How to Unclog a Toilet
The toilet may very well top the list of mankind’s greatest innovations – until it clogs. Then it’s the lowly plunger that dives in and claims the, ahem, throne.
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Learn how to fix many bathroom plumbing problems yourself with the step-by-step instructions in this Howcast video series about bathroom repair.
You Will Need
- A toilet plunger
- A pair of rubber gloves
- A cup
- A bucket
Steps
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Step 1
Put on rubber gloves
If the waste water level is too high to plunge without making an even bigger mess, put on rubber gloves.
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Step 2
Reduce waste water level
Dip the cup into the toilet repeatedly and pour its contents into the bucket, until you’ve reduced the waste water level enough to plunge without spillage.
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Step 3
Put plunger into toilet
Put the plunger into the toilet with the force cup end down in the water.
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Step 4
Position force cup & push down
Position the force cup over the drainage opening at the bottom of the toilet and push down on the plunger handle until a suction seal is formed.
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Step 5
Plunge rhythmically
Plunge rhythmically for up to 2 minutes at a time (about 20 to 30 plunges).
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Step 6
Break the suction seal
Break the suction seal. If your efforts have worked, the toilet will start to drain without flushing. If no drainage occurs, repeat the plunging process.
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Step 7
Pour bucket & flush toilet
After you’ve cleared the clog, pour the contents of the bucket back into the toilet and flush.
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The English plumber Thomas Crapper did not invent the toilet. That honor goes to a number of English inventors and tinkerers who led the world out of the chamber pot and into the water closet.
