5 Ways To Unclog A Toilet Without A Plunger
Having a working toilet is essential. If you have a clogged toilet, and you don't have a plunger handy, there are methods you can try to get it running again.
Way #1: Hold While Flushing
Sometimes your toilet gets clogged up simply because it isn't producing a strong enough flush. If you are just quickly flicking the handle, you may not be generating enough force to remove the waste not just from your eyesight, but all the way through the trap.
If you notice the bowel has more water than it should, or waste is coming back up, you probably have waste stuck in the plumbing trap. To combat this, flush again, but this time, hold the handle down, or if you have a button, hold the button all the way down. Hold it down as the water rushing out and cleans the bowl.
Doing this will help keep the flapper open and ensure the right amount of water and pressure is releasing, helping to clear the waste.
Way #2: Use a Pail of Water When Flushing
Second, sometimes a little extra water is needed. This method works best with two people. Fill up a bucket with water and hold it high over the bowl. Have your partner quickly flush it, without applying too much pressure to the handle.
As it flushes, pour water into the toilet, adding a little extra water to the flushing efforts. The extra water should drain out and help push away whatever is stuck. If the bowl is just filling with water, and it isn't helping to push the waste away, stop adding the water.
Way #3: Use a Clothes Hanger
Third, you can always go old-school and use a wire clothing hanger, or another wire object to loosen up the clog. Take the hanger or wire and push it into the hole at the bottom of the bowl and wiggle it around for about a minute. Remove the hanger and try to flush it again. The wire may have been able to loosen up the clog enough that it will disappear when you flush it again.
Way #4: Vinegar & Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda work not just to unclog a slow-draining sink or bathtub, it can also work with your toilet. For your toilet, you are going to want to use a larger quantity of vinegar and baking soda.
Take about two cups of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda and add the mixture to your toilet. Then, let the solution sit for a few hours, and then come back and flush. The vinegar and baking soda may be able to break down the clog, allowing you to flush again.
Way #5: Use a Toilet Auger
Finally, if you have a toilet auger, you can stick it down the bowl into the trap space to get rid of the log. If you don't have one, you can call in a professional plumber to use their auger to get rid of the clog.
If you run into a clogged toilet more than once, you should put in a call to a plumber. The plumber will come out, inspect your toilet and drainage lines, and determine why it keeps getting clogged up. Then, the plumber will work to fix the source of your clogged toilet, so this issue doesn't keep occurring.
For more information, contact a plumbing service.