How to Fix a Blocked Toilet

It's rare that anybody makes it through life without encountering a blocked toilet at one time or another. Whether it's our own unfortunate doing, the aftermath of a party, a reminder of an inconsiderate guest or the result of a child deciding to use the toilet to store their toys, eventually a toilet will fail to empty when it's flushed. A blocked toilet is a major inconvenience, especially if it's the only toilet on your property, and needs rectifying before it becomes an unhygienic embarrassment. Fortunately, if you've been wondering how to fix a blocked toilet, it's a straightforward process that should only require a couple of tools and a few minutes of your time.

Don't Flush

The first and most important thing to remember when you're trying to unblock a toilet is to not flush it. It can be tempting to flush again in the hope that the added water pressure might dislodge the blockage, however you're more likely to end up flooding your bathroom, especially if the blockage is completely watertight. In these cases, there's only one way for water to escape the toilet pan and it isn't where you want it to go. Hopefully, any water from your initial flush will eventually drain past the blockage and you can begin trying to clear it.

Shut Off Water Supply

You might not need to shut off the water supply to the toilet but it's a worthwhile precaution, especially if water is running into an already full toilet pan. There should be a stop valve on the pipe that supplies water to your toilet, typically to the left as you face it. Older pipes might require a flathead screwdriver to shut, while many modern pipes have a built-in handle to make your task easier. In either case, you'll need to twist the valve 90 degrees in order to shut off the toilet's water supply, letting you complete the rest of your task with confidence.

Prepare the Area

While your bathroom floor is likely waterproof, whether it's tiled or covered in another watertight material, you probably don't want to spend any time cleaning up the contents of your toilet. With this in mind, it's worth taking a few minutes to prepare the area around your toilet to prevent a more extensive clean-up. This can be as simple as placing some old newspapers or unwanted towels around the base of your toilet to catch and absorb any water that might escape, especially if you have a total blockage and a pan full of water.

Wear Rubber Gloves

Ideally, you won't need to submerge your hands in anything too unpleasant but it's worth protecting them in any case. Any pair of long rubber gloves will do the job; just be sure that there aren't any holes, given the nasty germs you could be dealing with. If you take gloves from your kitchen, you'll want to keep them separate and use them exclusively for toilet cleaning, to avoid spreading germs.

Attempt Removal

Before heading to your nearest DIY shop, check whether or not you can see the blockage and, if so, attempt to dislodge or remove it. A toilet brush might be able to break up the blockage well enough that it can pass through the plumbing system. If you're reading this article, however, you've likely already used your brush to little effect. A stick can offer a stiffer solution but make sure you use something that won't damage the finish of your toilet, an old wooden broom handle is ideal, and be prepared to dispose of this item when you're done. If the forceful approach doesn't work, you'll need to use plumbing tools instead.

Plunger

One of the best ways to dislodge a toilet blockage is to use a plunger. For this task, you'll want to use a toilet plunger, as opposed to a traditional semicircular sink plunger (the familiar Dalek arm); toilet plungers feature an extension collar, a long piece that can be pushed further into the siphon to create much greater suction. Press your plunger on the siphon and begin gently plunging; don't use too much force initially as the vacuum effect might spray filthy water over the surrounding area (including you). Ideally, your plunger should be entirely underwater, as this will help create a seal around its edge and the water itself will create more pressure when pushed towards the blockage.

Plumbing Snake

If your trusty plunger fails to shift the blockage, the best alternative is to use a plumbing snake, also known as a drain snake or plumbing auger. This long tool features a coiled end that is designed to grab or pierce anything it encounters in your pipes and can be found at most DIY stores, as well as some larger supermarkets. A snake can help in situations where a blockage is further into your pipes, especially an incomplete blockage which might not be moved by plunging. Your first goal is to push the auger down the toilet and around the S-bend; hopefully, you won't have to push it too far before encountering the blockage. Try to push the end through the blockage to break it apart. If this doesn't work, pull it back and the coiled end might snag the blockage, bringing it back into the toilet pan where you can remove it.

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How to Unblock a Toilet Easily With These 6 Most Common Ways

Identify the Type of the Blockage

A sign that a blockage is forming is the water draining slowly from the toilet. When you notice this, do not wait for the toilet to become completely obstructed. It is much easier to unblock it early on.

The second type of stoppage is when, after flushing the toilet, the water in the bowl is very little or there is none at all. This means that there is an issue with the air circulation in the waste pipe.

Lastly, there is the complete blockage which is identified by how the water level in the toilet bowl keeps rising towards the brim and does not drain away. If you have this type of obstruction, move as much water as possible from the bowl into a separate bucket and avoid the temptation to flush again, otherwise, you risk having to deal with water spilling everywhere and a much bigger mess.

If you are having trouble identifying the type of blockage, call a plumber to deal with your blocked toilet in London.

Note: A blockage in a toilet macerator or waste outlet needs diagnosing the root of the problem and application of unblocking methods different from those used for standard toilets. Your best bet is to contact a Saniflo plumber who will help you remove the blockage the hassle-free way.

