What to do if the toilet is clogged: an overview of the methods. How to clear a blockage in the toilet at home using folk and professional remedies The main causes of blockages

Few people think about how to clear a blockage in the toilet until the appliance stops functioning normally. But as soon as he gets clogged, the eternal question immediately arises: what to do. Consider how to clean the toilet at home using improvised tools, household tools and special preparations.

Sewerage device

The sewage system of an apartment building was developed by engineers in the last century. The standard collector scheme in an apartment is a system for connecting all pipes into a single transport line, in which, due to the slope, the drains move by gravity into the house riser. Their further transportation from home is carried out in the direction of a centralized collector. To ensure ventilation of the sewer system, the upper part of the house riser extends to the roof. At the lowest point of the apartment sewage system, a tee is installed in the house riser:

the diameter of one of the branches of the tee is 100 mm and a toilet bowl and a bidet are connected to it;
the other two taps have diameters equal to 50 mm: one of them is connected to bathroom plumbing, to the other - kitchen appliances.

To prevent unpleasant odors in plumbing structures, a water seal is used. It is a water barrier that forms in the curved channel of a technical device when filled with water. At the moment of reset Wastewater a water seal ensures the passage of drains and prevents blockages. After draining the water, the odor trap is renewed.

Most often, in the apartment sewage system, the places of wiring turns are clogged. To prevent pipeline blockages in problem areas, certain requirements must be met when installing the sewer system.

Pipes connecting the technical devices of the kitchen, bathroom and toilet with the input tee are installed at a slope towards the riser. This is a prerequisite for the uninterrupted passage of wastewater in the pipeline with a gravity sewage system.
Pipe slope parameters according to SNiP:
- for pipes with a diameter of 50 mm - 3 cm for each meter of the pipeline;
- for pipes with a diameter of 50 to 100 mm - 1.5–2 cm per 1 m of the pipeline;
- if the diameter is more than 100 mm, then the slope should be 0.8 cm for each meter of the pipeline.
It is not recommended to install pipes at right angles in places where the piping turns. Instead of one corner connection at 90 o, it is advisable to make two at 135 o. This design will significantly increase the throughput of the sewer pipeline and reduce the risk of blockage.

A water trap is a part of the apartment's sewer system, which prevents the formation of blockages and unpleasant odors

Why a home toilet can get clogged: the main reasons

Toilet and sewer blockages occur for technological, mechanical or operational reasons.

Technological causes of blockage are associated with errors and inaccuracies in the design or installation of the sewer system. Such errors include: incorrect pipe slope, rectangular fitting, insufficient cross-section of the connecting pipe, incorrect installation of the toilet. Frequent blockages arising from technological errors can be eliminated only by re-installing plumbing and sewer pipes.
The mechanical causes of the blockage are associated with the ingress of foreign objects into the water seal of the toilet bowl and sewer pipes. For example, it is unacceptable to throw paper, cat litter, food debris, construction waste, etc. into the toilet. Observing the rules for the operation of plumbing, you can prevent mechanical blockage. Removing the blockage will require mechanical cleaning methods.
Operational reasons for clogging are due to long-term operation of the equipment. When using a sanitary appliance on interior walls In the toilet bowl and sewer pipes, fatty deposits form over time. Small debris such as hair, tea leaves, etc. adhere to them, which increases the size of the build-up and thereby reduces the diameter for the passage of wastewater. Accelerates operational blockages such as pouring oily liquids down the toilet. You can remove the blockage using chemical, hydraulic or mechanical cleaning methods.

Determining the location of the blockage

If the water does not leave only from the toilet, then the blockage may be in the water seal or at the junction of the device with the sewer pipe. It is eliminated independently or with the involvement of a specialist from the management company at the expense of the tenant.

If water does not leave all the sanitary appliances installed in the apartment, then the blockage is in the house riser. A sign of such a global blockage is the filling of the bath with sewage water through the drain hole. Clearing the blockage of the house riser is carried out by the emergency services of the utility company immediately.

How to eliminate the blockage of a plumbing fixture yourself

If your toilet is clogged and you decide to fix the problem yourself, the methods below will help you with this.

Cleaning by folk methods

To solve various problems, in parallel with professional methods, there are many folk methods. In some cases, the use of various available tools replaces professional methods. And it happens the other way around, when on the basis of folk methods professional tools and means are developed and launched into production.

How to clean a drain with a brush and a plastic bottle

One of the popular ways to remove a blockage in the toilet is to clean it with a plumbing brush and a regular plastic bottle that replace the plunger.

Clean the toilet water seal with a brush. If you can get to the blockage, then it will be destroyed.
Change the bottle slightly before use: cut off the bottom. The bottle cap must be closed.
To remove the blockage, it is necessary to lower the bottle all the way into the drain hole of the toilet bowl. By making intense back and forth movements up and down, thereby creating pressure drops, the blockage can be cleared.

