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Many parts of your plumbing system can fail, but clogged drains are one of the biggest plumbing problems you’ll likely encounter. From your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, or bathtub, there are plenty of opportunities for gunk, hair, food scraps, and more to get stuck in drains. When this happens, water will slowly drain, leading to standing water, bad odors, drain flies, and other issues.

Many homeowners can handle a minor clog themselves, but if you have a clog in your main line, you’re best off hiring a local plumber to get the drain back to its normal flow rate.

While technically possible, it is unlikely that a clogged toilet will fix itself. Clogs caused by water-soluble materials like toilet paper or human waste may eventually break down in the water, allowing flow to resume. However, this can take time, and any clogs from solid objects require manual removal. In most scenarios, especially if you don't have another bathroom, it is best to fix the clog yourself or call a plumber.

It is safe to flush the toilet even if the pipes are frozen, and this may even help clear out the pipes. But if the supply line is frozen, the toilet won’t refill itself until it’s thawed out. You can still flush by pouring water into the tank to refill it.

If methods like hot water or a plunger don’t work on your clogged drain, you can snake your drain to dislodge the plug. This can be a messy process, taking some physical effort and additional time over the other drain-clearing options. You can purchase a drain snake at a hardware store and choose from handheld options or those attached to a drill. Just work slowly, and be ready to call a plumber if you’re unable to reach the clog from your drain or P-trap.