better cope with the blockage. For this you will need:

150 g baking soda (about 5 rounded tablespoons);
200 ml of water;
pan.

Step-by-step instruction:

Pour baking soda into a frying pan and heat over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring continuously. By the end of the process, the release of carbon dioxide should stop, and the soda will acquire greater flowability.
Remove the pan from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes. This is a prerequisite necessary to prevent burns when the substance is combined with water.
Pour the resulting powder into a working container and add 200 ml of water to it. Mix well. The sodium carbonate must either completely dissolve in the water or leave a slight precipitate.
Pour the resulting light brown solution into the toilet bowl drain.
After 2 hours, flush the toilet with plenty of water.

Special chemicals

To solve problems with a clogged toilet bowl, you can use special tools that are widely represented on the shelves of hardware stores by manufacturers of the chemical industry. When using chemicals, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions for the preparation: use the indicated dosage and do not violate safety measures. It is unacceptable to use several tools at the same time. At best, this will have no effect, and at worst, the reaction when the drugs are combined will be unpredictable. After removing the blockage, the toilet should be thoroughly rinsed with water.

Pothan - effective chemical agent to remove a blockage in the toilet

Overview of chemicals for cleaning the toilet - table

Name of funds	Release form	Active substance as part of the drug	Cleaning time	Price
Mole	gel, granules	60% sodium and potassium hydroxide; 10% acetic acid; 10% surfactant.	2 hours	from 38 rubles
Tiret Turbo and Tiret Professional	gel	Surfactant and chlorine	from 5 minutes to several hours	200-600 rubles
Selena and Antizasor	granules	soda and surfactants	1 hour	from 16 rubles
Bugi Pothan	gel	soda and surfactants	3 minutes	large package - 300 rubles
Mister Muscle	gel, granules	Chlorine-based surfactants and reagents	15 minutes	40-250 rubles depending on packaging

Cleaning the toilet with a plunger

The plunger is a very simple but effective toilet bowl cleaning tool. Designed for situations where, due to a blockage, water does not leave the bowl of the device. It has simple construction: rubber bowl attached to a plastic or wooden handle.

Cover the toilet bowl drain with a plunger bowl, thereby completely immersing it in water.
Press the handle firmly and make several reciprocating up and down movements without lifting the plunger bowl from the surface of the toilet bowl.
Pull the instrument out of the water.
Repeat the procedure several times until the blockage is completely removed.

The principle of the plunger: by pressing on the plunger handle, we create hydraulic pressure on the water column in the water seal of the toilet bowl, as a result of which the blockage breaks through.

Cleaning the toilet with a "doll"

A small bag made of thick fabric and filled with sand - the "doll" - is used to quickly remove blockages. It should pass freely into the toilet bowl drain. A clothesline or strong cord is firmly tied to the bag.

Lower the device into the toilet drain hole. In this case, the rope should not be taut, but its edge must be firmly held.
Drain the toilet. The "doll", driven by a stream of water, will move along the stream and, thanks to its own mass, will push through the blockage.

The effectiveness of this method raises a number of questions.

The first thing you should pay attention to, if there is a blockage in the toilet and the water does not come off or comes off slowly, then there will be no movement of the "doll" along with the water flow, because there is no flow itself.
Second but not less important questionwhere to store the fixture after use or is it simply disposable. If you have to throw it away after each use and constantly tinker again for the next blockages, then it turns out to be troublesome, costly and ineffective.

Using a cable to clean the toilet with your own hands

Using a cable to clean the toilet is the most effective way to clear any blockages. That is why professionals always first try to clean the toilet with a cable and only then move on to other methods, for example, dismantle the structure. To eliminate blockages in the apartment sewer system, soft vibrating cables are used. For standard wiring, it is enough to have a cable 3 m long. Since the toilet bowl is always installed in the immediate vicinity of the house riser, a 1 m cable is suitable for cleaning only the toilet bowl.When using a short tool, one person can perform cleaning work. If it has a length of 3 m or more, the work is done together.

