Toilet clogs occur when there is a build-up of tissue paper, but may also happen if children curiously flush objects such as toys or stuffed animals down the toilet. 

With toilets, there are partial and full clogs. Partial clogs slow the water flow while full clogs make the toilet bowl look like it will overflow. Fortunately, bowls will typically not overflow. Just be sure not to panic and flush again. If you do flush again, open up the tank and lift the ball-float to temporarily stop the water. 

Unclogging a Toilet

1. Place towels around the toilet and scoop out excess water from the bowl into a bucket, leaving a couple of inches of water in the bottom. 

2. Using a cone-shaped plunger, plunge the bowl repeatedly. Make sure that you are using a quality toilet plunger that is made to fit the drain-hole for optimal results. If plunging does not work the first few times, continue until the blockage is resolved. 

3. Create a DIY hook using a coat hanger. Shape one end into a small hook and fish it down into the pipe to grab the built-up debris. 

4. Unclog using a hand snake. These can be purchased at your local hardware or home improvement store, and are a good tool to keep around the house. Feed the snake down into the pipe until you reach the clog. Then turn the snake handle to bring it back up or break the debris apart.

5. Fill a bucket with hot bath water and pour it into the bowl from waist level. The heat plus the force of additional water could help dislodge the debris causing the clog. 

Call in a Professional

If none of these methods work, it’s time to call a professional who can assess the clog and determine the right course of action.