Using a brush and a regular plastic bottle, you can remove a toilet blockage.

A quick way to break through a blockage using a brush and a plastic bottle - video

Removing the blockage with film and tape

You can effectively remove the blockage using thick plastic or vinyl wrap and double-sided tape. The film should not be deformed, and its size and shape should not be less than the toilet lid.

Raise the lid and toilet seat.
Along the rim ceramic bowl attach the toilet double sided tape... It should be a closed, continuous line.
Cover the toilet with plastic wrap. Secure the film by pressing it down where it touches the tape. Thus, you create a hermetically sealed space inside the bowl of a clogged toilet.
Press the toilet flush button. If you did everything correctly, the film will bulge. If this does not happen, check the integrity of the film, the tightness of its connection with the toilet and repeat the procedure.
Press down on the tape trying to return it to its original position. By doing so, you will create pressure on the contents of the toilet bowl and break the blockage.

How to clean a toilet bowl using film and tape - video

Other ways to clean your toilet fixture

If you are sure that the blockage in the toilet is of an operational nature, you can try to remove it using any means that destroy fats. For example, using whiteness or dishwashing detergent. Dissolves fat well hot water. So sometimes it is possible to destroy the blockage, simply pouring hot water from the shower into the toilet.

It is strictly forbidden to pour boiling water into the toilet! This leads to cracks in the toilet.

You can effectively eliminate the operational blockage with the help of mustard. This is an environmentally friendly way.

To remove the blockage, you can pour half a glass of dry mustard into the toilet drain and stir with a brush.
For best results, mustard powder can be dissolved in warm water and then poured into the toilet.
Rinse with water after 2 hours.

How to clean up toilet paper clogs with baking soda

You can eliminate the operational blockage using ordinary baking soda, which in most cases is available from every housewife.

Dissolve half a packet of baking soda in warm water.
Pour into the toilet bowl drain.
After 2 hours, rinse the toilet with water.

There are more effective method using baking soda. Since the baking soda solution has an alkaline reaction, if you ignite it in a pan, it will become more active and will be able to better cope with the blockage. For this you will need:

150 g of baking soda (about 5 rounded tablespoons);
200 ml of water;
pan.

Step-by-step instruction:

Pour baking soda into a frying pan and heat over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring continuously. By the end of the process, the release of carbon dioxide should stop, and the soda will acquire greater flowability.
Remove skillet from heat and let cool for 10 minutes. This is a prerequisite necessary to prevent burns when combining the substance with water.
Pour the resulting powder into a working container and add 200 ml of water to it. Mix well. The sodium carbonate must either completely dissolve in the water or leave a slight precipitate.
Pour the resulting light brown solution into the toilet bowl drain.
After 2 hours, flush the toilet bowl with plenty of water.

Special chemicals

To solve problems with a clogged toilet, you can use special tools that are widely represented on the shelves of hardware stores by manufacturers of the chemical industry. When using chemicals, you must strictly follow the instructions for the drug: use the indicated dosage and do not violate safety precautions. It is unacceptable to use several tools at the same time. At best, this will have no effect, and at worst, the reaction when the drugs are combined will be unpredictable. After removing the blockage, the toilet should be thoroughly rinsed with water.

Pothan is an effective chemical remedy for removing a blockage in the toilet

Overview of chemicals for cleaning the toilet - table

Name of funds	Release form	Active substance as part of the drug	Cleaning time	Price
Mole	gel, granules	60% sodium and potassium hydroxide; 10% acetic acid; 10% surfactant.	2 hours	from 38 rubles
Tiret Turbo and Tiret Professional	gel	Surfactant and chlorine	from 5 minutes to several hours	200-600 rubles
Selena and Antizasor	granules	soda and surfactants	1 hour	from 16 rubles
Bugi Pothan	gel	soda and surfactants	3 minutes	large package - 300 rubles
Mister Muscle	gel, granules	Chlorine-based surfactants and reagents	15 minutes	40-250 rubles depending on packaging

Cleaning the toilet with a plunger

The plunger is a very simple but effective toilet bowl cleaning tool. Designed for situations where, due to a blockage, water does not leave the bowl of the device. It has simple design: rubber bowl attached to a plastic or wooden handle.

Cover the toilet bowl drain with a plunger bowl, thereby completely immersing it in water.
Press the handle firmly and make several reciprocating movements up and down, without lifting the plunger bowl from the surface of the toilet bowl.
Pull the instrument out of the water.
Repeat the procedure several times until the blockage is completely removed.

The principle of operation of the plunger: by pressing on the plunger handle, we create hydraulic pressure on the water column in the water seal of the toilet bowl, as a result of which the blockage breaks through.

Cleaning the toilet with a "doll"

A small bag made of dense fabric and filled with sand - a "doll" - is used to quickly remove blockages. It should pass freely into the toilet drain hole. A clothesline or strong cord is firmly tied to the bag.

