Prevention
is usually easier than cure here. If the blockage is paper, you
can try unavailing a wire coat hanger but leave the hook on the
end. Use the hook end to try to draw the blockage back into the
pan where you can break it up to be flushed away in pieces.
Using
a plunger.
This
is one of the handiest tools for unblocking toilets. The special
toilet plunger has a tapered lip to fit the shape of the bowl. The
first method to try when using the plunger is to draw the obstruction
back into the bowl (not push it into the main drain where it can
cause more problems). Here is how to go about it.
First
ensure there is enough water in the pan to cover the plunger. Place
the cup of the plunger over the drain at an angle, with the edge of
the cup at the edge of the drain. This will keep most of the air out
of the cup. Push down firmly and straighten the handle, compressing
the cup. Now pull up on the handle very sharply. The cup will snap off
the drain and water will flow up from the trap into the toilet bowl.
Repeat this action several times until the blockage comes back into
the bowl. If this is not sufficient to solve the problem, another, less
appealing method, is to cover your hand and forearm with a plastic garbage
bag and reach into the trap to remove the blockage manually. If none
of these steps is effective, you are recommended to call in a plumber
who has a tool called drain auger", which can reach right
into the drain and move most obstacles. You can buy and use this tool
yourself but it needs care to avoid damaging the bowl or snagging the
tool in the system.
|