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How to Snake a Toilet Feed the end of the cable into the toilet, taking care not to scratch the bowl. Crank the handle clockwise and push the auger until you either snag the obstruction or break it up so it can be flushed. If you snag the obstruction, pull out the auger. Clean the auger as needed.
Is it OK to snake a toilet?
Using the wrong plumber’s snake Plumbing snakes (also called drain cables) that are used to unclog sinks can actually scratch your porcelain toilet bowl.
When should I snake my toilet?
So if you’ve tried a plunger, a hot-water flush, or even a homemade baking soda solution and things still aren’t flowing like they should, it’s probably time summon the snake (also known as a plumber’s auger).
How do you snake a toilet with a hanger?
Take a coat hanger and a pair of linesman pliers (or anything that can cut wire). Cut the hook off the coat hanger. Bend the hanger into a straight rod and use the pliers to bend a small one-inch-long hook into the wire’s end. Hook into the waste and break it up.
Can snaking a drain make it worse?
If you have a clogged pipe, a drain snake is a simple and cheap tool you can use to fix it. These are advertised as devices that anyone can use to unclog a drain. But if used improperly, drain augers could make the clog worse. You could jam the obstruction in there tighter, or worse, do damage to your pipes.
Will a toilet eventually unclog itself?
A toilet will eventually unclog itself if normal things like toilet paper and feces are stuck in it. It will take as fast as an hour for a toilet to unclog itself if the thing clogging it is easily degradable, or as long as over 24 hours if an abundant amount of organic matter clogs it.
What is the best snake to unclog a toilet?
BEST OVERALL: Ridgid GIDDS-813340 41408 Power Spin Drain Cleaner. BEST BUDGET: Liboyixi 6+1 Drain Clog Remover Tool. BEST FOR TOILET CLOGS: RIDGID 6 ft. BEST FOR HAIR CLOGS: FlexiSnake Drain Weasel Sink Snake Cleaner. BEST EXTRA LONG: VEVOR 50FTx1/2Inch Drain Cleaner Machine. BEST ELECTRIC: POPULO Electric Drain Auger.
Can you snake a clogged toilet?
To unclog toilets that couldn’t be fixed with a plunger, use a toilet auger. Also called a plumbing snake, this flexible coil of wire is designed to extend into pipes and clear obstructions without damaging the plumbing. If you snag the obstruction, pull out the auger. Clean the auger as needed.
Can you put Drano in a toilet?
You can use Drano® Clog Removers to unclog a kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower or clogged bathtub, but DO NOT use them in toilets. For preventive drain cleaning, you can use Drano® Max Build-Up Remover in drains, toilets and even septic systems.
What happens if a toilet auger doesn’t work?
You need to make sure that you’ve securely tightened thumbscrew(the piece that secures the cable inside the drum or handle). If the thumbscrew is loose, the cable will not rotate at all when you twist the handle. The cable rotation is how the drain snake picks up debris, so if it can’t do this, your auger won’t work.
How do you unclog a toilet that won’t plunge?
Hot Water and Dish Soap Wait for 10-15 minutes while the dish soap and hot water soften the clog. Once you do so, the toilet will unclog and flush freely. Alternatively, you could use hot water and shampoo from the sink if you wish to clear your toilet without leaving your bathroom.
Can I use a wire hanger to unclog a toilet?
Use a Wire Coat Hanger If the blockage is in the first few inches of the drain, you can fashion a wire coat hanger to clear it. Push the coat hanger into the toilet drain and push the obstruction past the bend it’s stuck on.
What does a toilet snake look like?
A drain toilet snake is a long wire coil with a corkscrew-like tip that you feed into your pipes until it encounters the clog. Even the least expensive toilet snake will clear a toilet. These toilet snakes are often short because most obstructions catch in the first S-bend or at the floor flange.
What does dish soap in toilet do?
It’s pretty simple — just like they do on food particles that are stuck to your dishes in the sink, the combination of hot water and dish soap help to dissolve and break up whatever it may be that is lodged in the toilet causing a clog. This handy tip is great should you find yourself in a pinch.
Can you break a pipe with a snake?
Drain Snakes Can Damage Pipes While billed as devices that are easy to use by anyone and everyone, drain snakes can be hard to manage, and if used improperly, can damage pipes. Old pipes in many homes are galvanized, or coated in zinc, which was done to prevent the pipe from rusting or corroding.
