Are you dealing with overflowing water in your bathroom due to a clogged toilet drain? Plunging doesn’t seem to work, and professional plumbers can be expensive and often have long appointment wait times. Fortunately, if you know the right technique, you can temporarily plug a toilet drain using items around your home.
A clogged toilet can be a real headache–especially if you don’t know what to do. Although fixing the underlying issue may require the expertise of a plumber, it is possible to plug a toilet drain yourself temporarily.
In this blog post, we’ll show you how to quickly and effectively make your own temporary plug for stopping your toilet’s drain so that it can hold back water until you have time or resources to get professional help with the underlying problem. Read on for step-by-step instructions and helpful tips on how to temporarily plug toilet drain!
What are the Causes of a Clogged Toilet?
Before we get into how to plug a toilet drain temporarily, let’s quickly talk about the common causes behind clogged toilets. Common reasons why a toilet might become clogged are:
1. Too Much Toilet Paper: Toilet paper is designed to break down in the water, but if too much paper is used or it’s of a thicker variety, it could block drainage.
2. Flushing Foreign Objects: Items such as wet wipes, baby diapers, feminine hygiene products or other foreign objects that are not meant to be flushed can contribute to clogs and even cause complete blockages.
3. Tree Roots: Sometimes, tree roots can grow into the pipes underneath your home and become entangled with them. This can lead to clogs forming in your plumbing system over time.
These are the most common causes of clogged toilets, but other possibilities exist. If you’re unsure of what is causing your clog, it is best to consult a professional plumber.
What Will You Need?
To temporarily plug a toilet drain, you will need the following items:
1. A Rubber Stopper/Plug: This is usually the most effective material for creating a temporary plug, as it will fit snugly into the drain and keep the water from flowing out.
2. Rags: You’ll need rags or towels to wrap around the rubber stopper and help create an airtight seal in the drain.
3. Duct Tape: This will help secure the rag-wrapped stopper in place so that it does not come loose while you are waiting for.
Once you have gathered all your supplies, here is how to plug a toilet drain temporarily.
10 Easy Steps on How to Temporarily Plug Toilet Drain
Now let’s get into the steps for making a temporary plug for your toilet drain!
Step 1. Gather Your Supplies:
For this project, you’ll need a few items, such as rubber gloves, duct tape, newspaper or paper towels, and a rubber stopper or plug. If you don’t have a rubber plug, use a plastic bottle or jar with the label removed. Try to pick something that will fit snugly into the drain.
Step 2. Put on Your Rubber Gloves:
This is an important safety measure since you’ll deal with sewage-contaminated water. Make sure to put your gloves on before the next step! Because you’re dealing with a plumbing-related task, it’s also a good idea to have some rags and towels nearby in case of any spills.
Step 3. Attach the Stopper/Plug:
Once your gloves are on, use your hands to press the stopper firmly into the drain opening so that it fits snugly in place and does not leak out any water. As you press the stopper in, turn it several times so it is firmly secured. Otherwise, it may come loose, and your temporary plug will not be effective.
Step 4. Wrap Rags Around Stopper:
Wet some rags or towels slightly with warm water, and wrap them around the rubber stopper for added protection against leakage. This will also help create an airtight seal. If you don’t have any rags, you can also use newspaper or paper towels.
Step 5. Secure the Plug With Duct Tape:
Once you have wrapped the rags around the stopper, use duct tape to secure them and create a tight seal that will not come undone with time or pressure from the water. Be careful not to tape too tightly, as this could damage the stopper or drain. As with the rags, you can also use newspaper or paper towels here.
Step 6. Test for Leakage:
Once everything is secured, test the plug for leakage by flushing the toilet several times and observing whether or not any water is leaking out of the drain opening. If there is no leakage, your temporary plug should hold! Always keep an eye on the plug and check for any signs of leakage every few days.
Step 7. Clean Up Any Remaining Water:
If water remains in the bowl after flushing, take a sponge or towel to absorb any remaining water so that it does not flood the area. You can use a bucket or bowl to collect the remaining water and dispose of it according to your local regulations. You can also use a wet/dry vacuum to remove any remaining water quickly.
Step 8. Apply Plunging Pressure:
Once you have plugged the drain and cleaned up any remaining water, apply some plunging pressure to clear out whatever is causing the clog in the first place. This may take several tries before it is successful. Ensure your rubber gloves are still on throughout this process.
Step 9. Turn off Water Supply:
If plunging does not seem to work, turn off your home’s water supply using the valve behind the toilet so that no additional water can enter the system. At the same time, you wait for a professional plumber to arrive. Remember that this is only temporary, as it does not address the underlying issue. Always contact a plumber for either repairs or advice.
Step 10. Call a Professional Plumber:
Call a professional plumber for help with your clogged toilet when all else fails. They have the necessary tools and expertise to identify and resolve the issue quickly. They can also provide advice on how to prevent clogs from happening in the future.
Remember that this is just a temporary solution for when you need to stop an overflowing toilet quickly. Still, it won’t solve any underlying issues, such as tree roots or foreign objects lodged in your plumbing system. If these clogs are present, it is best to call a professional plumber immediately!
5 Additional Tips and Tricks
1. If you don’t have a plunger handy, use a wet washcloth or rag to plug up the hole. It should be damp enough that it won’t slip down into the drain but not sopping wet so that it will start sagging and leaking.
2. Place a plastic bag filled with a crumpled newspaper over the hole in the toilet bowl and tape it down on all sides with duct tape to create an airtight seal. This should keep water from flowing out of the toilet until you can get a plunger.
3. remove any large clumps of debris, such as hair, before attempting to plug up the hole to ensure that nothing is blocking your makeshift solution from completely covering the hole.
4. If you have a rubber or latex glove, fill it with water and tie off the end before placing it in the hole of the toilet bowl. This will provide a sturdy seal that should hold until you buy a plunger.
5. Place one or two tennis balls over the drain to plug up any excess water that may try to escape. Press firmly on them so they don’t slip back down into the drain once they soak up some of the liquid in the toilet bowl. Do this for an extra protection layer when temporarily plugging your toilet drain!
With these tips and tricks, you can quickly and easily find a way to temporarily plug your toilet drain until you get your hands on a plunger or a more permanent solution.
5 Things You Should Avoid
- Don’t use a plunger if the water in the bowl is low, as it could damage the plunger.
- Avoid using heavy objects that may not provide an airtight seal and cause water to leak from the toilet bowl.
- Don’t use tape alone, as it cannot plug up the toilet drain hole adequately.
- Only use sponges or towels after ensuring they are damp enough to stay in place and form an effective seal around the hole.
- Lastly, never attempt to push any debris into the drain with your makeshift solution, as this could cause further blockages down the line!
With these tips in mind, you should now have a better idea of temporarily plugging your toilet drain. Always use caution and follow the above steps to ensure a successful plugging experience!
Conclusion
Using a temporary fix, like the one outlined in this blog post, is an excellent solution to getting out of an emergency. Having a plunger on hand is often necessary for every homeowner to consider investing in. If all else fails, call a professional plumber for assistance.
Remember, if you have done your version of this method and are still experiencing issues with your plumbing, it may be time to ask for help. After all, taking care of the issue correctly is always easier than just masking it with a makeshift solution.
The advice and steps included in this blog on how to temporarily plug toilet drain were meant as a guideline only but should hopefully help get you out of any bind related to clogged toilet drains!
