Home Emergency plumbing Clogged toilets
Toilet clogged or overflowing? Here is what to do first.
Stop the water, protect the floor, and find out whether it is a simple clog or a deeper problem in the line.
What is happening
A toilet that will not flush and is rising toward the rim is urgent, especially if it is your only one. Most clogs clear with a plunger, but a toilet that clogs again and again may have a deeper blockage in the trap or the line beyond it.
Do this right now
- Do not flush again
- Lift the tank lid and press the flapper down, or close the small valve behind the toilet, to stop refilling
- Use a flange plunger with a firm seal and steady pushes
- If sinks and tubs also drain slowly, stop using water and call
- Put towels around the base
The Pyper way
How Pyper handles it
We clear the clog with a toilet auger or cabling, depending on the situation, and check whether the toilet itself, the vent or the line is the cause. If it keeps clogging, we find out why and fix that, not just plunge it again.
Stop the overflow
We shut the toilet's supply valve and keep water off the floor.
Clear the clog
We remove the blockage with the right tools without scratching the bowl.
Check the cause
We look at whether it is the toilet, the drain line or something farther down.
Repair or replace
If the toilet is cracked, loose or worn out, we explain whether to repair or replace it.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Flushing again, which can send more water onto the floor
- Using a plunger with a worn cup or the wrong type for the bowl
- Pouring chemical cleaners into a full bowl
- Ignoring repeat clogs, which can point to a line problem
Questions we hear
How do I stop a toilet from overflowing?
Take the tank lid off and push the flapper down to stop flow, or turn the valve behind the toilet clockwise to shut off the supply. Then do not flush again.
Why does my toilet keep clogging?
Common causes are too much paper, items that should not be flushed, an older low-flow toilet, or a partial blockage in the drain line.
When is it more than a clog?
If other drains are slow, or you hear gurgling, the problem may be farther down the line.
Guides
Step-by-step help
Toilet repair and install
Toilet Won't Flush or Keeps Clogging: Causes and Fixes
Toilet won't flush or keeps clogging? Learn the common causes, how to plunge safely, and the signs that point to a main line problem.
Zach Datskiy · 6 min read
Read the guideToilet repair and install
Running Toilet: Causes, Quick Fixes and Water Waste
A running toilet can waste thousands of gallons a year. Learn the dye test, how to fix the flapper, fill valve and float, and when to replace the toilet.
Zach Datskiy · 5 min read
Read the guideSewer line repair
Sewage Backup in Your Home: What to Do and Avoid
Sewage backing up in your home? Stop using water, stay out, skip chemical drain openers, and learn how to tell a main line backup from a single drain.
Arko Smygov · 6 min read
Read the guideRelated services
Toilet repair and install
Running, rocking, leaking or clogged toilets fixed or replaced, sealed right and tested.
Learn moreDrain cleaning
Slow or clogged drains? We clear the blockage and check why it formed so it stays clear.
Learn moreSewer line repair
Backups, odors, or soggy yards can mean a damaged sewer line. We inspect with a camera and fix it.
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