Unclogging a Toilet Oakland CA

A blocked or clogged toilet is not pleasant, but is a fairly common problem. Fortunately, it is usually a problem that can be easily remedied by yourself, without having to call a professional plumber. There are several different methods that can be used separately or in conjunction with each other to clear your blocked toilet and get it draining smoothly again.

Please note, though, that toilets are necessarily unsanitary places, and a blocked or clogged toilet is doubly so. Remember to wear rubber gloves (and safety goggles if you have them), and lay a few layers of newspaper, or an old towel that you won't mind throwing away, on the floor around the toilet before beginning.

1. Try pouring about a half a bucket of very warm (NOT boiling) water into the toilet - slowly. If the toilet begins to drain, but is still taking a long time, repeat this a couple of times. If the toilet doesn't begin to drain, move on to the next step.
2. Grab a plunger and start plunging. Try to plunge in a backwards and forwards motion, instead of straight up and down, and really put some effort behind it. Alternatively, if you do not have a plunger, you can use an old rag head mop. Simply insert the mop into the toilet bowl the same way you would a plunger, and move it in a push-pull motion to loosen the clog and unblock the toilet. If the water begins to drain after using the plunger, or the mop, you're done. If not, move on to Step 3.
3. Straighten a wire hanger, leaving a small L shape at one end. Push this end into the S bend in the toilet to push through clogs. If you know what has caused the blockage, like a child's toy or a toilet bowl freshener, the wire hanger can be used as a hook to fish the item out of the S or P bends.
4. Once you've unblocked the toilet, be sure to clean the toilet, and any tools that you used - like the plunger - to avoid bacteria and germs growing and spreading.

If you follow these steps, and your toilet is still blocked or clogged, it may be time to call a plumber. Although most clogs are caused by small toys, toilet bowl fresheners, and too much toilet paper, there are a million and one ways a toilet can become blocked or clogged that simply cannot be dealt with by yourself. Use your best judgment to avoid causing further problems that may be more expensive or difficult to fix.

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