One of the most common plumbing jobs worldwide is unclogging a toilet. A clogged toilet can be very frustrating and time-consuming, but it does not have to be that way. Nothing is worse than coming home to find your toilet backed up and disgusting. As a homeowner, you may seek, and it is vital to know how a plumber unclogs a toilet. The following will offer insights on the issue of how does a plumber unclog a toilet.
Use a Plunger First
Using the plunger first is one common thing you need to know in tips on how does a plumber unclog a toilet. Plungers work by creating suction to pull water away from the blockage and into the sink or tub. One of the best things plumbers can do is find out where your toilet is clogged. This way, these experts will know what to do next. Many plumbers pull up on the plunger tip before inserting it into the bowl.
Doing so helps eliminate any crevices or cracks that might be hard to clear if you were dealing with something more solid like gravel. A plumber is the best person to unclog your toilet. Whether or not you cannot reach the clog, using a plunger is the first step to ensuring your drain is operating at its peak. A local plumber may often use plungers and recommend them for unclogging toilets. But it is not always as easy as just buying a plunger.
To get it to do its job correctly, you must learn how a plunger works. By getting this knowledge, you know which areas of your toilet will benefit from its use. The knowledge also helps plumbers to tell how long they should allow it to suction before removing it. A plumber places the plunger inside your toilet tank.
The tool is better for use at home as its shape lets you reach every corner of your toilet bowl. Some plungers have more giant cups on the bottom. The designs ensure they can trap more water when plumbers submerge them. These types of plungers are perfect for unclogging clogs in showers and sinks. The extra water will help loosen up any obstructions that you might have in those areas.
A plunger with a smaller cup is better suited for toilets. It will be easier to fit into the tight spaces with less splatter on your bathroom floor. Every homeowner needs to have an idea of how does a plumber unclog a toilet. The know-how on this issue ensures you hire an ideal professional for the task. It also ensures you can track the process and get a remedy for the clog from these experts.
Use a Toilet Snake
Another guideline on how does a plumber unclog a toilet is using a toilet snake, also known as a closet auger. Toilet snakes are generally telescopic devices that plumbers manually pull through the drain to clear any obstruction. The device spins its metal coils inside the pipe, scraping off clogs and pushing them downstream. More advanced models may use an electric motor or gas-powered engine.
Most plumbing companies prefer using the manual auger, which is more effective and considerably less expensive. The manual auger does not have to worry about electrical faults or fuel running out. Before using a toilet snake to clear out any clogs in your pipes, the plumbing service professionals inspect the plumbing equipment for any damage or cracks. In some cases, they cannot fix these problems immediately. For such scenarios, plumbers look for ways to resolve these issues as soon as possible to prevent further issues. Your local plumber must follow basic safety guidelines when using a toilet snake.
The professionals must wear heavy rubber gloves and long sleeves to protect them from hazardous chemicals when clearing blockages. They should also wear safety goggles. The spinning tip of the toilet snake may get very close to one’s face and eyes when unblocking the toilet. When you get down to business and begin using your toilet snake, be careful not to use too much force.
If you apply too much pressure, the coils could break or detach from the handle. When this happens, there is no way for the coils of your toilet snake to stay on the tip of the device. This is especially a problem if you are trying to clear out a clog located far away from the drain or pipe itself. After completing the process, disassemble the device and store it inside its case.
If you want your auger to be fully operational again, try to keep it as dry as possible. Do not store it in a very humid environment. Otherwise, corrosion may occur on the coils and cause them to break or loose. Knowing an auger’s role in how does a plumber unclog a toilet is essential. Toilet snakes are helpful tools that are very popular among plumbers. These tools make removing clogs and other obstructions from your plumbing fixtures much more manageable.
Use Chemical Drain Cleaner
Another approach to how does a plumber unclog a toilet is using the chemical drain cleaners. These cleaners come in two forms. One is for use on vertical bowl surfaces, and the other is for the water in the bowl. Both work by dissolving grease and solid particles built over time. Your plumbing contractor will pour a drain cleaner into a clogged toilet. At first, nothing happens, but then you notice some bubbles in the water.
As time passes, more and more bubbles form until there are hundreds of them. Eventually, you see they come from inside the toilet bowl, not outside, where the plumbing repair service provider pours the drain cleaner. The drain cleaner dissolves any buildup in the toilet bowl. This causes millions of microscopic bubbles to form. The air and the drain cleaner separate into two layers inside the toilet bowl. The top layer is filled with gas that could cause a severe explosion.