Lower the device into the toilet bowl drain. In this case, the rope should not be taut, but its edge must be firmly held.
Drain the toilet. The "doll", driven by a stream of water, will move along the stream and, thanks to its own mass, will push through the blockage.

The effectiveness of this method raises a number of questions.

The first thing you should pay attention to, if there is a blockage in the toilet and the water does not come off or comes off slowly, then there will be no movement of the "doll" along with the flow of water, because there is no flow itself.
The second, but no less important question, is where to store the device after use, or is it simply disposable. If you have to throw it away after each use and constantly tinker again for the next blockages, then it turns out to be troublesome, costly and ineffective.

Using a cable to clean the toilet with your own hands

Using a cable to clean the toilet is the most spectacular way eliminate any blockages. That is why professionals always first try to clean the toilet with a cable and only then move on to other methods, for example, disassemble the structure. To eliminate blockages in the apartment sewage system, soft vibrating cables are used. For standard wiring, it is enough to have a cable 3 m long. Since the toilet bowl is always installed in the immediate vicinity of the house riser, a 1 m cable is suitable for cleaning only the toilet bowl.When using a short tool, one person can perform cleaning work. If it has a length of 3 m or more, the work is done together.

The cable is lowered with the working side into the drain hole until it comes into contact with the blockage. It must be taut, no loops are allowed.
Slowly rotating the handle of the cable clockwise, advance the cable inward, thereby destroying the blockage.
For complete cleansing, the procedure is repeated several times.

Rotating the vibration cable handle counterclockwise may break the cable.

When is it worth calling a plumber

The help of a specialist is necessary in any situations when it is not possible to solve the problem on your own. If the blockage is in the house riser and the bathtub is filled with sewage through the drain hole, the plumbing must be called urgently. In this case, it is necessary to shut off the water on the water supply riser and ask the neighbors from the upper floors not to use the sewage system until the blockage is cleared. Then you should contact the emergency service of the management company.

Blockage prevention

The best prevention of toilet blockages is compliance with the rules for using plumbing:

use devices for their intended purpose;
do not throw food leftovers, a lot of paper, tampons and other hygiene products and garbage into the toilet;
rinse the toilet with water after each use: this will prevent the formation of deposits on its inner walls and pipes.

Additionally, you can do saline prophylaxis for the toilet 1 time in one or two weeks.

In the morning or evening before bed, pour one glass of salt into the toilet drain. Dissolving in the water seal, the salt turns into a saline solution, which well corrodes fatty deposits on the inner surface of the toilet bowl.
After 8-10 hours, flush the toilet with water.

Compliance with these simple rules will save you from problems with toilet blockages.

After considering the proposed methods, choose for yourself the best way to clean the toilet from a blockage. When the problem is solved, it is worth thinking about how to prevent a repetition of such a situation in the future.

The toilet, paradoxically, is the most irreplaceable place in any apartment, so a clogged toilet can disturb the peace of the household. The article contains 9 of the most common methods in the fight against blockages: from budget to expensive, from light to cardinal.

Improvised means

First of all, you can try folk ways removing blockages, which will not only help solve the problem, but also save the family budget.

Testing boiling water

A simple and free method of dealing with blockages, when an enamel or iron bucket of water is boiled and dramatically poured into the toilet.

However, the method is fraught with danger:

Boiling water can scald household members. To break the cork, turn the bucket sharply and vertically, which will lead to the formation of a lot of splashes.
Hot water can ruin the toilet itself. The temperature drop, at best, will lead to the appearance of small cracks on the surface, and at worst, the earthenware product may burst.

In addition, according to reviews who nevertheless ventured to test the method, boiling water helps only from light blockages with food waste or wood cat litter.

Soda with vinegar

Another budget-friendly toilet cleaning method is a mixture of baking soda and vinegar:

Half a bag of soda is poured into the flush hole.
Same way 2 cups of ordinary vinegar is poured.
Above the hole is covered with a large thick rag, for example, an old terry towel.

As a result of the chemical reaction of soda and vinegar, light blockages break through in toilets and bathrooms. A side effect of the method is the ability to ruin sewer pipes if you overdo it with baking soda. It is recommended not to try to increase the dosage.

Citric acid and laundry detergent

Lovers of soft multi-layered toilet paper often encounter blockages because of it.

An effective way to get rid of adversity, which at the same time will cleanse a faience friend of yellow stains or rust:

In warm water dissolves 1 glass of any washing powder.
Into solution 2 sachets of citric acid are poured out.
Mixture poured into the toilet for 4-5 hours or overnight.
To the toilet in the morning several buckets of lukewarm water are poured out to rinse out the softened residues of the blockage and the cleaning solution.

White

One of the most popular and effective remedies for stone deposits, old rust and other toilet contamination, which, among other things, will cope with a slight blockage.

The recipe for use is simple:

First, the toilet is emptied of water. For example, the hand is wrapped with a rag, and then water is pushed out with piston-like movements.
Into the drain hole a bottle of "Whiteness" is poured. It is advisable to leave the product overnight.

