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Each plumbing fixture in your home carries wastes to the sewer or septic tank via a system of drainpipes. Also connected to this system are vents, which expel sewer gasses out the roof. Each fixture has a "trap"--a U-shaped pipe (or in the case of the toilet, part of the fixture) that contains water to block sewer gasses from entering your home.
To locate a blockage, check other toilets, sinks, and tubs to see if they're draining properly. If only one fixture is clogged, the stoppage is usually located in that fixture's trap or branch drain. If other fixtures are backed up, the blockage is probably beyond where they join a branch line.
Backups at lower points of the system--or throughout the entire system--usually mean the main stack or sewer line is clogged. For these, it's usually best to call a plumber.
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