How to Use a Toilet Auger? 6 Easy Steps to Solve!

A toilet clog can be very embarrassing. The best news is that you can deal with it in several ways. One of those ways is by using a toilet auger to unclog your toilet. In a situation where a plunger, hot water, dishwashing soap, and other unclogging methods fail, a toilet auger can save you significantly.

Types of Augers:

Toilet Closet Augers: Toilet augers are mostly used in the DIY unclogging process. There are two types: electric and manual augers. The price is also affordable ($40–$100).

Flat Tape Augers: Unlike a drain or cable auger that comes with a flexible hose, flat tape augers have a flat cable to push the blockage. Its price ranges between $30–$70.

Power Drain Augers: They have a motor connected to a power drill to break the clog or object in the drain. The price ranges between 70$–$250.

Rocket Nozzle Auger: It is mostly used in commercial plumbing by professionals. The price ranges between 50$–$140. The auger has nozzles that use high-pressure water jets to break up and remove the clog.

How to Use a Toilet Auger?

A toilet auger can be a lifesaver when you have a clogged toilet in your bathroom. In this guide, we’re going to help you know how to use a toilet auger to unclog your clogged toilet. Follow our step-by-step guide to the end.

Page Contents

Step 1: Discover what is causing your toilet to clog.  

Before you start working on your toilet, you need to find out the source of the clog. Some clogs are above DIYers and require specialist handling. For instance, if your toilet is clogged because of an issue with the sewerage system, you need to call a professional plumber to handle it. But if the clog is caused by something stuck between the bowl and the drain pipe, you can easily handle it.

Toilet clog is a common toilet problem every house owner faces. Most toilet clogs are caused by things like toys, excess tissue in the toilet, cloth in the toilet, and much more. In such a case, using toilet augers will help you get rid of the clog quickly and easily.

Step 2: Try other unclogging methods

Using a toilet auger is quite cumbersome and time-consuming. Hence, before you apply this method, you should try out other unclogging methods. Try unclogging your toilet using a plunger, wire hanger, and hot water. Unclogging the toilet with a baking soda and vinegar mixture is also an effective way. If these methods fail, then you should resort to using a toilet auger.

But before you insert a toilet auger in your toilet, you should start by removing any debris in the toilet. Of course, you should put on gloves, but they shouldn’t be heavy. Besides, you will need a bucket for placing the debris.

After you’ve removed the debris, pour hot water into the toilet. Use a bucket so that you can control the water going into the bowl. This will help you to prevent flooding your toilet.

Step 3: Put the toilet closet auger in the bowl

How to Use a Toilet Auger

If you’ve tried other unclogging methods and nothing is working, it’s now time to use the toilet auger. A toilet auger usually features a rubber end at the tip. Being about 3 feet long, this tool can get rid of all the debris in your toilet bowl and drain. Unlike other tools used for unclogging a toilet, the auger is quite challenging to use, and you have to follow the steps closely to use it correctly.

Related article: 10 Easy Steps to Replace a Toilet Seat

It has a spinning crank handle and a rotating handle that you will use to turn it. Put your auger into the bowl. Then push the cable of the toilet auger in a clockwise position through the toilet drain. Make sure to push it until the rubber tip is drawn close to the crook of your toilet. The tip of the toilet auger is made of rubber to prevent it from cracking your porcelain.

Cracks are bad for your toilet as they can cause leaks and make the toilet collapse. On top of that, bacteria and germs can hide in these areas, leading to infections.

Step 4: Release the flexible cable

How to Use a Toilet Auger

When using toilet augers, ensure that you put your gloves on. This should apply to all toilet unclogging methods. Since the auger is already in the toilet bowl, turn it gently using the auger’s handle. This will drive the auger to the S-curve part of your toilet. During this process, you will have to be slow and very keen as the cable may turn in a reverse manner instead of pushing forward. Then follow these simple steps to unclog the toilet without a plunger.

Push the auger until all the metal tube disappears into the rubber casing. This will mean that the flexible cable will go through to the S-curve of your toilet. This S-curve shape will make feeding the cable into the toilet. You may feel some resistance along the way as your cable reaches the blockage. Gently turn and pull the cable out to break up the clog in the toilet drain. A drain snake is a highly effective tool used to unclog the toilet.

Even though you may feel the need to increase pressure when you feel resistance, you shouldn’t do that. However, it would help if you continued pushing with little force as you wiggle your toilet auger.  Additionally, it would help if you spun your hand in the opposite direction.

Step 5: Wiggle the cable inside the toilet bowl

How to Use a Toilet Auger

As you push the auger, you will feel some resistance, as explained above. When this happens, you should rotate your handle in different directions so that you can push the blockage down the drain. Avoid using force, as you may end up causing the auger to turn instead of pushing the jam. Furthermore, you will have to exercise more patience and continue being gentle with the jam.

Related article: How to Fix a Faulty Toilet Handle Easily? 

If you feel less resistance, know that the blockage is starting to come apart. This is good news, but you should continue to push the auger as you turn the handle until the water in the bowl disappears. After the dirty water has disappeared, you can now remove the auger. With the gloves on, put the tool on an old newspaper as it may have some debris on it and needs cleaning.

Step 6: Flush the toilet

How to Use a Toilet Auger

Try flushing the toilet to drain down the water from the tank and observe if it usually flushes. If it’s okay, then the blockage is gone. But if not, you will have to repeat the same process and flush several times. See if you can get rid of the blockage once again. Some toilets are troublesome; hence, you will have to add dishwashing soap to make things easier to flush the toilet.

When your toilet is okay, you can now take your auger and clean it. Please place it in a bucket filled with water and gently clean it by removing debris from the toilet drain. On top of that, you should clean the inside of the tube with a pipe cleaner. After finishing, rinse the auger in clean water and dry it using a newspaper or rag.

Bottom Line

If you still can’t unclog your toilet after following the steps that we’ve provided, you can give a call to a professional plumber to help you out. Some clogs are so nasty that they need the intervention of a professional plumber.

Hi, this is Robert Crossan, the owner of this website, has 17 years of experience in the installation, maintenance, and repair of toilets and plumbing systems. After completing the Level 2 Basic Plumbing course in 2005, I started working in both domestic and commercial buildings as a professional plumber. So I can figure out the core difference between different toilet models and brands. It also helped me monitor their work performance and setbacks.

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