In the morning, the pollution from the faience will go away for sure, and light blockages from paper or pet hair may disappear.

We use chemistry

In case of ineffectiveness of improvised folk methods, the next step is to apply industrial production means.

On store shelves, there is a large assortment of household chemicals for cleaning toilets and pipes, although they all consist of alkali or acid:

Domestic brands. Inexpensive "Mole". "Blockage".
Foreign brands... High price range media such as Tired, Domestos.

According to the instructions on the package, the required dosage of the product is poured into the toilet. After a few hours, all that remains is to wash off the remnants of the blockage. From the first try, household chemicals may not cope with the problem.

If the water begins to go away even a little, you should refill the product. If there is no effect at all, then you need to try more serious methods.

The main thing is to follow the safety rules:

Do not mix chemical agents of different types or manufacturers. It will be very lucky if the mixture that has changed its properties does not work, it will be worse if it spoils the plumbing or even the health of the household.
Do not try to create a chemical mixture yourself or buy it from hands, use only industrial designs. The result of chemical reactions can lead to anything, to say nothing of an unknown composition offered for a penny on street ruins.
When using aggressive agents, use safety glasses and rubber gloves.

Important: after cleaning the toilet bowl with "chemistry", you should rinse it several times with water before using it for the first time.

Mechanical methods

Sand, debris or glass will not take any chemical agent, therefore in such cases experts advise to immediately use "heavy artillery": a plunger, a plastic bottle or a rope.

Ventuz

A dark rubber suction cup with a handle is familiar to many from Soviet life. With such a tool, you can try to push the blockage further into the sewer. In a common system, the pipe diameter is larger, so the debris will float away freely.

Plastic bottle

In some cases, a regular 1.5 liter plastic bottle with a stopper can be much more effective at clearing up the blockage than harsh chemicals or traditional methods.

Let's describe in detail the algorithm of actions:

By the bottle the bottom is cut off, while the cork is not unscrewed.
We put on long rubber gloves and lower the hand with the bottle into the hole of the toilet bowl, deep into the cut edge.
Further several times with strong sharp movements we drive the bottle further and further.

The method with a bottle is similar in effect to the actions with a plunger, but the force of the water hammer is many times greater. Due to the increased pressure, the blockage can fly out further into the riser and float into a wide drain.

Cable

The wire rope is considered a professional plumber's tool. It is profitable to buy such a tool than to pay several times more for calling a specialist with it.

Standard steel rope reaches a length of 7-10 meters, has a handle and a pointed tip.

In order to destroy stagnant garbage with it, you must:

Holding on to the handle, immerse the tip of the tool into the toilet drain as far as possible.
Further using rotary movements, it is necessary to advance the cable until it becomes clogged and try to push it through with gentle jerks.

Important: all movements must be carried out slowly and unhurriedly, as sharp and strong blows from the cable can damage the old sewer pipes.

Drastic measures

If it was not possible to remove the blockage using the available methods, it remains only to disassemble the toilet.

In Soviet times the toilet was fixed with cement, so a specialized tool is needed for dismantling.
Pipe leading to the toilet can also be embedded in the wall.
When self-parsing you can additionally clog the sewer pipe with construction waste.

If, nevertheless, a decision is made to remove the toilet with your own hands, then it is important to adhere to the following algorithm:

Blocking water supply to the tank.
Dismantling the barrel and unscrewing the nuts securing the base of the product.
Further it is necessary to slightly move the toilet by opening the drain.
Using a plumbing rope, you should carefully clean the elbow and part of the sewer pipe.

Cleaning the toilet is a rather unpleasant task that can take a lot of energy, nerves, time and money.

Tips from professional plumbers to help prevent blockages:

Do not dispose of food waste, no matter how small, into the toilet.
Shouldn't flush toilet paper and even more so other hygiene products. There were cases when even a baby diaper was pulled out of the riser.
Monthly for preventive purposes, clean the toilet with baking soda or a commercial product.

Blitz Tips:

If there is a blockage, first try to remember what could be the reason:
- Folk recipes with soda or citric acid will cope with food waste.
- Special chemicals will dissolve the laminated paper or the contents of the vacuum cleaner's container.
- Dense solid waste, such as clay, sand, can only be overcome by a cable.
For such situations, at home it is better to have a mandatory set of baking soda, a plunger, a rope, as well as several pairs of long rubber gloves.

There is not a single owner who has not encountered a blockage in the toilet. The situation is aggravated bad smell in the toilet, gradually filling the entire apartment. The difficulty in resolving such a problem lies in taking urgent and effective measures.

Delay can be very expensive: in the worst case scenario, you will need to repair the toilet not only for yourself, but also for your disgruntled neighbors.

