Toilet Not Flushing? Try These 6 DIY Tips

Chances are you’ve dealt with a toilet not flushing the way it should at some point in your life. Not only is this issue frustrating and inconvenient, but it can also keep you from having a functioning bathroom in your home.

Fortunately, there are several DIY methods you can try to resolve the problem of a backed-up toilet. We’ll explore some of the common reasons your toilet may be clogged and what you can do to clear your plumbing system up again and get your toilet back in working order. Check out the tips below on how to fix a clogged toilet.

Why Won’t My Toilet Flush?

A backed-up toilet is a common issue for many homeowners, and one you’re likely to encounter more than once. Several culprits can be the underlying cause, so it’s important to understand why your toilet won’t flush all the way and what could be obstructing your plumbing system so you can avoid plumbing disasters.

Clog in the Plumbing System

The most common culprit for a backed-up toilet is a clog somewhere in the plumbing system. All plumbing fixtures, including sinks and toilets, feature traps to prevent backflow. These traps take the form of curved piping beneath a toilet or other plumbing fixtures and are known as S-traps or P-traps, depending on their shape. This piping can become clogged with toilet paper, hair, or any other debris, which can cause drainage issues.

Clogs can also happen farther down in the plumbing system, especially if something has ended up in the toilet that can’t be flushed. If you only have one toilet in your home that won’t flush, and you don’t notice any problems with sinks, showers, or bathtubs, then a local clog is likely the issue.

Issues with Plumbing Ventilation

Your home has what’s known as a vent pipe or vent stack. This device is usually located on the roof and helps regulate the air pressure in your plumbing system. Because of its rooftop location, the vent pipe can become obstructed by leaves and other debris, which can cause your toilet and other plumbing to back up so that your toilet won’t flush.

Sewer Line Damage or Blockage

Sometimes tree roots can cause damage to underground plumbing. These root blockages can grow over time, severely obstructing or damaging pipes. Other issues like misused construction equipment, corrosion, and the natural shifting of the ground can cause breakage and even collapses, which can lead to a toilet not flushing and drain backups.

Storms and Rain

Heavy rainfall, like the kind that occurs in severe storms, can flush debris into the sewer lines or overwhelm your home plumbing system with large amounts of water. Fortunately, if your backed-up toilet is caused by this issue, it likely will resolve itself quickly. However, if your toilet always backs up when it rains, there may be a larger issue that needs to be addressed.

Learn about septic system care tips to properly maintain and take care of your septic system.

Start with a Plunger

While a toilet plunger may not be a very high-tech solution, it’s often the most effective and best way to unclog a toilet. In fact, most clogged toilets can usually be cleared with a simple plunger. Just make sure that you use the right kind of plunger as there are sink plungers as well. A toilet plunger has a bell shape with a cylindrical sleeve that comes out of the bottom, known as a flange. This type of plunger is designed to fit more tightly into the drain hole of a toilet bowl and form a tight seal for plunging.

When plunging your toilet, make sure there is enough water in the bowl to cover the base of the plunger. Start with gentle plunges to avoid splashing water out of the toilet. You may have to plunge as many as 15 or 20 times to clear the clog. Once you think the drain is clear, remove the plunger and flush the toilet. If the water still threatens to overflow, try plunging again until the clog is removed.

Use a Drain Snake

If plunging doesn’t solve your toilet backup problem, you may need to use a drain snake, which looks like a coil of wire with a corkscrew tip. Look for a snake known as a toilet auger, which will work best to navigate the turns in a toilet bowl.

To use a snake, insert the tip of the auger into the toilet drain hole and turn the handle clockwise. When you feel the auger stop moving down the toilet, that means that you’ve run into a clog. Push the auger forward and backward several times to break up the clog, then remove the auger and flush the toilet.

In a pinch, you can also use a wire hanger as a drain snake for a clogged toilet fix, just by unwinding it. Use the curved part of the hanger as a hook. Just make sure to cover the metal hook with some duct tape or electrical tape to avoid damaging your toilet’s porcelain.

Look in the Kitchen Cabinet

If your toilet keeps clogging, you can make an easy solution to clear it with common items found in your kitchen: vinegar and baking soda. Combine 1 cup of each and put the solution in the toilet bowl, leaving it for about 30 minutes. After this time has passed, add extremely hot water to the toilet bowl to dissolve the clog.

The combination of vinegar and baking soda creates a fizzy reaction, so you may want to try to remove some water from the toilet bowl before adding the vinegar and baking soda, or place towels around the base of the toilet to catch any spillover.

Try Dish Soap

If you don’t have access to the proper tools for clearing a clogged toilet, you can use liquid dish soap as a simple chemical solution. Add about ¼ cup of dish soap to the toilet bowl and let it sit for around 15 minutes. Ideally, the dish soap will travel down the drain and lubricate the clog.

After the dish soap has been left to sit for at least 15 minutes, pour very hot water (just below boiling) into the toilet bowl to break up and rinse out the clog.

Avoid Chemicals If Possible

If a plunger, drain snake, or any other method doesn’t work to unclog your toilet, there are chemical solutions that may do the trick. However, keep in mind that these typically work more slowly, and can cause damage to your toilet. And if they don’t work, you can end up with a toilet full of corrosive water, which can be hazardous to your health.

If you do use chemicals and they don’t resolve the issue, make sure to wear safety goggles and rubber gloves to keep the corrosive water from touching your skin or face. Learn more about common plumbing maintenance and ways to prevent plumbing problems.

Call a Professional

If these DIY solutions for resolving your toilet not flushing don’t work, it may be time to seek the assistance of a professional plumber. With a home warranty from First American, you can contact us and we’ll assign a plumbing professional to help. Contact us today to learn more about First American’s coverage options or get a free quote for a home warranty plan.

The contents of this article are provided for general guidance only. First American Home Warranty does not assume any responsibility for losses or damages as a result of using this information.

Please be aware that if you disassemble a covered system or item, it can invalidate your home warranty or manufacturer's warranty.