Clogged toilet: what to do before calling the plumber
Is your toilet clogged? The internet or people around you will offer you all sorts of solutions, but Metro spoke directly to a plumber to find out his real pro tips.
If by bad luck you do faced with a clogged bowl, the first thing to do, says Frederick Lamoureux of Plomberie JL, is to use a good old standard trap. “A lot of people have one at home, otherwise it can be found in any hardware store.” The principle is simple: put it in the bottom of the toilet and press to create a suction cup effect until it unclogs.
But it doesn't always work… “If you've been pumping non-stop for two minutes in vain, that means the toilet is blocked further away and you won't be able to get there with a simple siphon”, warns the 'expert.
A well-profitable rental < /h3>
The next solution if the siphon does not work is to use a manual toilet paper. This tool is available at any tool rental store (LOU-TEC, Simplex, Home Depot, etc.) for approximately $16 for a day. It is a long metal hose with a crank at the end. To unclog the pipes, insert the tip of the file into the toilet and push it by turning the crank. The hose will make its way into the toilet to push or pierce what is blocking. The plumber estimates that 80% of the time it works.
“It's worth trying the file since it's not very expensive to rent and it does the same thing as a plumber who charges ̶ at least with us ̶ $100 per hour plus a fixed fee of $80, for a total of $180 just for the first hour. »
Small or big problem?
A good trick to know if these tools will work is to see if the blockage only affects the toilet or if it is more generalized, affecting the bath, the sink, etc., explains the plumber.
If it is only the toilet that is clogged, it means that the blockage is not far away. The siphon or the drain should therefore suffice.
On the other hand, if several devices are clogged at the same time, it is because the blockage is further in the pipes. Unblocking will require an electrical mechanical fichoir and therefore the intervention of a specialist.
How to avoid blockages  ;
There are usually two causes for recurring hangs. There may be a problem with the piping design, explains Frederick Lamoureux. In this case, it would have to be redone.
It can also be a problem of use. The plumber insists: “A toilet is not a trash can!” We must deposit only our needs and the toilet paper which is designed to disintegrate in the water. wipes, sanitary napkins, paper towels, brown paper, tampons, cotton swabs, even tissues have no place here.