Before making a choice in favor of a certain way to fix the problem, it is necessary to determine the reason why the toilet is clogged. This will allow not only to return the plumbing to its former working capacity in the shortest possible time, but also to abandon some prohibited actions so as not to provoke secondary clogging. There are only 2 main reasons for the formation of a blockage in the toilet.

Incorrect installation of the toilet

When the installation of plumbing is carried out by an unqualified specialist, errors are possible, expressed in an incorrect angle of inclination. drain pipe... The main line connects the toilet itself and the riser.

If the slope is not sufficient to drain and pass the water, the sewer pipes may become clogged. Sometimes the design of the plumbing itself does not fit the location of the toilet.

In this case, it is necessary to be more careful about the choice of sanitary ceramics, especially when installing it in a private house.

Violation of exploitation

It is a mistake to think that the plumbing installed in the toilet can perfectly function as a garbage can. It turns out that solid food waste gets stuck in the line and, accumulating, causes a blockage. It concerns not only food, but also paper, garbage, construction waste, children's toys, and personal hygiene items. A blockage can form both within your own apartment and in a common riser.

How to clear the blockage yourself?

The blockage takes the hostess by surprise at the most inopportune time: either the owner is not at home, then, as luck would have it, household chemicals have run out. Ordinary folk methods can help in an unpleasant matter.

There are components for cleaning the toilet in every home, so everyone can easily use them.

The magic of boiling water

The most inexpensive way to clean the toilet at home from a blockage is to pour in boiling water. A bucket of water should be quickly poured into the toilet drain. It is imperative to avoid scalding with boiling water. Before using this method, it does not hurt to make sure that there are no cracks in the plumbing, so as not to aggravate the situation.

How to expect a reaction from baking soda with vinegar?

To destroy the dirt in the toilet pipe, pour half a pack of baking soda into the hole. Next, you need to pour 1 glass of vinegar. The reaction will eat away fat accumulations on the walls of the bend in 20 minutes. At the end of the procedure, a kettle of hot water should be poured into the toilet.

Washing powder properties

The prepared mixture helps not only to destroy dirt in the toilet, but also to remove ugly yellow stains from plumbing.

In a small amount of warm water, 1 glass of washing powder and 2 packs of lemon are dissolved.

The solution is poured into the hole for about 5 hours, you can leave the mixture overnight. In the morning, flush several buckets of warm water down the toilet.

Use of Whiteness

When obsolete plumbing becomes the cause of the blockage and the formation of stone deposits inside the pipes, the chemical Whiteness will help. First, you need to push the water in the toilet, and then pour the product into the neck. In the morning, there will be no trace of a slight blockage.

Household chemicals - a means that clean the sewer at home

When all the popular methods for removing the blockage did not bring the expected result, then "heavy artillery" enters the battle.

Household chemicals are able to quickly clean the drain and restore the toilet bowl.

Due to their specific composition, chemical agents destroy dirt from the inner walls and clean pipes:

limescale;
collagen fibers;
body fat;
protein compounds.

The most effective products that can fight blockages in the toilet are:

Mister Muscle.

The product is excellent for cleaning worn-out sewer pipes and has a gentle composition.

Domestos.

The gel works gently on the blockage while eliminating the unpleasant odor. The product can be used for new sewer pipes.

Tiret.

The drug is highly effective. It can be used to remove the blockage in a short period of time.

Mole.

A domestic chemical product is very popular. It is in no way inferior to imported counterparts.

Chimney sweep.

The drug, like the Mole, contains an alkali. This allows you to quickly get rid of the dirt in the bend of the toilet.

The composition of the product is quite caustic, but the effectiveness of Ruff is high.

Before using household chemicals, you must make sure that the selected product is suitable for pipes and plumbing installed in the apartment.

The sewer main laid in a new building should not be exposed to aggressive chemical attack. Metal pipes the old house, on the contrary, is not afraid of potent compounds.

The use of chemical fluids to remove blockages involves a number of safety rules:

be sure to wear rubber gloves on your hands to avoid chemical burns;
apply the product strictly according to the instructions, especially if preparatory actions are necessary;
pour in the agent with the utmost care so as not to get into the eyes;
have access to running water close at hand in case of contact with chemicals on the skin or organs of vision.

Fast methods based on mechanical action

The first aid for blockages was always considered to be special devices, thanks to which the pollution was pushed along the bend of the toilet bowl. Existing methods of mechanical pipe cleaning are no less effective than the use of household chemicals.

The irreplaceable plunger

The device is a wooden stick with a rubber tip resembling a hemisphere. On sale you can find various modifications of plungers, even plastic ones. The principle of operation of the device is based on a water hammer. Moreover, the diameter of the rubber tip must be larger than the toilet drain hole.

Having installed the plunger on the hole, it is necessary to make sharp jolts. The blockage is pushed through by intense impacts of water and air.

Wire

Presumably, if the dirt is not far from the toilet drain, you can try to reach it with a wire twisted at the end.

What is a plastic bottle capable of?