The cable is lowered with the working side into the drain hole until it comes into contact with the blockage. It must be taut, no loops are allowed.
Slowly rotating the cable handle clockwise, the cable is advanced inward, thereby destroying the blockage.
For complete cleansing, the procedure is repeated several times.

Rotating the vibration cable handle counterclockwise may break the cable.

When is it worth calling a plumber

The help of a specialist is necessary in any situations when you cannot solve the problem on your own. If the blockage is in the house riser and the bathtub is filled with sewage through the drain hole, the plumbing must be called urgently. In this case, it is necessary to shut off the water on the water supply riser and ask the neighbors from the upper floors not to use the sewage system until the blockage is removed. Then you should contact the emergency service of the management company.

Blockage prevention

The best prevention of toilet blockages is compliance with the rules for using plumbing:

use devices for their intended purpose;
do not throw food leftovers, a lot of paper, tampons and other hygiene products and garbage into the toilet;
rinse the toilet with water after each use: this will prevent the formation of deposits on its inner walls and pipes.

Additionally, you can do saline prophylaxis for the toilet 1 time in one or two weeks.

In the morning or evening before bed, pour one glass of salt into the toilet drain. Dissolving in the water seal, the salt turns into a saline solution, which well corrodes fatty deposits on the inner surface of the toilet bowl.
After 8-10 hours, flush the toilet with water.

Compliance with these simple rules will save you from problems with toilet blockages.

After reviewing the proposed methods, choose for yourself optimal way cleaning the toilet from the blockage. When the problem is solved, it is worth thinking about how to prevent a repetition of such a situation in the future.

Is the toilet clogged? No kidding? ... Then we carefully read this article. About how to break through a clogged toilet and what to do so that the toilet does not get clogged.

If the toilet is clogged, then you have 3 methods in your arsenal, which can be conventionally called like this:

Chemical.
Domestic.
Plumbing.

The choice of methods or their combination depends on what the toilet is clogged with.
(Remember how the toilet bowl could have clogged and an action plan will appear immediately.)

There are the following blockages, under which these cleaning methods are used.

1. Clogging with organic matter.
The first option for clogging up the toilet is just organic waste. If you know that there is only (or mostly!) Organic matter in the toilet, then you need to use the right chemistry to dissolve it. And that's all.

Special products are sold for cleaning toilets and sewer pipes. They contain alkalis and acids that destroy organic matter. Contact the store and you will be prompted ....

But you can use what is likely to be at hand.

- Whiteness is an alkaline solution for cleaning the toilet bowl. It is also suitable in high concentration for removing organic blockages. Moreover, it is no worse than a special means for cleaning the sewage system. Since they are most likely made on the same basis. Pour White into a toilet tamped with organic matter and wait.

- Citric acid is also an aggressive substance. But, again, a lot of concentration is needed. Remove excess water from the toilet and pour in sachets 5.

- Just soda. Ordinary soda also eats away organic matter. Fill the toilet with more baking soda if you don't have something more effective at hand.

If the chemical has worked and it is obvious that water is leaving the toilet, do not rush to flush it. Let the acid work even longer. Add funds to restore lost concentration. Wash off after waiting time.

2. The toilet is clogged with small debris.
If the toilet is not clogged with organic matter, but with loose small debris, for example sand with pebbles, then we are trying the usual folk method of cleaning the toilet - a water hammer.

It can be created with a plunger, i.e. a common device that pushes water not only in toilets, but also in sinks and bathrooms. Periodically pushing the plunger towards the drain, you create increased water pressure in front of it. Pulling back after a push - create a vacuum. With consistent movements, you can stir up a pile of garbage.

If there is no such miracle device as a plunger, then you need to try to find a replacement for it. A simple rag will also help. Fold the rag into the toilet so that it blocks the drain, then take a stick and push the rag in the water. Should get a water hammer even worse ... No rag? Well, then an empty plastic bottle is bound to be found. Cut off the bottom of it, grab the neck (with a stopper!) And use it as the same piston. And the toilet passage will serve as a cylinder ... In general, you need something areal that would push the water and create a water hammer. Most likely by pushing water you will be able to push through a pile of debris and it will come off the water.

