Do you plunge at an angle?

Contrary to belief most people think you need to push air to unclog the clog in the plunge, however, water does a better job to push the clog through and you can achieve this by tilting the plunge at a 45° angle and letting the water fill up in the plunge reservoir.

How do you properly plunge?

Lower the plunger into the toilet bowl at an angle, and fit the rubber cup over the toilet's drain hole. Grip the plunger handle with both hands. With a forceful motion, move the cup up and down without breaking the cup's seal around the hole. Repeat this action for about 10 to 20 seconds and then remove the plunger.

How do you position a toilet plunger?

Insert a flange plunger into the toilet bowl.

"This way it retains more air, which will allow for more pressure downwards." Once the plunger is in the water, position the flange in the hole at the bottom of the toilet to form a tighter seal.

Can you over plunge a toilet?

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.

When should you stop plunging?

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.

Toilet Plunging Techniques : Plumbing Tips

What angle should you hold a plunger?

Contrary to belief most people think you need to push air to unclog the clog in the plunge, however, water does a better job to push the clog through and you can achieve this by tilting the plunge at a 45° angle and letting the water fill up in the plunge reservoir.

Can plunging make a clog worse?

Attempting to force a clog through a toilet with a plunger can often make the problem worse. Instead, create a seal and slowly push down on the plunger before pulling it back sharply. The suction can help pull the clog back up toward the bowl, breaking the blockage and allowing gravity to take over.

Should you plunge a toilet fast or slow?

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.

How many plunges does it take to unclog a toilet?

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.

Should you turn off water before plunging?

Turn off the water to the toilet to prevent any overflow.

You don't need to turn off the water to your toilet, but there's more risk that the bowl will fill up.

What angle should a toilet drain be?

But do you know the proper slope? The ideal slope of any drain line is ¼ inch per foot of pipe. In other words, for every foot the pipe travels horizontally, it should be dropping ¼ inch vertically.

Is there a trick to using a plunger?

Using A Plunger In Your Toilet

The water level must be halfway up the brim so it can completely cover the cup of your rubber plunger. If the water level is too low, add more water to fill the toilet bowl approximately halfway; having the right amount of water can make plunging more effective.

Can you plunge too much?

DON'T use excessive force when plunging a clog. Too much pressure can damage the drain line connection and ruin the trap. DO use a plumber's snake if plunging didn't work.

Can plunging damage pipes?

Forceful plunging can damage the drain line and cause leaks. Along with clogs that require extra force, avoid plunging obvious major obstructions.

Why won't my toilet unclog when I plunge it?

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.

Does a plunger push or pull?

When you seal the plunger over the drain opening and push it down, you increase the pressure in the pipe. This increase in pressure pushes the water downward. When you pull up, the suction reduces the pressure allowing the water to rise. This “sloshing” motion dislodges most clogs after a few spirited turns.

How do professionals unclog a toilet?

Using Toilet Auger:

In case the matter is more serious plungers do not work anymore and at this point of time plumbers come up with a much stronger instrument known as the toilet auger or toilet snake. This is a cable-like tool that plumbers twist in deep into the toilet to the clog.

What do you do when plunging doesn't work?

If a plunger or plumbing snake doesn't work, water and soap might do the trick. Boil a gallon of water and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes. As you wait, pour a cup of liquid dish soap into the toilet bowl. You can then pour the water slowly into the bowl — leave it for about 20 minutes before flushing.

What to do after plunging?

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.

Can toilet plumbing have 90 degree angles?

You can have a 90-degree fitting under a slab, but it needs to be either at the base of a stack, as I've already described, or it can be under a toilet that sits on a slab.

Do you throw away plunger after use?

I wouldn't. It only has be clean enough to store until the next time it is needed, at which point it will go back in the toilet. After the toilet is unclogged, I pour some chlorine bleach into the toilet bowl and swish the rubber part of the plunger in it. Flush away the chlorine water.

Can I plunge without a plunger?

Try Hot Water

The easiest and first thing to try when attempting to unclog toilets without a plunger is hot water. The addition of hot water might be enough to loosen the clog and dislodge the blockage. Fill a bucket with about a gallon of hot water from the sink or bathtub.