You’ve probably experienced the sinking feeling of pulling the flush only to see the water level rise and not go down. At first you’ll be relieved that you’re not at a friend’s house and the water hasn’t come over the top. But then you have to face the reality that you don’t have a toilet plunger.
Fortunately it is possible to unclog a toilet without a plunger.
It is a good idea to have the number of a good Sydney plumber to hand in case you’re unable to solve the issue without a plunger.
Hot Water
You can’t do this if the water is already near the top of the bowl. However, if there is space in the toilet you need to pour a bucket of hot water into the bowl.
The water mustn’t be boiling as you don’t want to risk cracking the bowl. However, it should be hot. Leave it to sit in the bowl for at least five minutes; it can help to break up the waste.
Soap It Up
If hot water isn’t working then try squeezing some dish soap into the bowl. There is no upper limit regarding how much you can put it.
Again you’ll need to leave it for a short while to allow the soap to react with the waste and start decomposing it; allowing you to flush properly again.
Epsom Salts
This is a great option if you’re in someone else’s bathroom and need to deal with the clog before leaving the room.
If they have Epsom salts then drop a tablespoon or two of these in the bowl. The fizzy action will help to displace the blockage and get the toilet moving again.
Of course you may need to tell your friend what you’ve done but at least you’ll have sorted the issue.
Coat Hanger
If you have a wire coat hanger this can be used to go through the bends in the pipes beneath the bowl. It is best to use a wire coat hanger that has a plastic coating; this will protect your bowl from scratches.
Do not use a standard plastic hanger; it won’t go round the bend and if it breaks you’ll have made the problem worse.
Slowly feed your metal hanger through the bowl and the pipes; prodding to break up any waste in the bowl and pipes. You should hear the pressure release as the blockage moves.
Don’t forget to carefully discard the hanger; you probably don’t want to hang it back in your closet.
Toilet Brush
If you don’t have a toilet plunger but do have a brush then this can be used in a similar way. Slide the brush into the drain hole and then pump it up and down several times.
This should break up the waste while creating a vacuum to encourage movement; allowing the bowl to drain.
You will have to clean the brush after but that’s better than the bathroom floor.