How to Unclog a Slow Draining Toilet: Effective Tips to Apply

You can apply several methods to unclog a slow draining toilet. These include the hot bucket method, the coat hanger technique, the toilet snaking and the power flush. These techniques clear the main drain, rim jets, and siphon jet. It may be more difficult to unclog a slow-draining bathroom than it is to clear one that is completely blocked up. The problem is usually caused by pain in the drain or elsewhere in the plumbing system. This guide is a DIY guide on how to unclog a slow draining toilet. However, just because you can do it yourself does not mean you should.

Don’t let your incompetence or inexperience affect your ability to solve problems. For a quick and clean repair, you should call a professional. Broadley’s, located near the Jersey Shore, has been serving homes from Marmora, Upper Township, through Avalon and Ocean City to Cape May for almost a century. It is useful to recognize the problem, but it is detrimental to make it worse.

How to unclog a slow draining toilet

Hot water bucket method

A hot water bucket is the most popular way to fix a slow-flooding toilet. This technique uses the hot water bucket to loosen and clear blockages. You can also use dishwasher detergent to clean the water jets around the toilet bowl’s Rim.

Step 1

This technique requires that you fill a 5-gallon bucket of hot water. It is easier to just place it in the bathtub and then fill it with water from the faucet. Ensure the water is as hot as possible, and then flush it down the toilet. The hot water will flow into the drain pipe until it reaches the wax seal.

Step 2

After dumping in hot water, the next step is to remove the toilet tank lid and pour the dishwasher detergent into the overflow tube. The overflow tube, an uncapped plastic pipe that extends from the middle of the toilet tank, is uncapped. The overflow tube is a plastic pipe extending from the toilet tank’s center. If the tank water level gets too high, the water will ‘overflow’ into this pipe. Dishwasher detergent can be inserted into the overflow tube. It will then go into the water jets at the Rim of your toilet bowl.

Step 3

You can also add drain cleaner to your toilet. Add a large amount of Drano to the toilet bowl after you have poured in hot water.

Step 4

After you’ve completed all steps, wait about 10-15 minutes before flushing the toilet. Hot water, dish soap, and drain cleaner can remove mineral or metal deposits from the drains and water jets. The flush should have been improved or cleared of any blockages.

Coat hanger method

Step 1

Use a coat hanger or a small tool like a screwdriver to poke and prod at the rim jets. You can use vinegar or a light acid cleaner to clean the rim jets’ surfaces. You can also pour some vinegar into an overflow tube, releasing the rim jets.

Step 2

Use the coat hanger to loosen any debris from the siphon jet, taking care not to scratch the porcelain. You can flush the toilet after cleaning the water jets.

Snake method

The snake method removes any obstructions in the main drain that could slow down the flush. It is still common to flush ‘wipes down’ the toilet. Clogs pipes. An auger, or toilet snake, is a special snake that can be used to flush toilets. It is made of a long, metal or plastic arm and a flexible elbow that fits into the drain. This protects the porcelain visible from being scratched by the snake’s metal.

Step 1

The snake method begins with the stick of the long arm of a drill into the toilet. Next, push the elbow into a drain.

Step 2

Then, grab the handle and push it down into the drain. To avoid scratching the porcelain, the elbow part of the plastic must be kept in the toilet.

Step 3

You place the snake in the drain, holding it tightly, and then turn the handle to clear debris. Also, pump the snake backward and forwards.

Step 4

To check if the toilet is working better, flush it. You don’t need to take out the snake to flush the toilet. You can just do the snaking and flush the toilet.

What causes a slow draining toilet

Before discussing the various ways to fix slow-flooding toilets, it is important to understand the causes. It should be easier to determine the cause of the problem once you have a better understanding.

