Blocked toilets are probably one of the most dreadful and embarrassing household problems. They tend to occur at the most inconvenient times, usually when you have a household full of guests, causing much unanticipated stress over figuring out a quick resolution.
A blocked toilet often can be cleared in a few simple steps. Give these a try before you call in the plumber. It’s nobody’s idea of fun – but when toilets get blocked someone has to clear the stoppage. It’s a dirty job but somebody has to do it!
When it’s completely blocked up, and you really can’t clear it, you obviously need a professional to give you a hand.
First order of business, always wear disposable gloves of some description, surgical gloves are ideal. There are many nasty germs lurking in and around your toilet and the last thing you need is a trip to the doctor with a bad stomach complaint! Proffesional plumbers always wear gloves – so should you!
Ok, you need to have a logical look at the problem. Is the toilet the only fixture which is blocked? Go and check the kitchen sink and see if the water is draining away correctly, check other fixtures in your house – such as floor waste gullies, vanities, making sure they aren’t overflowing. If they are overflowing as well, it would usually indicate a blockage in your drain which would mean a different approach to the problem. While you are exploring, go outside and have a look at your gully trap (most houses by law should have at least gully trap or overflow relief gully) which is designed to overflow if your drain blocks giving you a visual indication that there is a problem underground.
So there is no sewerage coming out of your gully and all other fixtures in your house are draining correctly which means everything under ground is working – lets get back to the toilet then!
We are ready to use the plunger. Even the most expensive plunger is a fraction of what it would cost to call out a plumber so it is well worth you having a go. If you don’t have a plunger head down to your local plumbing store or hardware outlet and pick one up.
Carefully insert the plunger into the bowl and start plunging. The trick here is not to splash everything back into your face. Move the plunger up and down in a plunging motion. I normally do this a couple of times, reflush the toilet refilling the toilet bowl up again and then plunge again. Another trick which works for me, is to plunge while you flush which adds more water to the plunging motion.
It may take a few attempts to clear the blockage. If the blockage has cleared – good job! Give the toilet a good clean down with disinfectant and the job is done – give yourself a pat on the back (make sure you remove your gloves first!).
If the toilet is still blocked, we need to go exploring again. Head outside to where your toilet drain pipe exits your house. Most toilets have terminal vent pipe ( a pipe which runs up the wall and it’s purpose is to remove sewer odours from your drainage system), this pipe is connected into the drain and toilet usually via an access junction which is a PVC connector with a large screw cap. Carefully undo the screw cap and remove the insert and see if the junction is clear. If it is blocked, get your hands in there and clean it out. If you don’t want to put your hands in there, use a high pressure garden house and try and unblock it. Once unblocked, replace the insert and cap and clean up.