How to Unclog a Toilet

Most toilet clogs are in the trap of the bowl itself and can be cleared with a proper flange plunger and a little patience.

Common causes

• Too much toilet paper flushed at once
• Flushable wipes (they aren't)
• Foreign objects — toys, cotton swabs, dental floss
• Low-flow toilet with a weak flush pattern

Step-by-step

1. 01Do NOT flush again — turn off the shut-off valve behind the toilet
2. 02Use a flange plunger, not a cup plunger, sealed over the outlet
3. 03Plunge with steady vertical strokes for 20–30 seconds
4. 04If plunging fails, use a toilet auger (closet auger) — never a drum auger

When to call Northbridge

• Water rises to the rim every flush
• Multiple toilets clog at the same time (main-line issue)
• You suspect a foreign object is stuck in the trap
• Sewage comes up in the tub or floor drain