Heating, Cooling and HVAC

Introduction
One of the most common household problems we all face from time to time is the clogged toilet. Fortunately most clogs can be fixed by using the correct type of plunger, but most people use the wrong type. We’ll discuss the right tool to use and proper method to plunge your way clear to freedom. Also, we’ll review what to do if the clog is a bit more stubborn.

Is It A Difficult Job: No, It is easy.

Tools to be Used:
*Ball Plunger or Flange Plunger

*Water Closet Auger (for stubborn clogs)

Do Not Use the Cup Plunger for Toilets

There are two basic types of plungers. The “cup” plunger and the “flange” type plunger. The cup plunger is what most people have in their homes and is designed for creating a seal against a flat surface such as the bottom of a sink or bathtub.

Toilets however have a bowl shape and cup plungers don’t work because they lose their seal when you pull up. For use with toilets, you need the Flange Plunger.

The Right Tool is Flange Plunger

The special bowl shape of a toilet requires a special plunger shape. And that shape is reflected in the flange plunger or a similar one called a ball plunger. Both these plungers have a specially shaped bottom designed to seal the opening in the bottom of a toilet bowl and maintain the required vacuum and pressure during the plunging action.

Make the Plunge
Once you see that the toilet is draining slowly or is stopped up, do not flush it again. It’s time to use the flange plunger. Gently push the plunger through the water allowing air to escape from the plunger body. Once the plunger is sealed around the drain outlet in the bottom of the bowl, plunge up and down rapidly until the clog is broken and the water level seems to drop.
Next, you have to test to see if the toilet will drain.

Test for Drainage
You want to test and see if the toilet will drain once you think you’ve cleared the clog, but don’t do this by flushing the toilet again until you’re sure the clog is removed. To test for drainage you have to add water. This can be done one of two ways.
The first way is to slowly pour water into the toilet as from a bucket.

The second way is to open the toilet tank lid and SLOWLY lift the flapper seal at the bottom of the tank until water begins to enter the bowl. Do not lift the flapper all the way up or else the toilet will flush.

If water goes down the toilet easily, the clog is cleared. If not, then try again by repeating the previous step and this step a time or two more.

If repeated attempts to clear the clog fail, then move on to the next step “Use the Closet Auger.”

Use the Toilet Auger or Closet Auger (stubborn clogs)
.

The water closet auger is commonly called a closet auger or toilet auger. It’s a special tool that has an offset hand crank, a long sleeve handle and a special auger bit at the end to break through a clog or retrieve an obstruction like a rag. The auger bit is connected via a flexible shaft to a crank handle that you control. It’s reach is about 3 feet. Here’s how you use this tool.

*Some toilet bowls drain to the front, some to the rear. Whichever way yours drains is the direction you want the curved end of the auger handle pipe to face.

*Leave about 4″ to 6″ of cable between the drain hole and the end of the curved handle pipe, then tighten the set screw.

*Push the flexible cable into the drain and crank the auger clockwise until it stops then push forward.

*The auger may feel like it grabbed something or it may just break up the clog. If it feels like it grabbed something, pull it out to check. If it gets stuck, gently turn the crank back and forth or push and pull the tube, but never force the auger or you may break the toilet porcelain.

*After breaking up the clog use the plunger again to make sure the obstruction is cleared.

*Once your sure it’s OK, flush the toilet.

Sources:http://homerepair.about.com/od/plumbingrepair/ss/sbs_toilet_clog.htm