See more: How to fix gape between toilet and wall

Low water levels in your toilet tank

When looking for slow drainage, the first thing to inspect is the toilet tank. You can remove the lid from your toilet tank and store it in a secure place. Next, check the level of your tanks. If your tank water appears lower than normal, it is most likely due to a problem with the toilet tank. If your toilet does not have enough water power, it may not flush as well. This causes a slow flushing toilet. Low water levels can occur for many reasons. It’s usually not your fault. While maintenance can be helpful, toilet parts and systems will eventually fail. A cracked tank can cause it, a broken fill tube or a damaged fill valve. However, we tend to narrow it down to these common causes. These are ten possible causes of low water pressure in your house.

Drainage blockage or buildup

One in five Americans experiences a blocked drain every year. You will likely need to deal with it at some point in the future. A clogged bathroom is often obvious, even if you don’t know much about plumbing. Sometimes, the problem is more complicated than that. Sometimes the blockage may be severe or spread further down the system. It is more difficult to fix a system blockage than a simple blocked toilet.

Mineral or sediment buildup along the Rim

If your toilet bowl drains slowly but still works properly, it could be the jet holes around the toilet bowl’s Rim. Each flush can be affected by the buildup of minerals and sediments along the sides of these holes. We’ll discuss the various ways to fix these issues in the next section.

How to unclog a slow draining toilet: Alternative ways

These are the essential things to consider if you want to unclog a slow draining toilet. It is worth taking a moment to review the components of a bathroom. If you’re not confident with your plumbing skills, don’t hesitate to call a professional. Sometimes, homeowners who don’t know how to fix plumbing problems can do more damage than good.

Disconnect the damaged fill tube

The fill tube, although small in size, is an essential component of the interior of the toilet tank. It is typically black and made from flexible rubber. This tube leads to a large vertical tube called the overflow tube. The fill tube must be cleaned, which is responsible for transferring water from your tank to the bowl every flush. The fill tube can get damaged over time due to normal wear and tear. In the end, it will become unclipped. The tank will then fill up with water, which causes the valves to turn off. The bowl will slowly fill with water. This problem can be fixed by checking the fill tube of your toilet tank. You can attach the tube back to the cylinder if it is in good condition but not disconnected. If the pipe is damaged or not in good condition, you’ll need to replace it.

Replace cracked toilet bowl

Although this problem isn’t as common as a damaged or burst pipe, it can still happen. Sometimes, a crack may form in the lower bowl. Water will slowly drip out of this leak. It is easy to identify by the presence of puddles at the base. You will also notice a decrease in water levels in the toilet. There is no easy fix for cracked toilet bowls. Most sealing agents that you use will be temporary. You will likely need to replace the entire toilet and install a brand new one. You can call your local plumber if you aren’t confident installing a new bathroom.

Deal with a blocked sewer line vent

A sewer line vent is a pipe that runs from the bathroom wall to the roof of a building or house. This pipe is designed to bring fresh air into the drainage system and move water. The sewer line vent protects your home from toxic sewage gases. This plumbing component is vulnerable to clogs.

What is the cause of clogs

You can fit anything, from dead squirrels to tree branches, in the pipe. The severity of the obstruction can affect the water level in your toilet. You can attempt to fix the sewer line vent by climbing onto your roof. Check to see if anything is blocking the pipe. If it is, shine a flashlight down the pipe. If it isn’t too far down, you might see a clog. You can reach the clog with a plumber’s snake. You must call a professional plumber if you cannot dislodge it yourself. Use a plunger to unclog the toilet.

Sometimes a slow-flushing toilet can be caused by a blocked drain. There are many reasons why clogs may occur, but most commonly, it is because someone flushed something that was not supposed to be. If the water level is still high after flushing, something is likely blocking water flow. Although there are many ways to solve this problem, we recommend two. You can use a plunger to solve the problem. Use a plunger to insert it into the toilet. You should wear gloves and ensure a tight seal to prevent potential problems. Give the plunge a gentle push. Keep in mind that the plunger is filled with air. A hard first plunge could send water backward all over you. After you have completed the initial drop, you can push in and out more quickly with the plunger.