Deep seated clogs:

Sometimes the clog may progress past the toilet trap and into the pipes, seeking the freedom of the open seas. This gets a bit more serious and attempts to resolve the problem should only be made by hardy do-it-yourselfers. If you are not one of those, call a plumber. If you are one, here’s what you do:

1. Remove the toilet bowl. See the section “Bowled over” for how to do this.
2. Auger out the pipe.
3. On the vent stack to this drain, find the clean-out port. It will be at the bottom of the vent stack. Open this port, auger the pipe and close the port.
4. If you found a blockage and removed it, put the toilet back together and flush.
5. If the thing is still blocked, call a plumber because the blockage could be in the pipe that goes from your house to the sewer and specialized equipment is needed to clear this out.

Bowled over:

If it is necessary to remove your toilet and tank here is how to do it. Only stalwart do-it-yourself types should boldly go beyond this point.

1. Turn off the water. Turn off the tank supply valve, or if there isn’t one, turn off the main water valve for the house. Make absolutely sure all the kids have both gone to the toilet and had a drink of water before doing this because if you don’t you can be certain they will want one or the other, or both, long before you are done your work!
2. Ok, so the water’s off and the other members of the household are content. Now, flush and hold open the ballcock to drain all the water out of the tank. Use a sponge to mop up any water that remains in the bottom of the tank.
3. Disconnect the water line to the toilet tank. Unbolt the toilet from the floor. If the nuts are rusted on real good and won’t come loose, insert a bare hacksaw blade between the bottom of the toilet and the floor and saw through the bolts. Take care not to damage the floor while doing this. Wall-mounted toilets use hanger bolts.
4. With someone to help, lift the toilet free and set it on some old newspapers, or something else absorbent. Stuff a rag into the open pipe in the floor to stop sewer gasses from getting into the room. If you are replacing the toilet, you can make the old one less awkward to carry out by removing the tank from the bowl.
5. If you are going to re-install the old toilet, turn the bowl on its side so you can scrape off the old wax ring, or plumber’s putty. Then, install a new wax ring. One size ring fits all toilets, and these can be found at most hardware stores. Forget about plumber’s putty, use the ring. If you sawed off the old hold-down bolts, you will also need to pick up some new ones on that trip to the hardware store.
6. The bolts that hold the toilet down fit into slots in the closet flange at the top of the drain. This flange is fastened to the wood of the floor with wood screws.
7. With some help, position the toilet over the hold-down bolts, or hanger bolts if it is wall mounted. It is absolutely critical that the toilet be set straight down on the bolts and the wax ring. Have your helper guide the toilet onto the bolts while you gently and carefully set the bowl straight down.
8. Press the bowl down so that it is about level. Replace the nuts on the bolts and turn them firmly, gently, and equally until the bowl is flush with the floor. Do not over-tighten the bolts because this will cause the porcelain of the bowl to crack.