When the plunger is not at hand, you should use a bottle of lemonade or mineral water. To do this, cut off the bottom, and tighten the neck tightly with a lid. The device is lowered into the hole until the water begins to squeeze out the bottle. Give one sharp push with the device and pull it out. If necessary, the procedure is performed several times.

Towel

The method is considered not the most pleasant, but you can get rid of the blockage in a matter of minutes. An old towel is taken, which is then not a pity to dispose of. It needs to be twisted with a tourniquet and folded in half. For extra strength, tie the structure with a rope. They put rubber gloves on their hands and push the towel into the tube with jerky movements. By creating pressure, the structure is able to push through the blockage no worse than a plunger.

The tool helps not only to clean out dirt along the entire diameter of the pipe, but also to pull out various objects that have caused stagnant water. The cable is inserted into the drain hole and the L-shaped handle begins to rotate.

Homemade pumping

The tool is homemade, but not inferior in efficiency to other plumbing fixtures. The bleed is a metal rod with a thread at the end. 1 plate is cut out of rubber and steel and attached to the threaded end with nuts. With such a tool, sharp jolts should be made in the toilet drain hole.

When there is still no result

If, after applying the existing methods, it was not possible to get rid of the blockage, it remains only to disassemble the plumbing structure.

For the best outcome, you should call a specialist.

Independent actions can lead to sad consequences due to some complications:

If the toilet was installed back in Soviet times, the base of the plumbing will definitely be cemented. To disassemble the structure, you will need a special tool.
The riser can be "hidden" in the wall of the apartment, and not go outside.

Self-parsing of the toilet should be done according to the sequential recommendations:

block the drain of water from the tank;
remove the tank;
unscrew the nuts securing the base of the plumbing;
move the toilet to get to the riser;
take off plastic pipe and clean the knee from the blockage.

For the future, be sure to keep in the bins a pair of rubber gloves and a plunger. This will prevent unexpected leaks in the toilet and restore the functioning of the toilet. A blockage is not a pleasant thing, therefore, one should approach the solution of the issue wisely.

In this video, Elena Malysheva shares how to quickly and efficiently unclog a toilet bowl.

Toilet is clogged - what to do at home and how to clean it? A clogged toilet is like a natural disaster - it happens suddenly, requires immediate action, and turns household life into a nightmare. The overwhelming majority of people immediately begins frantically digging through the telephone book in search of the coveted telephone number of the ZhEK's emergency service. But hopes for courageous and fast plumbers begin to fade over time - utilities are in no hurry to help. In this regard, one has to think about independent measures to eliminate the blockage and resume the usual way of life, without going to neighbors "in need".

First, you need to figure out why there was such a blockage that could block the normal passage of sewage through the pipes and what to expect from this situation.

Why blockages occur

The most common reason is clogging the toilet with too much toilet paper and feminine hygiene products, or completely unexpected items such as rags, toys, etc.
Not right mounted toilet... During installation, a certain angle of inclination of the toilet bowl to the riser must be maintained, as well as the optimal distance from the riser to the toilet bowl.
Absence or valves that equalize the pressure in the pipe when draining.
Poor design of the toilet. It even happens, because now handicraft industries are a dime a dozen. Non-professionals may not know the intricacies of making a properly functioning toilet.

The most common ways to clean the toilet

Hot water

If there are no special tools at home, the toilet is clogged - you do not know what to do, you can try the option with hot water... You will need to bring about a bucket of water to a boil and immediately pour it into the toilet. Pour out strictly at right angles and quickly to build up pressure. If you see that the water is gradually starting to leave, you can add another bucket of water to enhance the effect. Small blockages are very well cleaned with this method.

Cleaning the toilet with hot water is the easiest way to deal with a blockage

Important: Even with such fairly simple manipulations, you should be extremely careful not to burn yourself.

Soda

Every housewife has soda and it helps us out in many situations. It will come in handy here too. You just need to empty half of the standard pack directly into the toilet. Gradually, the blockage will dissolve under the influence of alkali.

Cleaning with chemicals

People have long been accustomed to using ready-made solutions in all areas of their lives, and manufacturers are successfully using this. Household chemical stores offer a fairly wide selection of specialized tools for cleaning pipes and toilets. They come in the form of liquids, gels, powders and granules. There may be disposable packages and large containers designed for several times. These tools do an excellent job of solving the problem, performing a number of other functions as well:

Disinfect the cleaned plumbing.
Eliminate unpleasant odors from sewer pipes.
Keep pipes clean.
They have a preventive effect.

The most common brands:

Tiret.
Mole.
Domestos.
Tofix.
Domol.
Mister Muscle.

Important: When using chemical products, you must strictly follow all the rules specified in the instructions so as not to get accidentally burned and not to spoil the plumbing. Wearing rubber gloves is a must.

People who are familiar with chemistry as a science know how to clean a toilet bowl at home using various acids: acetic, hydrochloric, formic or sulfuric. However, such corrosive solutions can damage old pipes in your home.

