How to Plunge Toilets

Believe it or not, plunging a clogged toilet is something that people often do incorrectly, which accounts for the spillage and mess that often accompanies the project. If you try to simply shove the clog through by pushing on the plunger, you're likely to create a wave of water that can spill up over your toilet rim and make a bad situation worse. The proper method is to gently form a suction seal with the plunger and then pull upward, loosening the clog without expelling the whole mess up and out of the toilet.

Things You'll Need

• A good rubber or plastic toilet plunger

Instructions

1. As a precautionary measure, remove the ceramic lid from the water closet (the square tank above and behind the toilet bowl, filled with clean water to rinse down into the bowl). Carefully set the lid aside. Look down into the water closet and locate the round rubber stop at the bottom of the tank. If you don't get the toilet unclogged and it starts to overflow when you flush it, you will have to reach down and press that stop back into the hole to stop the flush in progress.

2. Gently set the end of your plunger into the water in the bowl, avoiding any splashing or overflow. Tilt the plunger in as you set it in, working out any trapped air inside of the plunger and allowing it to fill with water. Work the plunger down all the way to the drainage hole at the bottom of the toilet bowl so the rubber of the plunger forms a seal with the hole.

3. Gently and slowly press the plunger down into the hole so the plunger compresses. Once it's down as far as you can get it, pull it upward in one fast, strong motion. You should feel the resistance of suction as you pull upward. Don't pull the plunger all the way up out of the water, but just upward a little off the hole.

4. Repeat as necessary, gently pushing the plunger down into the drainage hole in the toilet, then pulling it up forcefully, until the clog loosens and the water in the toilet drains down.

5. Take the plunger out of the water, holding it above the bowl, and flush the toilet to make sure the clog is gone. Be ready to dip your hand down into the clean water in the water closet to press down the rubber stop and interrupt the flush if the water in the bowl starts climbing toward the rim. Once the toilet drains and refills properly, rinse the plunger in the clean water in the bowl.

Tips & Warnings

• Persistent clogs even with light usage could indicate a more serious problem with your plumbing system and should be reviewed by a professional.

References

• Source for heavy-duty plungers