But after the initial cleaning, be sure to flush the toilet with a couple of buckets of water.

3. Clogging of the toilet bowl with large objects and a viscous substance.
Lumpy or too large - cloth, clay, putty, lids, broken glass, stones, cellophane ...

Now you have to retrain into a real plumber, and learn how he earns his bread. You will need two accessories - long gloves and a plumbing cable.

The plumbing cable is a flexible cable with a neat tip on one side and a rotating handle on the other. The only thing it was created for is to clean clogged sewer pipes. Sold in stores.

If you have plastic sewer pipes, then you cannot use wire or cables with scratching ends or burrs along the length to clean it! You will definitely scratch the pipes inside with such a tool, and they will become overgrown with sediment. Or you will make holes altogether. Or undo the pipes. It is necessary to use a cable with a tip.

It is easier to work with a plumbing cable together. One worker pushes the cable forward, the second rotates the handle.
First you need to break through the blockage with a rope so that the water starts to leave. After that, you need to work with your own hands in gloves, trying to remove from the toilet what is in it in a wedged state.

If the water does not leave, then it must be bled out. Pour and drain again so that it brightens.

Caution! There may be broken glass or other sharp objects in the toilet. Rubber gloves are easy to cut. Don't hurt yourself.

Combinations of methods "Ventuz", "Cable", "Plumber's hands" can cope with cleaning a clogged toilet in 90 percent of cases. And what happens in the remaining 9.5%?

It is possible that you will not be able to remove the objects clogging the toilet in front. Then there is nothing to relax, we continue to work. We approach the toilet from the other side, disconnect the drain pipe and climb into the toilet from behind. Rather, the issue can be resolved like this. Can't go to the back of the toilet? Then we dismantle it and unfold it back to front….

It is possible that the toilet bowl is tightly clogged with an adhesive-hardening substance - cement, epoxy, putty, paint. Well, you know….

And here is a video showing a cable for cleaning the sewer. It becomes clear, at least how it looks, ... but no more ...

Why is the toilet clogged?
The answer is obvious and (almost) the only one. Because something that cannot be thrown into the toilet has been drained (thrown away). Here are the prizes of the garbage that most often ends up in the toilet and that should not be thrown into the toilet.

What to do to prevent the toilet from getting clogged?

1. Place a bin for toilet paper and other rubbish next to the toilet. Now the garbage that you want to throw into the toilet will need to be thrown into the bucket.
2. Try to be vigilant about the toilet. Remember that many substances (cement, sand, glue, paint, gypsum, lime ...) must not be discharged into the sewer. They need to be taken out to the trash can.
3. Treat the toilet with acidic substances that attack limescale. This plaque narrows the toilet bowl passage and increases the risk of clogging.

Wastes that contain not heavy (like stone) but light ones! solid inclusions can be drained into the toilet. But not in cluttering portions, but little by little, with the obligatory intermediate drainage of water from the tank.

Anyone can face the unexpected problem of stagnation in the toilet. It is not worth delaying troubleshooting plumbing. Let's look at the signs and causes of a toilet blockage and learn how to do it yourself.

You can understand that the toilet is faulty by the following signs:

dirty water after flushing does not completely leave the toilet;
unpleasant odors appeared in the toilet;
when draining, the water fills the toilet bowl by about half;
the water goes down the drain very slowly.

In the case when at least one of the listed signs is present in your toilet, it is safe to say that it is clogged and you need to clean the drain.

Causes of toilet blockage

Foreign objects got into the toilet. For example, a large amount of toilet paper was flushed out at the same time, or the toilet was clogged with cat litter.
Incorrect installation of plumbing fixtures.
Manufacturer's errors in the manufacture of the toilet. Poorly designed sewer system.
The toilet lacks the necessary valves or waste pipe.

