Can a plunger make a sink clog worse?
While it won't necessarily cause damage, you should not plunge a shower drain. It will only cause the clog to travel further down your plumbing.
The clog will prevent the water from going down the drain, meaning it will overflow the toilet and get all over the floor. This can create a much bigger (and must smellier) mess. You should never flush a clogged toilet more than once.
DON'T use the plunger if you poured chemical drain opener into the drain. The toxic liquid could splash your skin and cause a chemical burn. DO block the overflow drain with wet dishcloths. Take the plunger and position it directly over the drain and firmly plunge down and up several times.
DO Try a Plunger on Light Clogs. If the clog is in the drainpipe, you might be able to loosen it with a standard cup plunger. Some clogs simply need an extra “push” to get moving! Make sure the sink contains a few inches of water, and block the overflow drain with a wet rag so that water doesn't leak out.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Make sure you clear any standing water in the sink first, then pour a cup of baking soda down the drain. Follow this with a cup of vinegar, and immediately put the rubber stopper in the drain. The mixture will fizz, and push the clog down. Follow with hot water from the tap to finish flushing.
Plunging down too hard
In an effort to dislodge whatever is clogging the toilet, many homeowners get overzealous and thrust too hard downward into the toilet with their plunger. A hard thrust downward can break the wax seal between the toilet and the floor, causing a leak.
You need water, not air, pressure to loosen the clog. If your toilet lacks water, pour in enough water till the plunger is covered. Use a gentle plunge initially since a hard one will force air back around the seal, blowing water all over you and your bathroom floor.
Wait about 10-15 minutes before trying to unclog the toilet, as some water might drain on its own.
Worsening Clog
The longer you leave a clog, the more opportunities there are for the clog to get worse. The most water-soluble parts of the clog will dissolve, and the rest will fill in the gaps, making the clog worse. There is also the possibility that human error could come into play.
Forceful plunging can damage the drain line and cause leaks. Along with clogs that require extra force, avoid plunging obvious major obstructions.
Should I flush after plunging?
Give a few good up and down strokes with the plunger and flush the toilet. If the water clears from the toilet, then you've successfully unclogged it. If the toilet starts overflowing again, just close the flapper to stop water from entering the bowl. Repeat the plunge and flush sequence until your clog is gone.
Turn Off the Water and Flush
The first step to draining a toilet is to turn off the water supply and flush. This removes most of the water from the tank and the bowl. However, you should do this only if the toilet is not clogged. If it is clogged, move directly to plunging (see below).
If using a plunger or drain snake does not clear your clog, this is a sign that it is time to call a professional plumber. Considering the risks that come with using Drano, hiring a plumber to clear the clog for you will still be the safer and cheaper option in the long run.
When a toilet has a clog made of water-soluble materials, it has a chance of slowly dissolving in the water and freeing up the toilet to work properly again. So, clogs that are primarily made of toilet paper can clear themselves.
For the toughest of clogs, a plumber may use a hydro jet. This tool sends pressured water through pipes to break down drain build-up. This tool is often faster and more efficient than a typical drain snake. Hydro jets get rid of the clog, but they're also effective for cleaning drains.
While the phosphoric acid found in cola can help alleviate some minor clogs, carbonated beverages are certainly not the ideal drain cleaner. Better DIY methods include a baking soda/vinegar mixture, a plunger, or a plumber's snake.
- Pour a pot of boiling water down your drain.
- Pour a mixture of one cup of water and one cup of vinegar down the drain.
- Cover the drain with a plug and wait 5–10 minutes.
- Flush the sink drain with boiling water.
You'll be forcing water in both directions in the drain, which will effectively loosen most clogs. Stick with it, plunging 15 to 20 times if necessary.
Pour Hot Water into the Toilet
Boiling water can cause toilet porcelain to crack. Allow the hot fluid to sit in the toilet for a few minutes to loosen the clog. If you see it start draining, you'll know that you've been successful! Finish the job by flushing a couple of times.
After plunging for thirty seconds, quickly break the seal and remove the plunger. Listen for a gurgling sound from the drain (a good sign) and check the water level in the toilet bowl. If nearly all the water drained from the bowl, then you've probably cleared the clog.
Is there a trick to unclogging a toilet?
Make your own drain cleaner by pouring one cup of baking soda and two cups of vinegar into the toilet and adding a half gallon of hot water. Dish soap can also help loosen some obstructions. When using either method, allow the solution to sit overnight and then flush the toilet to see if the obstruction has cleared.
Pour Water Into the Bowl
Sometimes, to loosen a clog or flush when the water level is low, pouring a gallon of hot water down the toilet can alleviate the problem. Holding the water at about waist height, carefully but forcefully, pour the contents directly into the toilet bowl.
Fill a bucket with hot water. Carefully pour the hot water into the toilet to dissolve the liquid, bar soap or baking soda. The soap or baking soda and vinegar combination should quickly begin to unclog the clogged toilet drain by helping the clogged object start sliding down the pipes.
Failing to Completely Submerge the Plunger Head
Forcing air - or a combination of air and water - down the drain does not do as much as forcing plain water down the drain. Fill the sink or toilet with enough water to completely submerge the plunger head before you start working.