Mechanical cleaning methods

How to unclog a toilet bowl without using chemicals? Suitable for this mechanical methods cleanings that imply the presence of certain devices.

Ventuz

This device is recommended for everyone who has a toilet. Its design is simple: on a wooden or plastic handle fixed rubber hemisphere. The plunger copes with simple and shallow blockages "with a bang". It happens this way:

The toilet should be slightly filled with water so that it covers the rubber bowl of the plunger.
The plunger is positioned so that the hemisphere completely covers the drain hole.
With a confident and strong movement, the plunger is pressed inward and returns to its original position.
These movements should be performed until the result is achieved.

The plunger seems to suck parts of the blockage from the bowels of the toilet until it is completely removed.

Corrugation cleaning

If the toilet is attached to the riser with a corrugated pipe, then the question of what to do and how to remove the blockage in the toilet can be solved by ordinary cleaning it. The pipe can be easily removed and, if there is a kind of plug in it, debris can be removed. After cleaning, the corrugated pipe is put in place.

Rubber hose

It works like this:

One end of the hose is attached to the hot water tap.
The other end goes down into the toilet as low as possible.
Hot water is started with a strong pressure.

This method is also good in combination with chemical cleaning.

Plastic bottle

When suddenly there is a blockage in the toilet - not everyone knows what to do and how to eliminate it, especially if they do not have the necessary experience. If the farm does not stock up on special devices, you can use the recommendation of folk craftsmen. Take a regular plastic bottle with a volume of 1.5-2 liters. Cut off the bottom and screw the neck tight. Insert the bottle into the drain hole with the edge down and follow the same movements as when working with a plunger.

Plumbing cable

Such a device is a rare guest in ordinary apartments, because it is considered a professional tool for plumbers. But if such, fortunately, is still present, then to one end of it you need to fix a sharp nozzle or a piece of thick wire (if necessary). This structure is immersed in the toilet until it stops and the handle is turned clockwise. The cable can reach even a very far located blockage, after which it is recommended to clean the system with one of the special means or use hot water for this.

When a plumber call is needed

If you know perfectly well how to eliminate a blockage in the toilet on your own, but all the methods have already been tested, and the result has not been achieved, then you still have to wait for the plumber.

There is a situation in which the plumbing must be called immediately. It is when water in the toilet continues to flow despite attempts to clear the blockage... So the riser is clogged below your floor level. As the upstairs neighbors continue to drain the water, the sewage will overflow the edges of the toilet and end up in your apartment. Such a problem is within the power of only specialists, they know how to break through a blockage in a toilet bowl and a riser.

If you are interested, then on our site there is an article on this topic.

The standards for water pressure in the water supply system are given in the material.

An overview of water filters can be found at this address. In our time, they are becoming more and more necessary.

Prevention and precautions

Having figured out what to do if the toilet is clogged at home, you need to say what rules should be followed when handling plumbing in order to prevent unpleasant situations with clogging of the toilet.

Never throw foreign objects into the toilet. If you or a child accidentally dropped something there, you should try to remove it immediately.
Leftover food, even liquid food, must not be thrown into the toilet. Fats from food gradually accumulate on the inner bend of the toilet bowl and at one "perfect" moment can form a tight plug.
Children should be taught from infancy to the rules of going to the toilet and should not be allowed to throw toys into the toilet.
If the toilet is being renovated, then it is advisable to carefully cover the toilet so that the remains of construction debris do not get into it.
For the prevention of blockages, you can periodically use funds specially designed for this. They will keep the pipes clean. When working, you must strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Old, rusty pipes will be a constant cause of blockages, because debris accumulates more quickly on their loose inner surface. To protect your apartment from a sudden outpouring of sewage, you need to change pipes to newer polymer ones.

Those people who have once experienced the horrors of toilet clogging, as a rule, take precautions more seriously and use the toilet strictly for its intended purpose.

In the sewer system, blockages can periodically form, disrupting the normal flow of wastewater and waste. Agree, calling a plumber at the slightest malfunction of the toilet is not the best solution... Moreover, it is quite possible to eliminate most of the problems without a specialist. Doubt?

We will show you how to clean the toilet using home remedies or household chemicals. If these methods prove to be powerless, you will have to resort to a more effective tactic - mechanical cleaning of the plumbing. Step-by-step instructions for its implementation are detailed in the article.

In addition, we will remind you of the measures for the prevention of sewage congestion, which will help to avoid the appearance of "traffic jams" in plumbing fixtures.

"Plugs" in pipes can form for various reasons. Most often they arise due to the clogging of the sewer with foreign objects.

This can happen if food waste, cat litter, rags, plastic bags, and feminine hygiene items are thrown into the toilet.

