If you’ve been left wincing in discomfort because you daren’t use your slow draining toilet, it’s time to address the issue. After all, it could be a problem you can solve in mere minutes – if only you knew how.
Thankfully, we’ve created a guide which gives you all the information you need to get the job done – and get it done relatively quickly, easily and maybe even cost effectively. Read on…
What is a Slow Draining Toilet?
Quite simply, this is a toilet bowl that, when flushed, fills up with water. This water then sits in the bowl, draining out gradually – and causing you a big headache in the process. You’ll know that one too many toilet breaks in quick succession will mean one thing and one thing only – a flooded floor.
So, what do you do? You take advantage of some of these inexpensive and easy tips.
Unblocking a Slow Draining Toilet: Home Remedies
Clearing a toilet blockage, or seeing to a bowl that’s draining slowly, can be frustrating – but it doesn’t have to be too challenging. Here are a few handy home remedies to try before calling out the professionals.
Be aware that when we say home remedies, none of them involve you standing in your kitchen and mixing up a drain unblocking ‘magic mixture’. Instead, you’ll be utilising some basic tools you’ll have lying around the shed or garage, in a bid to avoid a bill from an expert drainage team later down the line.
Dishwashing Soap Could Be the Answer
A tablespoon of dishwashing soap/liquid (added into the overflow pipe) could be all that’s required to ensure your toilet is back in action in no time. How do you do this, though? You’ll find this upright pipe in the toilet’s tank; look for a pipe with a small tube running through it.
And then simply add the tablespoon of soap, pop the lid down – and wait, but only for 10 minutes or so. Giving the liquid a chance to seep down the overflow pipe, those minutes spent waiting are vital. You’ll also have the added benefit of the calcium and other deposits slowly dislodging from the toilet walls. What this will do is make for an easier clean later – result!
Now, all that’s left to do is flush the loo. Sending water through the tank’s pipes and out through the holes below – and to the toilet rim – flushing will dislodge any residue floating around the tank.
Try a Plunger
Every good home owner has a plunger somewhere – and now’s the time to put it to good use. Grab yours and plunge the toilet with the rubber flange pulled out; this will allow for a better seal.
Now, simply push in and out in a vigorous fashion. When doing this, you should ensure that enough water in the bowl is covering the plunger. It’s a good idea to have some paper towels close by, in case any water splashes out of the bowl and onto the floor.
It’s worth knowing – according to The Family Handyman site, anyway – that around 90% of clogged toilets can be sorted with a plunger and a splodge or two of trusty old elbow grease.
What to Look Out For:
Buying a plunger? Ensure you go for one with an extension flange on the rubber bell-shaped end. This type of plunger has been designed to fit toilets that little bit better – and what that means for you is you can give it a little more of that elbow grease when you start plunging.
Plunge properly – and well – and you should see to the issue. If the water’s still sitting in the bowl once you’ve done your thing with the plunger, it may require you to give it a second go.
Always leave around 10 minutes in between your last good plunge and your next; that way you’re giving the water chance to flush down the toilet in its own, gradual time.
Top Tips for Plunging Perfection
Need a nudge in the right direction when it comes to the perfect way to plunge? No problem; try these tips…
- Go gently at first – it may be all your toilet bowl requires
- Once you’ve forced out the air in your toilet bowl, plunge with real conviction – just go for it! This will help maintain the seal and will loosen a clog or two. Try up to 20 plunges, if needs be
- Persistence is key, so give different plunging techniques a shot, where possible. Slow and steady strokes may do the trick, but if not, be more vigorous
- Always ensure the plunger is covered with water
If That Didn’t Work, Grab a Snake
No, not a real one! Now that would be a little silly and…spoiler alert…they’re not too good at unblocking toilet drains.
A plumbing snake, meanwhile, could be the next best thing to a plunger. A long, wire coil with a tip like a corkscrew, a snake can feed into your pipes, come across the clog and set it free, as it were. Here’s what to do if you have a snake…
Try turning the snake clockwise. The tip will then screw through the clog to break it up; if this doesn’t work, though, the debris will wind onto the wire, making it easier for you to pull it out.
Drain snakes like these are generally short, as most obstructions in toilets will be in the first S-bend of the drains. Therefore, you should be able to sort it out relatively easily.
What Not to Do
So, we’ve given you some top tips for plunging your toilet – and plunging it properly. But here’s what not to do:
- Use Chemicals – Harsh chemicals aren’t always the answer. They could work but they’ll tend to sort the problem gradually – and have you got the time on your hands to sort it out?
- Keep the Toilet Lid Up – You should get into the habit of putting the toilet lid down when it’s not in use. That way, small hands can’t be tempted to put toys down there. After all, they’re one of the main causes of blockages, or slow draining toilets
- Pour Hardening Compounds Down the Drain – Don’t be tempted to pour grease, caulk, wax products, or drywall joint compound down your toilet. Just don’t – it will only end in tears.
Want More Tips?
Ever wondered what other people are asking about slow draining toilet bowls?
WikiHow has a great article, which also features a community forum to the bottom of the page. It’s in this forum that you’ll spot some frequently asked questions – hey, you may even find that a burning one of yours is answered over on the site.
Another great forum to check out is this one. If it doesn’t feature the answer you’re looking for, perhaps it doesn’t even exist! It’s brimming with hints, tips and advice you can use today – so don’t delay and try unblocking your toilet yourself.
Oh, and here’s another site to check out. Again, it’s jam-packed with information from people in the same position as you. Head over there now and see if you can sort out your blocked toilet without the need for harsh chemicals, or the professionals.
Prefer Tutorials in Video Form?
So do we! You can then simply follow the tutorial, pausing and starting as you get to work on your own toilet.
Why not check out this video? It explains in simple terms how you can unblock your toilet at minimal cost to you. Featuring the snake method we mentioned earlier, this video offers some sound advice for anyone who’s ready to pull up their rubber gloves and get stuck in.
Liked the idea of the plunger method, but perhaps you don’t have a plunger? Maybe, then, you have a humble kitchen mop instead? If that’s the case, it’s time to free it from the corner of the utility room and put it to even better use in your toilet – just don’t clean your floors with it after. This video gives you all the details you need to unclog a slow draining toilet.
Slow Draining Toilet Bowls: When to Call in the Professionals
So, you’ve tried all the methods we’ve listed above and still your toilet bowl is draining painfully slowly? What to do now? The only thing you can do is call in the professionals.
Drainage companies in and around London will know how to tackle even the trickiest of blockages, so it really is worth leaving the issue in their capable hands.
Professional teams are trained in all aspects of sink and toilet unblocking and they’ll have plenty of empathy about your situation. After all, a blocked drain can be more than unpleasant – it’s distressing.
It really isn’t something you should leave untreated, either. A blocked toilet drain could do damage to your property – or worse, affect your health.
But specialist teams will know exactly how to handle the situation to ensure you can use your toilet again in no time at all. Get in touch today and sort out the issue once and for all.