How to Snake a Toilet Effectively: 5 Tips and Tricks

A clogged toilet is probably one of the worst factors to experience as a home-owner, specially if you have a full residence. It is not only inconvenient but could also pose a health hazard. So, understanding how to unclog a toilet is a ability every home-owner requirements.

You could get a plumber to correct that concern asap before things starts coming up the drain, but what if you are not in a place to? If you do not know how to do that yet or need to hone the skill, this post is for you.

What Is Snaking a Toilet?

A rest room snake or auger is a plumbing device largely utilized to eliminate or crack down any clogs that might be caught in pipes or drains. As opposed to most plumbing instruments, it has a unique design that enables it to flex in slim areas.

Snaking a toilet refers to using this device to get into the toilet pipe and split down or take away the object causing the clog and opening it up. It is a pretty effortless method that only demands a easy approach. Basically, if you can get the snake firmly and flex it properly, you will get the job completed!

The important component when it comes to snaking a toilet is understanding how to eliminate and dispose of the extracted subject. Most of the time, this issue might be filthy and harmful. So, often make certain that you have a container following to you that you can put the debris in. Soon after that, you must dispose of the container or thoroughly clean and disinfect it.

Plumber snaking
Plumber snaking (Image Credit: Walter Siegmund, Wikimedia CC BY-SA 3.0)

Parts of a Toilet Snake

Knowing the diverse elements of an auger and how they operate is the first phase in making use of this tool properly. Lucky for you, this hand device has handful of elements, producing it pretty simple to run. These components include:

  • Metal cable with a rotating handle
  • Long tube with a smooth angle on the bottom
  • Rubber sleeve

The 5 Tips to Snake a Toilet

If you really don't have accessibility to a plunger or if it has not worked, it may possibly be time to provide in the auger. When completed appropriately, this instrument performs efficiently in eliminating the clog and can consider a quite limited time. If this is anything you want to learn, here’s a rapid overview of the suggestions and tips you can apply to snake your bathroom effectively with no obtaining to call in a plumber.

1. Make Your Own Toilet Snake

plumber uses sewer snake
Image Credit: Hanna Taniukevich, Shutterstock

A bathroom snake can cost anywhere amongst $15–$100, which may well not be inexpensive for everybody. Not to mention that a clogged toilet will not hold out for you to get it shipped, which may well take a single or two times. A trip to the store may well also be also extended, particularly if you share the toilet with other individuals.

If that’s the situation, no require to be concerned, you can make your own toilet snake from a coat hanger. Just take the hanger apart till you’re remaining with a extended metallic strip whilst retaining the curve at the stop so it can hook the debris in the toilet. Depending on how narrow your rest room drain is, you may possibly have to make the hook curve a tiny narrower by squeezing it so it can suit.

Nonetheless, this will only work with a easy clog. You may have to phone a plumber or get the snake if you are working with a far more significant clog.


2. Pour Some Hot Water Down the Toilet

boiling water pot
Image Credit: music4life, Pixabay

Whilst this suggestion may well audio a little bit also significantly, pouring hot water down the toilet just before snaking it has been demonstrated to assist. Introducing a minor dish cleaning soap to the sizzling h2o also goes a lengthy way in helping get rid of rest room clogs.

Hold out a few minutes, give the clog some time to soften, and then flush your bathroom. Most clogs will split down, and you may not have to use the snake if they really don't, snaking will only just take a limited time.

Nevertheless, this suggestion only functions if your rest room bowl is not full. Or else, it could overflow and flood the rest room.


3. Use the Auger Correctly

plumber unclogging toilet
Image Credit: David Spates, Shutterstock

Most folks make the blunder of not finding out how to use the auger correctly because it is a easy resource. Contrary to popular perception, there is a right way to use this device, and pursuing the proper measures will give you excellent outcomes inside of a shorter time.

To do so, you should:

  • Insert the end with the metallic cable into the toilet bowl and push down the toilet drain.
  • Turn the metallic handle in the clockwise direction. This enables the cable to go all the way through. If the handle cranks and can’t turn anymore, stop, remove it and try again.
  • Retract the cable slowly by turning the handle in the opposite direction; this enables you to grab the clog, after which you can try to break it down or remove it.
  • Check the water level to ascertain that you have succeeded in removing all the debris or breaking it down.
  • Flush the toilet to confirm that it is working normally.
  • Clean both the toilet and auger correctly; make sure you disinfect.

4. Use Chemicals

liquid toilet unclogger
Image Credit: Rolandas Grigaitis, Shutterstock

If, following utilizing the snake, you still can crack down or take away the clog, take into account utilizing substances. Caustic soda (Sodium Hydroxide) is strong ample to break practically all the particles that ends up in your bathroom drain pipe.

Simply pour ¾ a gallon of cold drinking water into a bucket, incorporate 3 cups of Sodium Hydroxide and stir the combination effectively till it begins to fizz. Pour the combination into the bathroom and leave it for close to thirty minutes, following which you ought to flush with warm water. You can get the warm h2o from the bathroom sink for simpler access.


5. Make Concoctions From Your Kitchen

baking soda and vinegar
Image Credit: focal point, Shutterstock

If you don’t have access to Sodium Hydroxide, you can use fundamental products in your kitchen area cabinet to help in unclogging your rest room drain. Basically incorporate 50 % a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar to hot water, stir, and pour it down the drain.

Go away it for close to fifteen minutes to see what transpires. Most homeowners swear by this method. It’s also quite simple, and fairly low cost as well.

Safety Considerations

Use gloves this goes with out expressing. You ought to never ever deal with any bathroom cleaning without donning gloves first.

The best variety of gloves to wear is rubber gloves. Not only do they not tear effortlessly, but you can also reuse these gloves numerous instances. If you are scared of getting toilet water or chemical fumes in your eyes, think about donning safety goggles too.

Final Thoughts

If you try out all the tips and tips previously mentioned and your rest room drain is nevertheless clogged, it may well be time to get in touch with in the experts. Most plumbers have a drill-activated snake that is confident to get the occupation done. Just be ready to part with around $100–$275, but 1st, confirm that your plumber has expertise unblocking a toilet before continuing with them.

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Showcased Picture Credit: David Spates, Shutterstock

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