A clogged toilet is an annoying problem, the kind you want fixed as soon as possible. Luckily, it’s often fairly easy to unclog a toilet on your own. Before calling a plumber, try some simple methods to see if you can address the issue yourself. 

First, if you notice your toilet water doesn’t go anywhere—or seems to increase in volume—when you try and flush the toilet, don’t flush it again until you’re fairly confident the problem has been fixed. Trying to flush it when there is still a clog will just make the situation worse.

Next, place old towels or newspapers on the floor around the toilet to absorb any water that splashes up during the process. 

Once the room is prepped, the first thing a plumber would do is a basic visual assessment of the clog. Look into the bowl and see if you can spot the object causing the obstruction. More often than you might think, it will be visible right at the bottom of the bowl, leading into the plumbing system. If you can see it, and it appears to be safe, put on a long pair of rubber cleaning gloves and remove it by hand.

If this is not possible, your next step should be to use a quality plunger. Insert the plunger into the bowl so it’s fully submerged in water, covering the hole completely. Pump it slowly and steadily a few times to see if that loosens the clog. Now you can try flushing the toilet to check if this has been effective.

If the plunger doesn’t work, get in touch with a professional plumber. While you may be tempted to use chemical products to try and loosen up the clog, they can damage your pipes. At this stage, it’s better to trust an expert.

Handling everything from clogged toilets to drainage problems, the specialists at Putnam Plumbing in Cookeville, TN, will deliver quality service when you need it. Contact them online to learn more, or call (931) 520-3569 to speak with a team member today.