We need another new toilet and are wondering whether we should try a different brand. If a toilet overflows when flushed, the problem is often caused by a clog in the toilet's trap, not by a defect in the toilet. A washcloth, plastic bottle or other object might have become stuck in the trap, which is generally built into the rear of the bowl. The trap, which should always hold some water, keeps sewer gas from backing up into the room. Toilet clogs can sometimes be removed with a plunger or force cup, available at any home center or hardware store.
Toilet plungers have a funnel-shaped extension that sticks out of the cup.
Put the extension into the hole at the bottom of the toilet and work the plunger up and down forcefully. These tools must be used with extreme care, however, or they can damage the finish at the bottom of the toilet bowl. Stubborn clogs might require shutting off the water to the toilet and removing it from the floor so that the clog can be fished out from the bottom of the trap. Clogs can also occur in the drainpipes under the toilet. I spilled some candle wax on our brick hearth.