A blocked toilet can be embarrassing as well as (pun intended) inconvenient. But there’s no need to panic, because we have some handy tips for unblocking your loo.
Signs of a blocked toilet including it taking longer than normal to drain; the water level rising higher than normal in the bowl; gurgling noises, and a nasty smell.
Assuming there is no obvious reason for the toilet to be blocked, such as a child dropping something like a toy or a shoe down the toilet, then often the cause is simply too much toilet paper. Remember that items like wet wipes, cotton wool, make up pads, sanitary items, condoms and disposable nappies should NEVER be flushed down the loo!
The first thing to do is to turn off the mains supply to the cistern. Otherwise repeated flushing without clearing the blockage could lead to flooding! And you might want to protect your floor with old towels or newspaper. Then grab some rubber gloves, a jug, bucket and hot water. Using the jug, empty as much of the stagnant water as you can into the bucket. Pour in some hot (not boiling) water and wait a few minutes. Sometime this does the trick all by itself, dissolving the blockage. If not, try using a plunger. You can soften the plunger rubber by putting it in hot water first, as it’s important to get a good seal around the hole at the bottom of the toilet bowl. Starting gently, push down the pull up a few times, and gradually use a bit more force. The vacuum created is often enough to loosen the blockage so it can be flushed away. Sometimes adding a generous amount of washing up liquid a little beforehand will help, as the detergent will help to dissolve any oils or grease.
If this method doesn’t work you could try a drain auger – basically this is a flexible tool which you can poke down the toilet to loosen the blockage. A wire coathanger is a cheap alternative.
Alternatively, try pouring half a cup of baking soda into the toilet, then pour in some hot water to which you’ve added half a cup of white vinegar. The chemical action of the soda and vinegar mixing will cause the water to fizz and foam, and after leaving it for around 30 minutes, it could also help clear the blockage. Please note though that this method isn’t recommended if you have a cesspit or septic tank.
If you’re successful using one of these methods and your toilet flushes away like normal, don’t forget to turn the mains supply to the cistern back on.
Of course if all else fails, or you suspect it’s a bigger issue than a simple blockage, give us a call at Happy Drains on 0800 849 8099 and we’ll come and sort it out!
