Hi all,

I have an upstairs toilet that is clogged. I've tried plunging, toilet augers, and an air-pressure device sold at Home Depot. No luck. Are there any other ways to try and unclog this thing? Am I going to have to suffer through nasty water and take the toilet off? Any help is appreciated.

 

Hi tvwebguy,
Welcome to the DIY Forums.

The course of action depends on the type of clog(if known). Toilet augers are short augers made for clearing the trap. Plunging and those somewhat dangerous air assisted plunging devices don't do much other than compact the clog and push it further into the pipe. Plungers should be used to PULL the clog out,not push it further down the pipe. The plunger should be pushed in slowly and firmly and then pulled back quickly to create an upward vacuum.

You might try Drain Care. This is an enzyme based drain cleaner that sticks to the clog and "eats" it.Its about $8 and works overnight. It may take more than one application depending on the severity of the clog. Its availiable at Home Center, Walmart, Ace, even some grocery stores carry it.

Since this is an upstairs toilet I am assuming your main drain line is clear as it would affect other fixtures as well. You may indeed have to pull the toilet and use a plumbers snake to clear the clog or at least put a hole in it so the Drain Care can work.

Good luck with your project and reply back if you have further questions.

 

Your correct, the sink and the tub drain fine, so I'm assuming that the clog isn't too far down the line. If I take the toilet out, I'd imagine it spilling "stuff" out the bottom. Do I have any options to prevents this? I thought about using my shop vac to suck out the contents. I don't really want to punish my shop vac that way.........

 

Shop vac or bucket and bail method. You can line the shop vac with a garbage or other good plastic bag to keep the offensive water off the sides of the vac basket. You can bail out as much water as possible and soak up the rest with a few towels or sponge.

This is a bad job either way you go.

 

Well, I took the toilet off. Found a clog just below the floor line. Cleared it. Ran some water down to make sure it was clear. Put the toilet back on. Still cloged.

Something has to be stuck in the toilet. It boggles my mind how it won't let water through, but, the toilet auger goes through. I guess my next move is to take the toilet off again and check for blockages. I could always just throw it away and get a new toilet. Might be less "stinky".....

 

Its amazing what can get flushed down a toilet. A toothbrush will pick up the T.paper and make a stopper out of it and when you snake it, the snake goes right through the TP and then the hole reseals. Toothpaste tubes sponges, you name it and it has probably been found in a toilet. Good luck.