Never flush a toilet with bubbles in the water because it is dangerous. You should call an emergency plumber immediately. A little-known fact on how does a plumber unclog a toilet is that plumbers can use chemical drain cleaners to clear it quickly. These products break down the blockages in your pipes and make them flow freely again. You can find them in most hardware stores or reputable water heater installation service providers.
A chemical drain cleaner consists of sodium hydroxide (lye), which will dissolve clogs. It can break up different clogs, from toilet paper residue to grease and tree roots. The first thing your plumbing contractor needs to do is mix the chemical in a bucket of water. Usually, the professional requires an equal amount of water. That said, some products may require more water, depending on their strength. The plumbing repair professionals pour the chemical down the toilet after mixing the chemicals. You should then wait a few minutes for all the lye to dissolve into the water.
If you wait too long, the chemical will start to foam. This may cause damage to your pipes and waste disposal units. Using chemical drain cleaners as a tip on how does a plumber unclog a toilet saves time and money. By completing this method correctly, your plumbing repair company professionals can unclog a toilet in about five minutes or less. Also, no need for new tools or tools to clean up messes afterward when using drain cleaners.
Use Chemical Drain Cleaner and Power Combo
A bathroom can be a tough drain to clean and is often filled with hair, paper towels, or food. The best way to reduce the risk of this situation is by using a chemical drain cleaner first to break up any clumps before pumping the toilet. This will create powerful suction, which can suck in small obstructions and over-flowing waste material. It sucks out everything in the blocked pipe. After completing that process, use power washers or jet sprayers to clean up any remaining messes.
Another tip on how does a plumber unclog a toilet is using the chemical drainer and power combo. These two ingredients will help loosen any clogs in your toilet’s water pipes that may be too tough for you to handle on your own. There are some precautions your plumbing company should take when using this technique. Ensure that the expert only uses chemical drain cleaners as instructed on the container.
Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach or oven cleaner unless they say they are safe for toilets. Plumbers start by pouring the chemical drain cleaner down the toilet bowl. You should turn off your water supply valve. Also, flush your toilet several times to eliminate any liquid in the bowl. To speed up this process, your plumber can use a plunger to force all of the liquid out at once.
Once the chemical drain cleaner works through your toilet, it will dilute its effectiveness. When in a hurry, an excellent option is for the local plumber to use a garden hose to flush out all the chemicals and water from your toilet. Flushing water through your main tap may be sufficient to clear any remaining clogs.
The toilet will likely be running freely now. Many plumbing companies may want to try a hand at the power combo treatment as a last resort. The method involves pouring a chemical drain cleaner into the toilet bowl. It also entails the use of a plunger with a slow-moving motor. The machine’s added weight and pressure should cut through even the most stubborn clogs in your pipes.
Remove Objects in Line
There are several possibilities for what can cause a toilet to stop up. One common reason is hair and soap scum building up inside the drain. The residue restricts water flow and causes the toilet to back up. That means water can no longer enter. Other reasons might be objects falling into the trapway or flushing a foreign object such as a cotton swab down the toilet in large quantities, completely blocking it. If you do not treat this clog, it can lead to damage elsewhere in your home, like pipes bursting or insufficient drainage causing flooding.
Another thing you need to know about how does a plumber unclog a toilet is by removing objects in your pipes. When you have a clog in your toilet, your plumber’s first step is to identify the cause and location. Next is to determine how best to remove the obstruction. Before fishing out a clog from your toilet bowl, your local plumber gathers a few tools to help accomplish the job.
Typically, plumbers can use the plunger to get rid of the blockage. They then flush the toilet once or twice to clear any loose debris. Next, the professionals place the plunger on top of the bowl and plunge it in and out. Another option is pushing it with the foot. If this does not work, the plumbers repeat the procedure more forcefully.
After removing as much clog as possible or giving it enough effort without success, the service providers prepare for further action. A plumber may use the U-shaped hook on the end of a rubber snake to remove objects in the trapway. Using a snake, they may need to remove any additional blockages in your toilet.
Some metal snakes are bendable. The design ensures your plumber can reach further into the toilet and under the trap to remove any large objects. After removing all the objects, the next thing is lifting the snake to release it from any remaining obstructions in the toilet bowl. If there is anything left inside the bowl, plumbers can use a plumber’s plunger or liquid drain cleaner to flush it away.
Plumbing and HVAC systems problems are common household problems. It is vital to hire the right professionals to undertake the repairs on these two systems. For instance, getting a qualified HVAC service provider to undertake HVAC repairs in your home is advisable. Service providers have the right expertise and tools to undertake repairs in your home. Suppose you are experiencing a clog in your toilet. The tips above on how a plumber unclogs a toilet can help you make the repair swift.
