by Stanley Roberts

Created on: August 25, 2007

In order to use a flange plunger you have to make sure you have a flange plunger. If your plunger is the model where the bottom of the plunger is flat then this is not a flange plunger. This model is used for flat drains such as tubs and sinks. The flange plunger has a round base but on the bottom there is a smaller blunt type end that will fit nicely in the hole at the bottom of your toilet.

Keep the flat plunger around though because it could possibly come in handy. Once you have th right plunger go to your toilet and raise the lid. Carefully insert the plunger through the water and down to the base where you will feel the blunt end drop int the drain hole of your toilet. Once it is in the drain firmly grasp the handle and very slowly with some force move the handle up and down careful to not pick it up from the base of the toilet. After about five or six times doing this you should see the water level start to go down. If not keep repeating the process. After you have done this four or five times and the water hasn't drained there is one more thing you can try with the plunger but ir will require an assistant. Close the drain on the tub and shower and have someone take the flat plunger and go to the bathroom vanity and have them plunge on the sink as you plunge the commode. Sometimes it is quite possible to dislodge the blockage in this way. You are putting pressure and vacuum on the blockage at the same time. If you have a shower and not a tub it is possible to do the same thing with the tub drain. If your tub has an overflow located near the top it will not work as your plunging efforts will just release the pressure/vacuum at the overflow drain. If you still haven't removed the blockage it may be best to seek professional advice.

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