Deposits of urinary calculus, lime, hardened dirt or other substances often cause partial or complete blockage of sewer pipes (+)

Lack of proper has a negative effect on pipes. Without regular cleaning of the system, urinary calculi build-up inside can form, which can narrow or even block the drain. Blockage can also be caused by salt deposits, which is typical for areas where hard water circulates in the plumbing system.

Determining the type and location of the blockage in the system

Before you take steps to clean the plumbing fixture, you need to determine the type of blockage, and, if possible, find out where it is located. To do this, you should carry out a few simple manipulations.

First of all, you need to find out if water enters the sewer or the system is completely shut off. To do this, it is enough to pour about a liter of liquid into the toilet, and after 30 minutes check for its presence.

It is undesirable to use water from the flush cistern for this, since in this case a large volume will be poured into the bowl - 3 liters or more.

Even a slow infiltration of water into the drain indicates that this is a fairly light blockage, which in most cases can be dealt with on your own. If the liquid does not pass at all, a more serious problem is possible.

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Mechanical methods of dealing with congestion

More effective methods able to handle complex congestions are different types mechanical devices.

Vantuz - a device for removing blockages

A popular plumbing tool, consisting of a rubber suction cup and a wooden or plastic handle... The operating mechanism of the plunger is similar to that of the pump. The drain hole of the toilet is covered with a valve, and then reciprocating movements are performed with pressure on the handle.

Due to this, hydraulic stress is created in the system, as a result of which water and sewage are pumped out of the siphon or pipe, and the existing "plugs" are destroyed. For the best effect, it is advisable to first pour out all the water accumulated in the toilet bowl and only then start working with a plunger.

The plunger is a simple but effective tool that acts like a pump. Small plugs are dealt with quickly and easily by this mechanical device.

In case of complex blockages, it is advisable to close the drain holes (upper, lower) in all plumbing devices located in the bathroom, in the kitchen, and only then with sharp jerks pump the water into the bowl with a plunger.

If a slow drain is typical both in the toilet and in a sink with a washbasin, it is advisable to repeat this procedure separately for each device, blocking the holes in the rest of the plumbing.

After removing the "plug" for prophylaxis and disinfection, you need to flush the toilet by pouring 1-2 buckets of warm water with the addition of soda into the drain. The plunger must also be thoroughly rinsed or placed in a disinfectant solution.

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If the cable is partially immersed in water, it can rest against the opposite side of the disc bowl. In this case, it is necessary to make pushing movements until the tool slides along the inner surface of this area of the toilet bowl.
If, while moving, the cable runs into a vertical wall of the riser, you must use special equipment.
For a toilet with a direct outlet, the cable is pushed horizontally sewer pipe until it touches the inside of the riser. If you feel difficulty in movement, then its tip has come across a blockage. Then it is worth performing back and forth movements, pushing the tool into the riser.

It is most convenient to work with a pair of cables, which allows better control of the process. Upon completion of the manipulations, the system should be cleaned by rinsing it well with water, and the instrument should be disinfected.

From under drinks or other home-made devices.

In the absence of a plunger or plumbing cable, they can be replaced by an ordinary polymer bottle with a screwed cap and a cut bottom.

In the first case, a lid is tightly screwed on an ordinary plastic bottle and the bottom is cut off. Then this device is used in the same way as a plunger. After application homemade device discard immediately.

You can also make a "pusher doll" out of a stick and unnecessary rags to try to "knock out" the blockage. Alternatively, it is possible to quickly make a homemade plunger from a children's rubber ball, cut in half and attached to the handle.

Manual drain cleaning

Not too pleasant, but in some cases required option... As a rule, this method is used if the owners know that the congestion in the toilet is caused by an object falling into the drain (a child's toy, an apple).

You will have to put on rubber gloves and scoop out the contents of the bowl, and then try to feel with your hand the object that is pulled out with your fingers or with a wire, the end of which is crooked.

It is dangerous to use a plunger, because it will only drive the object deep into the sewer system, from where it will be difficult to get it.

Sewer blockage prevention

A blockage is a very unpleasant thing that is easier to prevent than to deal with.

For prevention, it is important to constantly monitor the condition of the drainage system of the sewage system:

Prevent the appearance of rust, salt and other deposits by regularly cleaning the bowl and, as far as possible, pipes using modern disinfectants.
Be sure to regularly clean the bowl and toilet drain with a plumbing brush.
Do not throw foreign objects and litter into the toilet.
Do not enter the sewer system different types debris during repair work.
When installing the equipment, use the correct diameter.

If all these rules are followed, the likelihood of blockages will be much reduced.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

In the video, you will learn how to unclog pipes and a clogged toilet:

If you have not been able to eliminate the cause of the blockage yourself, it is important to contact a plumber without delay. Elimination of complex blockages in sewer systems requires special knowledge, skills and professional equipment.

Are you trying to fix a similar problem yourself? Suggest an effective solution to the issue, share your experience in dealing with a blockage in the toilet. You can leave comments on the article and ask questions in the form below.