Having your toilet refuse to flush is no fun and sometimes places you in an embarrassing situation. Knowing how to use a plunger to fix clogged drains and toilets is always useful, but it is less than intuitive for some, so make sure to keep these things in mind:

Be sure to have a good plunger. These are worth the money you spend on them. The most basic (and still useful) model will run you somewhere from $5 to $15. If you want to spend more, you can perhaps get really fancy plunger, but at anything more than $15 or so, you’re paying for decoration, not increased functionality. You need to find a plunger that has a good seal on your drain or toilet.
How you submerge the plunger in the toilet is important. Your aim is to fill the plunger up with water, so tilt the plunger as you submerge it and listen for the “glug” of water filling the plunger when you pull up on the handle. When you push down, the plunger will send a jet of water into the pipe to hopefully dislodge whatever is blocking it. Some plungers use air instead of water to dislodge the blockage, so know which one you have.
Take the lid off the tank before plunging. That way, if your toilet starts to overflow, you can grab the trip lever to stop water from running onto the floor.

You can usually fix clogged drains and toilets fast with that plunger! But if it doesn’t work or you have to plunge frequently, and it’s getting harder and harder to solve the problem, don’t hesitate to call Sam or one of our other professionals at Brandon Septic. We are professional drain uncloggers with no hidden costs, and we’d love to help you fix clogged drains or toilet in your house.

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