Unclog Pipes Before They Crack or Burst
Leaving a clog unattended can lead to increased pressure inside pipes, which can then crack or burst.
Pour a half cup of dish detergent (degreasing dish detergent like Dawn works best) into the clogged toilet. Follow this with three to four cups of boiling water. The boiling water and degreasers will break up the clog, sending it right through.
Now move the plunger forcefully up and down for about 10 or 20 seconds. That's about as long as it should take for the force of the water and air going back and forth in the drain to clear up the clog.
Having an adequate amount of water in the bowl will improve the suction and ultimately lead to a more successful plunge.
If your toilet bowl is already filled to the brim, either empty out some of the water or be prepared for a little overflow. Next, pour one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar down the toilet drain. When the vinegar and baking soda combine, the natural chemical reaction will bubble up and loosen the clog.
The first plunge should be slow — a fast plunge motion means water splashes all over you and the floor. Continue to plunge slowly until the air inside the plunger leaves and the suction creates a firm seal. Speed up the plunging movement and continue to do that 30 times. Flush the toilet.
Can snaking a drain make a clog worse?
While drain snakes can be very effective in clearing certain clogs, sometimes they can actually exacerbate a problem. For example, if your pipes are old and corroded, sticking a drain snake down there can scrape off chunks of metal, making the clog much worse and damaging your pipe.
The chemicals in Drano may not solve all clogs, and they can lead to a worsening of pipe issues. Drano can build up in a clogged area, and corrode the pipe. With repeated use, these chemicals may eat their way through a pipe, and cause a leak or a collapse of the system.
Plumbers Say You Should Never Use Drano. Drain cleaners are a popular solution when homeowners notice a clogged drain. But it's also one of the most commonly misused products out there. Any plumber will advise against its use.
Drano® Clog Removers can unclog a drain fast. They contain ingredients chemicals that quickly dissolve hair, soap scum and gunk. You can use Drano® Clog Removers to unclog a kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower or clogged bathtub, but DO NOT use them in toilets.
ANNUALLY. Even if you don't notice any specific signs that your drains are having trouble with clogs, you should do your best to have them cleaned at least once every year.
It's certainly possible; boiling water can melt or loosen the gunk holding the clog together. But it's not always effective — nor is the home remedy of mixing vinegar with baking soda and pouring that concoction down the drain.
Hydro-jetters
The plumber inserts the hose deep down into the drain, and then high-pressure water blasts out the nozzle to clean out all parts of the drain. The pressure is enough to completely wash away all debris clinging to the drainpipe walls, making it hard for debris to build up again.
Forceful plunging can damage the drain line and cause leaks. Along with clogs that require extra force, avoid plunging obvious major obstructions.
Repeatedly using liquid plumbers on drains that clog frequently can deteriorate your pipes and do more damage in the long run. If you experience repeat clogs in the same drains, nix the use of liquid plumbers and call in the professionals instead.
If something is stuck in your trap, your toilet will keep clogging. Using a plunger might remove the clog. But because the underlying problem wasn't solved, new clogs will form. The only way to know if something is stuck in the trap is to remove the toilet, turn it upside down and check the trap.
Why cant you use a plunger after Drano?
Pull out a plunger, and you risk splashing up water and Drano onto your skin or into your eyes. If you add another chemical to the mix, you risk everything from a chemical reaction to poisoning or even creating something explosive.
Plunge Correctly
Give a few good up and down strokes with the plunger and flush the toilet. If the water clears from the toilet, then you've successfully unclogged it. If the toilet starts overflowing again, just close the flapper to stop water from entering the bowl.
Hot Water and Dish Soap
Wait for 10-15 minutes while the dish soap and hot water soften the clog. Once you do so, the toilet will unclog and flush freely. Alternatively, you could use hot water and shampoo from the sink if you wish to clear your toilet without leaving your bathroom.
Unclog Pipes Before They Crack or Burst
Leaving a clog unattended can lead to increased pressure inside pipes, which can then crack or burst.
The chemicals in Drano may not solve all clogs, and they can lead to a worsening of pipe issues. Drano can build up in a clogged area, and corrode the pipe. With repeated use, these chemicals may eat their way through a pipe, and cause a leak or a collapse of the system.
The Dangers of Store-bought Drain Cleaners
While these strong chemicals may seem capable of clearing clogs, they can do detrimental damage to your drains and pipes. The chemicals can eat away at your pipes and make it so that clogs are more likely to occur in the future.
The simple fact behind the constant clogging may be that your toilet bowl is old. You may have a first generation, low flow design. The low flow design was originally created to help homeowners save on water, but the earliest models ended up lacking the necessary pressure to properly clear the internal trap and drain.
Can I use my plunger with Liquid-Plumr® products? No. We do not recommend using a plunger when a clog remover is in the drain. There is a possibility that plunging will cause the product to splash back and get on you or your clothing.
You can use Drano® Clog Removers to unclog a kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower or clogged bathtub, but DO NOT use them in toilets. For clogged or slow-running drains, apply the product and let it work 15 minutes, then flush with hot water. For tough problems, allow 30 minutes before flushing.
Cover the area and then let sit for about 15 minutes. When the bubbling subsides, you can pour hot water down the drain. If you have plastic pipes, do not use boiling water as it can melt them.