 By Contractor Daniel
First, if your problem is an overflowing
toilet, click here. Your problem can’t be solved with a plunger,
and requires immediate attention. However, if your toilet
is clogged, grab your plunger and follow along. It’ll
be up and running again in no time.
Before you begin plunging, check your plunger. Does
the rubber cup fully cover your toilet drain? This is
an absolute must, or else the sunction power will be
undermined and the effectiveness of your plunger will
diminish significantly. Okay. Got the right sized plunger?
Keep reading.
In order to successfully clear a clog with a plunger,
there must be enough water around the clogged drain to
both surround the plunger and fill the drain with water.
If there isn’t enough water in your toilet, pour
some in until the plunger is somewhat submerged. This
water creates a solid column that pushes the blockage
as you plunge.
Now you’re ready to plunge. Our plunging mantra
is “Never give up!” Stubborn, remote blockages
can take five or ten minutes to dislodge. So keep plunging,
straight up and down, and don’t be discouraged
if you don’t get immediate results.
However, this ‘relentless plunging’ technique
will not be effective if you have only a partial blockage,
or if you can’t keep enough water in the drain
to create that essential ‘solid column’.
Further, plunging won’t yield any results at all
if your problem is caused by a mineral or rust build
up.
So if, after a few minutes of plunging (with enough
water in the toilet), you don’t have success, there
could certainly be a deeper, more systemic problem. These
problems require a plumber’s attention, but are
often easily resolved with the right tools.
Although the advice above is tailored to toilet clogs,
don’t be afraid to use a plunger on other fixtures,
too! Most people don’t realize how handy their
plunger can be in sinks and tubs |
