How to Snake a Toilet in Westminster Homes

By the Westminster Emergency Plumber team · Updated November 2026

How to snake a toilet: what are the steps?

To snake a toilet in Westminster, pull the auger cable back into its tube, set the bent end in the drain opening with the rubber guard against the bowl, then crank the handle clockwise while pushing down. When the cable stops moving forward or breaks through, crank it back up and test with one flush.

1. Put on rubber gloves and eye protection and lay old towels around the base of the toilet.
2. If the bowl is full, wait for the water to drop or bail some into a bucket so it cannot spill over.
3. Pull the handle all the way up so the cable tip sits just inside the end of the tube.
4. Place the curved end of the tube into the drain hole at the bottom of the bowl, aimed toward the back of the toilet, with the rubber guard resting on the porcelain.
5. Turn the crank clockwise while gently pushing the handle down. The cable will feed around the curves of the trap.
6. When you feel resistance, keep cranking. A soft, spongy feel is often the clog. A hard stop may just be a bend.
7. Once the cable is fully extended or the water starts to drain, keep turning clockwise as you pull the handle back up.
8. Remove the auger, set it on a towel, and test with a single flush. Keep your hand near the tank flapper in case the bowl starts to rise.

If the water drops quickly and the flush is strong, you are likely done. Flush once or twice more to clear what is left in the trap.

What is a toilet auger, and how is it different from a drain snake?

A toilet auger, also called a closet auger, is a short, stiff cable inside a bent metal tube with a rubber or vinyl boot on the end. It is built to fit the toilet's curved trap without scratching the bowl. A regular drain snake has a thinner, longer cable meant for sink and tub pipes.

• Closet auger: the right tool for a toilet clog. It usually reaches only the first few feet, which covers the trap inside the toilet.
• Hand drum snake: made for sinks, tubs and showers. In a toilet it tends to coil in the bowl and can leave gray marks on the porcelain.
• Power auger: stronger and longer, used for main lines. It is not meant to go through a toilet bowl.

For help with sink and tub clogs, see our guide on how to snake a drain.

How do you know if a toilet clog needs a snake and not a plunger?

A toilet clog usually needs a snake when several rounds of firm plunging do not move the water, when the bowl drains very slowly no matter what, or when you know a solid object went down. Plungers push water against soft clogs. A closet auger reaches in and breaks up or hooks the blockage.

• The water level drops a little after plunging but the toilet still will not flush fully.
• A toy, wipe, cotton swab bundle, or other solid item went down the drain.
• The toilet clogs again every few days even after plunging seems to clear it.
• Paper and waste sit in the bowl and the water barely moves.

If a hard object like a toy or phone went down, go gently. Cranking hard can push it deeper into the trap, where it is harder to pull back.

What signs mean the clog is past the toilet?

The clog is likely past the toilet when other drains act up at the same time: the toilet gurgles or bubbles when a sink or washer drains, water rises in the tub when you flush, or a basement floor drain backs up. These signs point to the main drain or sewer line, which a closet auger cannot reach.

• Two or more fixtures are slow at once, such as the toilet and the tub on the same floor.
• Snaking clears the toilet for a day, then it clogs again.
• You smell sewage around floor drains or the toilet base.
• Dirty water comes up in a lower-level shower or floor drain when the toilet is flushed.

If that sounds familiar, read our guide to a clogged drain or a sewer line problem before you keep working on the toilet.

What can go wrong when you snake a toilet yourself?

Snaking a toilet is a common homeowner job, but it can go wrong. The most common problems are a scratched bowl, an overflow onto the floor, a splash of chemical-laced water, a cable that kinks or gets stuck, and a loose seal at the base if the toilet gets rocked or pried while you work.

• Scratches: keep the rubber guard against the porcelain the whole time.
• Overflow: never flush to test until the water level has dropped. If the bowl rises, lift the tank lid and push the flapper closed.
• Chemicals: if you poured in a drain cleaner, do not snake through that water. Tell the provider what you used.
• Stuck cable: if the cable will not come back, stop forcing it, turn it gently clockwise, and call if it still will not release.
• Leaks at the base: water seeping around the floor after you are done can mean the wax seal moved.

How can you keep a toilet from clogging again?

Most toilet clogs come back for the same reasons: too much paper at once, flushable wipes, and items that should go in the trash. Using less paper per flush, keeping wipes and hygiene products out of the toilet, and fixing a weak flush all help a toilet stay clear.

• Flush twice for large loads instead of once with a lot of paper.
• Keep a small trash can in the bathroom for wipes, floss, cotton swabs and paper towels.
• Watch for a weak or slow flush. A partly closed shutoff valve, a short flapper chain or a clogged rim can all make the flush weaker.
• Keep small toys out of reach in homes with young kids, and keep the lid closed.

If the toilet runs, rocks or leaks, our toilet and faucet repair page explains common problems.

What happens during the visit if you call for help?

When you call, you are connected with a local plumbing provider who checks availability for your address. During the visit, the provider inspects the toilet and nearby drains, may check the cleanout or main line, explains what is likely causing the clog and your options, and gives you a written quote before any work starts.

• An inspection of the toilet, its trap, and other fixtures that share the line.
• A plain explanation of the options, such as clearing the trap, pulling the toilet to remove an object, or a look at the main line.
• A written quote you can review before you agree to anything.

To be connected with a local provider, call (720) 386-7731.

What should Westminster-area homeowners know before snaking a toilet?

Before you snake a toilet in Westminster, know where your shutoffs are and who owns which pipe. The City of Westminster says the main water shutoff valve is just inside the home where the service line enters, usually in the basement or crawlspace. If a toilet overflows and the valve behind it will not close, that main valve stops the water.

Know where your responsibility ends. The City of Westminster says property owners are responsible for maintaining the sewer lateral line from their property to the city's main sewer line, and the city points owners to a plumber for a backup in that line. A closet auger only reaches the toilet trap, so a blockage out in the lateral is a different job.

Do not ignore a toilet that keeps running after you clear it. The City of Westminster says a constantly running toilet can use 4,000 gallons of water per day. A flapper that got knocked loose while you worked is a common cause.

Plan for a backup before it happens. The Colorado Division of Insurance names sewer backup coverage as additional coverage a homeowner may need to buy, so check your own policy. Homes in Westminster, Federal Heights, Northglenn, Thornton and Broomfield can call to be connected with a local provider when a toilet will not clear.

Related pages

• Toilet and Faucet Repair in Westminster
• How to Snake a Drain in Westminster Homes
• Drain Cleaning in Westminster
• Emergency Plumber in Thornton