How to unblock a toilet

At some point in your life, it’s likely you’ll encounter the dilemma of a blocked toilet. It’s a job nobody hopes they’ll have to do but it’s always good to know how to fix the issue, just in case.

Toilets can become blocked for various reasons. Usually, it’s because something has been flushed down the toilet which shouldn’t have been, for example, cotton buds, wipes or even too much toilet roll. General waste and things like sanitary towels can also cause blockages, as well as issues like limescale buildup and, sometimes, problems with the local sewage system.

Toilets can become blocked for various reasons but there are different methods you can try to resolve the issue.

How do you know if a toilet is blocked?

It will be quite obvious if your toilet is blocked, as the water will rise to the top of the bowl when you flush and stay there without returning to a normal level. This indicates a complete blockage, which will then need to be addressed.

Before it reaches this stage, however, there are some warning signs which will indicate that your toilet is on the way to becoming blocked. These include:

• Slow water drainage after flushing: This suggests the beginning of a blockage, so if the water level returns to normal afterwards, try flushing the toilet again to clear the pipes.
• Reduced or lack of water in the toilet bowl after flushing: The absence of water in the toilet bowl is also indicative of a blockage and usually implies a ventilation problem in the waste pipes.

Top tips for unblocking toilets

The best way to unblock a toilet is, of course, to prevent it from happening in the first place, so it’s important to clean your toilet regularly to stop limescale from forming. Also, ensuring that items such as cotton buds, wipes, sanitary towels, or anything other than toilet roll (and not using too much of this in the one go, either) will help to prevent blockages.

In an ideal world, that would hopefully be enough, but you can’t always prepare for those unexpected events – such as kids throwing toys down the toilet – so it’s good to know what to do in the eventuality that the toilet does, indeed, become blocked.

Before you call out the plumber, there are a few things you can try at home to see if you can shift the blockage yourself.

Tools for unblocking toilets

Depending on what you use to unblock your toilet, you may find the following useful:

• Rubber gloves
• A plunger
• Hot water and/or washing-up liquid
• Jug/saucepan
• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• A toilet auger/plumbing snake
• Pressure washer

Using a plunger to unblock a toilet

It’s always best to be prepared for tackling toilet blockages.

The most popular way to handle blockages in your toilet is to use a plunger and it’s the best method to try first, as it works with all types of toilets.

• Simply place the plunger into the toilet bowl – the rubber end facing down into where the water should be – ensuring that there are no gaps and it’s fully sealed off.
• Next, push down gently on the plunger – not too hard in case you push the blockage further in – and then release the pressure. Continue to repeat this sequence, pushing down on the plunger and releasing, building up the pressure as you go.
• The water should subsequently lower in the toilet bowl, so you can refill it with tap water as required, before using the plunger again. You can then flush the toilet to see if the blockage has shifted.

How hot water can unblock a toilet

For some minor blockages, hot water can be an effective and environmentally friendly way of getting your toilet back to normal. The force of the water being flushed down the toilet can help to move the blockage, while the heat helps to dissolve any fatty or similar buildup.

Hot water can be mixed with washing-up liquid to try and flush away blockages.

• If the water has risen in the toilet, remove some of this first before attempting to pour in the hot water. (Dispose of this down an outside drain rather than using an indoor sink). If the water level is low, however, you can go straight ahead with the hot water.
• Turn off the water supply to the toilet by closing the valve found on either side of the cistern (or underneath it, depending on what type of toilet you have).
• Put some washing-up liquid into the toilet bowl and leave for about ten minutes.
• Fill a jug with approximately two to three litres of hot (but not boiling) water.
• Pour the water into the toilet bowl quickly.
• If the water level begins to drop you can pour more water into the bowl (you can do this if it doesn’t lower but only a little, as you don’t want the water to overflow onto the floor). Repeat the process a few times as required and if the blockage persists then try using a plunger. NB Remember to reopen the water valve again when you’re done.

Tackling toilet blockages with baking soda

Baking soda and vinegar will create a lot of foam but may unblock your toilet.

Baking soda is another option for unblocking toilets and is something most of us will already have in the kitchen cupboard.

NB If you have a septic tank or cesspit then do not use baking soda, as it will damage the natural enzymes within these.

• Using a saucepan, heat up two to three litres of water, adding half a cup of white vinegar before it comes to the boil.
• Pour half a cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl, followed by the hot water/vinegar mixture and then leave for 30 minutes. NB Close the toilet lid as the chemical reaction will create quite a bit of foam.
• Flush the toilet after half an hour.

Toilet augers (plumbing snakes) and toilet blockages

A handy toilet tool, the toilet auger or plumbing snake is a flexible piece of equipment which can essentially be pushed into the toilet in a bid to dislodge the obstruction or move it along. It can also potentially create a hole in the blockage, to allow water to flow through again, or can sometimes hook the item out of the toilet so it can be removed there and then.

• Push the auger into the toilet bowl, corkscrew tip first, until you reach the blockage.
• Use the auger handle to rotate it and get a firm hold of the blockage – or to break it up into smaller pieces which can then be flushed away.
• If the auger manages to skewer the blockage, then you might be able to extract it from the toilet bowl – or at least part of it.
• Flush the toilet to see if the blockage has been removed. If the obstruction is caused by something more solid and it hasn’t dislodged, then you may need to get a professional out to remove the toilet bowl.

Applying water pressure to toilet obstructions

If you’ve tried all of the above methods and still haven’t resolved the issue, then you could try using water pressure before calling the plumber.

NB Do not use this option if you have a septic tank or cesspit.

• Place the nozzle of the pressure washer into the toilet bowl.
• Turn on the water and allow the hose to be pushed further into the toilet by the water pressure.
• The force of the water being pushed through the toilet should hopefully loosen and/or break up the blockage.

Find a wide range of toilets at Bathshack, like the Olympia Milady Fully Back-to-wall Close-coupled & Soft-close Seat toilet above.

Top toilets at Bathshack

While we can’t guarantee that your toilet will never become blocked, if you keep it clean and practice good maintenance then, unless the unexpected occurs, you stand a good chance of evading the dreaded blockage dilemma. However, if the worst happens, then the methods above are good to know, as they can often resolve the problem without the need for a plumber.

If you’re looking for top-quality toilets, however, that we can do. At Bathshack, we supply a full range of bathroom-ware, including back-to-wall toilets, close-coupled, rimless, corner and wall-hung toilets, with comfort-height models also available and in both modern and traditional designs.

Whatever style you prefer, there’s definitely a toilet to suit your home – and we’re always happy to help you find it.

To find your ideal toilet, why not call into your nearest Bathshack showroom and we’ll be happy to help. Alternatively, email our team at info@bathshack.com or give us a call on (028) 9077 0188.