What to do first

If the toilet is blocked, you need to call the emergency service and call a plumber to use professional equipment to clean the plumbing equipment and the sewerage system.

Or try to remove the blockage in the toilet yourself with your own hands.

Cleaning a clogged toilet with a plunger

Removing the blockage with a plunger refers to mechanical method and is suitable for removing plugs. If you suspect that a foreign object (child's toy, rag) has got into the toilet, it is better to remove it before you start working with the plunger.

You can reach items by wearing rubber gloves. Otherwise, there is a risk of pushing the debris further along the pipe and blocking the work of the sewage system. The plunger is an effective remedy for toilet blockage.

Close all drain holes (bathtub, sinks) before starting work.
Place the plunger into the toilet drain hole. Pour five to six liters of water on top so that the rubber part of the plunger is completely covered.
Pump the plunger up and down at least ten times. Movements should be sharp but steady. If the water runs out, then everything is done correctly.

Eliminate toilet blockage with a plastic bottle

You can quickly get rid of the blockage in the toilet with improvised means. For example, using a regular plastic bottle with a cut-off bottom and a tightly screwed cap.

The device must be carefully and slowly introduced into the drain.
As soon as you feel the air pushing the bottle back, push it sharply to the very end of the drain hole. Then, with a sharp movement, remove the bottle from the drain.

The water will go away and the blockage will be cleared if the procedure is repeated two or three times.

We clean the toilet with a solution of soda and vinegar

Vinegar and baking soda can help clear minor blockages in your toilet. You should not use this cleaning method if the corrugation (connection of the toilet bowl and pipe) is made of plastic. Hot water with baking soda and vinegar can ruin thin plastic.

Using vinegar and baking soda, you can quickly and effectively remove contaminants such as grease plug and food waste from the toilet.

Take a half pack of baking soda and pour it into the drain.
Prepare one glass of vinegar and pour it into the toilet bowl.
Wait half an hour and pour 3-5 liters of boiling water into the drain.

Cleaning the toilet with soda at night

Baking soda can be used to clean the toilet and sewer system.

Empty a bag of baking soda into the toilet in the evening.
Pour boiling water over the contents of the toilet.
Plug the drain using a plug or wet rag.
Flush the drain with hot water in the morning.

How to break a blockage with a cable

Using a special sewer cable will help to quickly and efficiently get rid of the blockage. The work is best done together.

Prepare unnecessary rags, an oilcloth, a bucket or bowl of water and dishwashing detergent.

Roll the oilcloth on the floor and cover the walls.
Lower the end of the cable into the drain hole and slowly push down in a rotating motion.
After the cable is resting and does not go further, move it back and forth.
Get out the cable by lowering it onto the oilcloth. Clean with a cloth dampened with dishwashing liquid to remove unpleasant odors.

What to do if the toilet is clogged with paper or cat litter

It is best to remove the plug from the contents of the litter box or tamped toilet paper using a plunger. Before cleaning the toilet, it is recommended that you remove the debris with your gloved hands and pour five to ten liters of boiling water into the bowl of the toilet. The hot liquid will partly dissolve the dirt.

Remove the congestion with a sandbag

Using a dense bag filled with sand, you can break through the congestion formed in the drain.

Tie the sandbag securely and tie a strong rope to it.
Dip the bag down the drain, draining all the water from the tank. At the same time, release the tied rope so that the water will carry the bag into the drain hole.
Pull the bag out of the hole in the toilet with a quick motion.
After the tank is full again, repeat the procedure.

We use chemicals

In the case when it was not possible to remove the congestion in the toilet using gentle methods, you will have to use chemicals.

When using this or that product to clean the toilet, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. Depending on what kind of pipes in the toilet (plastic or metal), choose the right tool.

If the above folk methods did not help to eliminate stagnation in the toilet at all, urgently contact a specialist!

Foreign objects, household waste and food residues must not be thrown into the drain.
We do not recommend throwing used paper down the toilet.
Do not drain water with debris floating in it.
Use preventative measures to prevent congestion.
Replace old rusted pipes in time.

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