Blocked Toilet? Here are Some Tips

The idea of unclogging a toilet yourself is not particularly appealing. However, the other alternative is to call a plumber, and we all know how expensive that can be. On a positive note, unclogging a toilet is not that difficult, and with some handy tools you should be well on your way to having your normal toilet back. Unclogging a toilet does not require specialist skill, unlike some other plumbing tasks which do. As long as you have some tools handy, you should be able to solve your annoying problem.

Before you rush into things it is best to first establish what is actually causing the clog. You may be guilty of repeatedly disposing items in the toilet that cannot be easily flushed such as baby wipes or cotton wool. In these cases you will most likely need to use the plunger. You should note that toilet paper is designed specifically so that it can be flushed easily; the same cannot be said of other items. So for future notice, do not attempt to flush away items that are non-flushable. 

If on the other hand, you hear bubbling in the tub, then chances are that your sewer line is clogged. You should try turning on the bathroom sink if you hear bubbling. If this makes matters worse, then it is very likely that you will need to call a plumber, as plunging alone will not suffice.

In order to commence plunging, you first need to ensure that there is a sufficient amount of water in the toilet. This will work in pushing the clog all the way out of the drain. You should plunge up and down several times so the plunger fills with water. You may have to repeat this process quite a few times to solve the blockage problem.

The key to take a slight aggressive approach to the plunging. This correct tactic is to force the water in the plunger through the waste outlet of the toilet, dislodging the blockage in the process. Be wary of the fact that you may end up splashing a little water outside  of the bowl. However, the mess can be avoided if you do not fill it up with too much water in the first place. 

Despite numerous frustrating attempts at plunging you may still find yourself at a loose end.  All is not lost as there is another technique you can try.  For this you will need to pull out the snake (or sometimes referred to as the auger).  The snake is relatively easy to use. You just  need to expand the handle all the way out, insert the functional end into the outlet of the toilet bowl, and crank it down into the bowl, making sure the cable goes into the drain.

When the bowl has drained, you should flush the toilet pulling the cable up at the same time. This is so that the cable is cleaned. You should also flush the toilet a few times before you put the snake away for the last time.

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This page has been written with contributions from plumbing and heating engineers from Merseyside and Gas Safe engineers from Orpington. Several of the company's plumbers from Berkshire have worked on similar issues as well as some of our qualified plumbers from Mill Hill and our Tunbridge Wells experienced plumbers.

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