A blocked toilet is one of the most common and urgent plumbing problems at home. When the toilet blocks, waste water cannot pass through the soil pipe. As a result, the bowl fills and may overflow.
Most blockages come from too much toilet paper, sanitary products, wet wipes or children's toys. However, the blockage sometimes sits further down, in the soil stack or underground drain, rather than in the toilet itself. The plumber finds the exact location first, because the right tool depends on it.
Our engineers carry toilet augers, strong plungers and drain snakes made for the tight bends in toilet waste pipes. They protect your bathroom floor, work cleanly and leave the area tidy once the blockage is clear. Our guide to the warning signs of a blocked drain shows what else to look for.
The work on a blocked toilet depends on where the blockage sits. A camera may help find it, because some blockages lie out of sight. Request a quote online and describe the problem; the plumber will discuss the job with you.
A standard plunger may clear a simple blockage caused by too much toilet paper. However, if the water level is high or the blockage returns, you need professional equipment. Avoid chemical drain cleaners in toilets, because they can damage seals and rarely work on solid blockages.
Repeat blockages usually point to a partial blockage further down. Common causes are tree roots, a displaced pipe joint or scale in older pipework. A CCTV drain survey can find the root cause. Then the fault can be fixed for good instead of cleared each time.
It depends on where the blockage is. A blockage in the pan is simpler than one further along the drain, which may need a camera.