A while back, the government mandated that new toilets must use less water per flush than had been previously used. Through exhaustive and precise scientific analysis and testing, the amount of water the new toilets were to use was determined; this amount of water is EXACTLY the amount required to GUARANTEE the toilet will clog anytime significant quantities of solids are being flushed. Some manufacturers overcame this issue with sophisticated designs that incorporate special vacuum enhanced flushing mechanisms or dual flush modes, but these toilets are relatively expensive. For those of us who are stuck with the cheaper more conventional toilets, there is something you can do to help with this problem.

Assuming the toilet is of the "old school" classic design, when you press the toilet handle down, this lifts the "flapper valve" at the bottom of the toilet tank, allowing the water to run down into the bowl to flush out the bowl. If the toilet handle is not depressed, the flapper valve will fall back down when the water level in the tank is low enough, cutting off the flow of water to the bowl. For many toilets, there is still a significant volume of water in the tank at the point when the flapper valve falls closed. It is possible to use this volume of water to help flush the toilet by doing one simple thing: DON'T LET GO OF THE HANDLE.

When there is a significant volume of solid material in the toilet, press down the handle and continue to hold it down until one of two things occurs:

1) You see that everything has been successfully flushed.

2) The water level rises to within one inch of the bottom of the bowl rim.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you had to let the handle go as a result of condition 2 (the water level rises too high), DO NOT TOUCH THE HANDLE AGAIN. If the toilet is flushed with too much water in the bowl, the bowl will overflow, and NOBODY wants that.

Why allow the level in the bowl to rise? The added water height increases the pressure on the clog area and is often sufficient to force out the clog.

Why stop an inch below the bowl rim? Even after the flapper valve closes, water will continue to flow into the bowl while the tank fill valve is re-filling the tank (there is a small volume of water diverted from the tank into the tank overflow, which goes into the bowl). Additionally, enough volume must be left in the bowl to allow for use of a plunger, should it come to that.

Often, if the bowl is simply left with the elevated water level, the softening of the toilet paper as a result of submersion in water will be enough to allow the clog to break up. Be aware that water from the bowl may seep around and through the clog over time; just because the water level gradually drops to a normal level does not mean the clog is gone. You can check this by adding water to the bowl using a bucket or pitcher and seeing if the water drains out rapidly, or if the water level rises and only slowly drops. Do not flush the toilet until water rapidly drains from the bowl. If you feel you have the masters touch, you can use the toilet handle to VERY SLIGHTLY open the flapper valve and allow a small controlled amount of water down into the bowl. Know that if you overdo this even slightly, the consequences are very unpleasant. The only way to avoid a huge mess is to very quickly remove the tank lid and reach down into the tank to force the flapper valve shut. Closing the shut-off valve outside the tank will not help, because it is the water from the tank that will cause the bowl to overflow.

One thing that has a significant impact on clogging is the type and amount of toilet paper used. Toilet paper that is "extra soft", multi-ply (two or more "layers"), or "stays strong when wet" is more likely to produce a clog. If considerable amounts of paper are used, consider flushing twice (once after limited paper use, then again when done) to avoid clogs.