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Should You Plunge an Already Clogged Toilet?

So, you have a clogged toilet. Should you plunge it? Well, that depends on what’s clogging it.

If the toilet was flushing just fine and then you used it, and now the toilet paper or waste you put into it caused the clog, then you should plunge it. Now, if you keep plunging the toilet over and over and the clog still won’t budge, then you should probably call a local plumber to come take a look. Unless you are using the wrong tool for the job, you shouldn’t have any issue unclogging a toilet with a plunger. If you can’t get the job done with your plunger, you can try using a toilet auger instead to snake the toilet. However, if you’ve never used one of these tools, you need to be especially careful to not exacerbate the issue or damage your plumbing in the process.

Also, if your toilet keeps clogging, you may have a more serious plumbing issue that needs to be addressed. Persistent clogging can be indicative of a serious blockage, a cracked pipe, improper pipe sizes, broken fittings, or even a sewer backup. A licensed plumber can come out to your home to investigate the underlying cause. 

If you don’t know what caused the clog though, you shouldn’t try to plunge it. A kid’s toy, dog toy, phone, jewelry, feminine product, hand towel, hair brush, or other object that has inadvertently become lodged in your toilet could cause even bigger problems if you plunge the toilet that it’s stuck in. A plunger is designed to create pressure to push a strong stream of water into the toilet to break up toilet paper or dislodge compacted waste. So, if you use a plunger on an object that should be pulled out of the toilet, it can drive it down inside your plumbing even further. And unlike toilet paper, that can break down over time in your pipes, these items will continue to cause issues that compound over time. Some homeowners recognize that they shouldn’t use a plunger on these items but make the mistake of trying to retrieve them themselves. Sticking something down your toilet to try to fish out a dropped item can cause its own problems as well. Using a toilet auger, toilet bowl brush, dowel, stick, fly swatter, or anything else down your toilet while a foreign object is stuck inside will likely just push it further in, and may even result in the item you’re using to get stuck as well. Any experienced plumber can tell you that they’ve found some incredibly odd things stuck in people’s toilets. Save yourself the headache and just call a local plumber right away when your toilet is clogged. Don’t risk making the clog worse by trying a DIY plumbing fix.

Additional resources:
How to Use a Toilet Auger
The Most Common Toilet Problems Explained
How Plumbers Unclog a Toilet - Tips for Homeowners
Roto Rooting 101
Do You Need to Replace your Toilet?
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Toilet?
What Does a Toilet Cost?
Help! I Can't Unclog My Toilet
Ways to Fix a Clogged Toilet
Is Your Plumbing Issue an Emergency?
Unclogging a Toilet with Detergent
Can a Plumber Fix My Toilet?
Putting Bleach in Your Toilet for a Clog
How Much will a New Toilet Be?
Do You Need a Plumber to Replace your Toilet?
Cost of a Toilet Installation