Toilet Repair and Replacement
Clogged toilet repair
If a clogged toilet is rising, lift the tank lid and push the flapper closed, or turn the shutoff valve behind the toilet clockwise. Most clogs sit in the toilet's built-in trap and clear with a flange plunger or a toilet auger. If other drains gurgle or back up when you flush, the clog is in the drain line and the toilet is only where it shows.
- Independent licensed local plumbers
- The plumber gives you a price before work starts
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A toilet has an S-shaped passage cast into the porcelain, narrower than the pipe below it, so most blockages lodge inside the fixture. Too much paper, wipes labeled flushable, sanitary products and small objects dropped in by children are the usual causes.
The useful question is whether the toilet is the only fixture affected. One toilet that clogs while the sink and tub beside it drain normally has a local blockage. A toilet that bubbles when the washing machine drains, or backs up along with the tub, is reporting a problem in the branch or main sewer line.
When you need clogged toilet
- A plunger has not cleared it after several proper attempts
- The toilet clogs repeatedly, even with normal use
- Something solid went down: a toy, a toothbrush, a deodorizer clip
- Water backs up in the tub or shower when the toilet is flushed
- More than one toilet in the house is slow or clogged at once
How it is done and the choices involved
- 1
Plunge with the right tool
A flange plunger, the kind with a sleeve that fits the outlet, seals the trapway. Slow, firm strokes with water covering the cup move the clog.
- 2
Toilet auger
A closet auger is a short cable in a sleeve that protects the porcelain. It hooks or breaks up what a plunger cannot shift.
- 3
Pull the toilet
A hard object wedged in the trapway is often only reachable from below. The toilet is removed, cleared and reset on a new wax ring.
- 4
Clear the line beyond the toilet
If the blockage is in the drain, it is cabled from a cleanout or through the toilet flange, and a recurring one may be inspected by camera.
What affects the cost of clogged toilet
Prices vary by market and job. The pro gives you a price before starting; these factors drive it.
- Clog in the toilet versus in the drain line
- Whether the toilet has to be removed and reset
- A foreign object that cannot be retrieved without replacing the toilet
- After-hours timing when it is the only toilet in the home
- Main-line cleaning if several fixtures are affected
Clogged Toilet FAQ
How do I stop a toilet from overflowing?
Take the tank lid off and press the rubber flapper down over the opening at the bottom of the tank, which stops water entering the bowl. Then turn the shutoff valve on the wall behind the toilet clockwise until it stops. Do not flush again.
Is a clogged toilet an emergency?
It is urgent if it is the only toilet in the home, if it is overflowing and will not stop, or if sewage is coming up in other fixtures. A single clogged toilet in a home with a second bathroom can usually wait for a scheduled visit.
Are flushable wipes really flushable?
They leave the bowl, but they do not break down the way toilet paper does. They catch on rough spots in older pipe and build into blockages in house sewers and public mains. Put them in the trash.
Why does my toilet keep clogging?
Common reasons are an older low-flow model with a weak flush, mineral buildup in the rim jets, a partial obstruction in the trapway, a blocked vent, or a developing main-line clog. If plunging keeps working only for a while, have it checked.
Part of toilet repair and replacement
Clogged Toilet is one job within toilet repair and replacement. The main page covers the warning signs, the full process and what you can safely do yourself.
Helpful guides
Main Sewer Line Clog: Signs and What to Do
If more than one drain is slow or backing up, especially the lowest toilet, tub or floor drain, the main sewer line is probably clogged. Stop running water and call a plumber to clear the line from a cleanout.
Read the guide
When to Call an Emergency Plumber (and When It Can Wait)
Call an emergency plumber when water is actively damaging the home and you can't stop it, sewage is backing up, or you have no water at all. If you can stop the water at a shutoff valve and the home is still usable, it can usually wait for a regular appointment, which costs less.
Read the guideNeed help with clogged toilet?
Call (833) 520-4758 to reach an available local pro.