Stop the overflow first, then fix the clog
If the bowl is rising, do not flush again. Take the tank lid off and push the flapper down to stop more water entering, or turn the small valve behind the toilet clockwise to close it. Put towels around the base and keep children and pets away if the water has been wastewater.
A stubborn clog is usually one of three things: too much paper, a foreign object or a problem further down the line. The first two can be cleared by hand. The third cannot, and recognizing it early saves a lot of mess.
If the toilet keeps overflowing or you cannot stop it, call right away. Our toilet repair and installation page explains how an emergency visit works.
Steps for a stubborn toilet clog
What not to do with a clogged toilet
- Do not flush repeatedly. Each flush adds water that may overflow.
- Do not pour boiling water into the bowl, since it can crack the porcelain.
- Do not use chemical drain openers in a toilet. They rarely work and can splash back or leave caustic water.
- Do not use a metal snake in porcelain without a guard, as it scratches the bowl.
- Do not push a hard object farther by plunging if you know something solid went down.
- Do not pull the toilet unless you know how to reset it with a new wax ring.
Why some toilet clogs are different
Objects such as toys, a toothbrush or a cell phone can lodge in the trap, and plunging only wedges them. In that case a closet auger may not help either, and the toilet may need to come off the floor so the trap can be cleared from below. That is a plumber job, because it involves a new wax ring and a good seal to prevent leaks.
Wipes are the other common culprit. Even those marked flushable do not break down the way toilet paper does, and they gather in the line and build a plug. If you use them, put them in the trash. A toilet that clogs more than a few times a year may also have a low-flow design that needs a plunger more often, or a vent or line problem.
Toilets and septic in Apple Valley
Many Apple Valley homes are on septic. Town planning documents describe about 70 percent of development as septic, and the sewer connection is required if the nearest property line is within 200 feet of the sewer. A clog that backs up not only the toilet but also a tub or shower points to the main line or, for a septic home, possibly the tank or drain field.
Be careful with what goes into a septic system. Chemical drain cleaners and heavy bleach use are best avoided, and wipes, even flushable ones, fill a tank and can plug the inlet. If a toilet backs up and the whole house is slow, it may be time for a septic professional, and we will say so after checking the line.
Toilet makers' guidelines say to flush only human waste and toilet paper, even when a wipe package says flushable. That one rule prevents most repeat clogs.
Source: Town of Apple Valley planning documents.
Which tool for which toilet clog
| Situation | Tool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paper clog, bowl low | Flange plunger | Seal and press steadily |
| Slow flush after plunging | Closet auger | Protect the porcelain |
| Toy or solid object | Plumber | May need the toilet pulled |
| Overflow every flush | Stop and call | Main line or vent suspected |
| Gurgling in other drains | Stop and call | Shared line blocked |
When a toilet clog means a bigger problem
Look at the other fixtures. If the shower or the floor drain gurgles when you flush, the main line is the likely cause and no plunger will help. If the water level in the bowl drops and rises on its own, a vent could be blocked. And if a toilet clogs again right after you clear it, the problem may be beyond the trap.
In these cases, a plumber clears the main line, often through the cleanout, and may run a camera. Our sewer line cleaning page explains that process, and drain cleaning covers lighter jobs. We serve Victorville and Hesperia too.
After the toilet clears: cleanup and prevention
Wash your hands well, disinfect the floor and bowl with a household cleaner and wear gloves for the cleanup. Run a test flush slowly, then a second to check the flow. Keep an eye on the base for leaks over the next day.
To prevent a repeat, use less paper, flush twice for heavy use and keep everything but toilet paper out of the bowl. Teach children what the toilet is for. If a toilet is old and clogs often, replacing it with a modern one can help.
Clogged toilet questions from Apple Valley homeowners
Close the supply valve behind the toilet and lift the flapper in the tank. Then plunge with a flange plunger.
Often for a paper clog. Use hot tap water, not boiling, and give it a few minutes.
We advise against it. It rarely works and can splash or damage a septic system.
If other drains gurgle or back up when the toilet is flushed, the shared line is blocked.
For a hard object lodged in the trap, usually yes, since the toilet needs a new wax ring and seal.
Still have a question about your situation? Call (760) 986-1999 any hour and ask.