Prepare the area

Place old towels and newspapers around the toilet bowl to protect the floor from any overspill, splashes or drips. Save your best towels for another time. It might be a good idea to have a bucket waiting on standby, should the case to pull up rather than pushing down a blockage arise. Use rubber gloves and wear old clothes to protect yourself.

Prevent overflows

To ensure that no overflowing nightmares happen that day, you will need to turn the shutoff valve. Look for it on the pipe coming off the wall behind the toilet. Turn it clockwise and make sure not to accidentally break it if it is not budging and you use too much strength. You can spray a little penetrating oil on the valve to loosen it.

If that doesn’t work or you have an older toilet that doesn’t have a shutoff valve, deal with either the float or the flapper inside the water tank. Don’t worry, the water inside the tank is the same as the one that comes out of the tap.

The float is the large ball-like or balloon-like element that sinks down when the water level drops and opens the water valve to fill up the tank. You can use something to keep it upright. Alternatively, you can close the flapper. That is the circular drain stopper attached to a chain. Doing either of these three options will prevent water from filling up the tank after you have flushed.

Double-check your plunger

Before proceeding with the plunger, double-check if you can remove the obstruction manually if it is a child’s toy or another object. If that is not the case, then it is time to pick up the plunger. Make sure you are using the correct one: a plunger that has a rubber flange that can fold back up into the suction cup when not in use is for toilets; a plunger without one is for sinks. Using the wrong instrument will make the job more difficult and time-consuming since you won’t have a tight seal around the hole. To make the plunger even more effective, you can soften the rubber by soaking it in hot water for a few minutes.

Before you start plunging, make sure the plunger is submerged in water and it is completely covering the pipe. You can add water from the sink to the toilet bowl to achieve the best results.

It’s time to plunge

Start by slowly and firmly pushing down to create a seal and then pulling up sharply to dislodge the obstruction. When you pick up the pace, you will notice the water starting to drain. It usually takes at least 15 minutes to unclog a toilet.

When draining, some water may dislodge and push forward the blockage. If it doesn’t, then fill up the toilet bowl with water to its usual level again and repeat the process. Some stubborn clogs containing hair or wet wipes may require a couple of rounds of plunging.

Clean your tools

Once you are done, it is important to give your tool a good clean. The best way is to pour some bleach and washing liquid into the toilet bowl and swirl the plunger for a few minutes in the mixture. Then rinse it by flushing the toilet twice. This will also help move the blockage forward.

Unclog Your Loo with a Drain Auger

A toilet auger (also known as a closet auger, drain auger and plumber’s snake) is essentially a long, flexible cable, which has a handle on one end and a corkscrew-shaped tip on the other. It also has a rubber covering that protects the toilet bowl from scratches. Follow these steps to find out how to unclog a toilet with a snake:

Insert the cable into the toilet

Start by inserting the auger into the toilet and positioning the curved part of the instrument at the curved part of the toilet bowl. If you can still see the cable, then you need to push the auger further in.

Rotate the handle until the blockage is clear

Hold the auger housing in one hand and rotate the handle slowly with the other. Make sure you don’t use too much force as this could backfire and make the cable coil back. Turn the handle patiently in one direction until you get some resistance. When you feel like it cannot go any further, then it is safe to assume that you have reached the blockage.

If the cork-screw tip perforates the blockage, you can pull the cable out along with the obstruction. Alternatively, the tip can break the obstruction into smaller pieces, which can then be flushed away safely.

Get the cable out

If the cable can go in deeper than before and there is no resistance anymore, pull it out by rotating in the opposite direction.

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WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR TOILET WON’T UNCLOG

We rarely think about toilets until something goes wrong. When our toilet malfunctions or clogs, it can be more than a minor inconvenience, especially if we don’t have a plunger. Keep in mind that a severely blocked toilet could interrupt your household completely.

Although clearing the blockage is frequently as simple as plunging the drain, you might need to run an auger through your plumbing.

Moreover, some clogs might be far down the pipe or extremely hard to remove that you’ll require services from Air America. Fortunately, these tips will help you unclog your toilet.

Plunger

While this tool might appear basic, it remains the best way of unclogging a toilet. We recommend all households to have this tool and preferably one with a flange because they work best to unblock toilets.

When using this tool, you need to place the plunger in the toilet bowl and push it down gently. The first push is simply to eliminate the air. Take care not to push forcefully, otherwise; you might splash dirty water on yourself.

Once you have a good seal, pump the plunger down and up forcefully while sustaining the seal. Finally, pull the tool up sharply while breaking the air seal. You’ll notice the water rushing down the drain. If this hasn’t fixed the blockage, repeat the steps until the clog loosens.

Vinegar and Baking Soda

When your toilet won’t flush and you don’t have a plunger, you can turn to non-toxic household cleaning aids: vinegar and baking soda. You probably know that vinegar and baking soda are great at cleaning numerous surfaces, function as great deodorizers, and are helpful in keeping our drains running smoothly.

However, these household cleaners also work when you need to fix a blocked toilet if you don’t have a plunger. We recommend you add a cup of baking soda to your blocked toilet and wait for some minutes. Next, pour two cups of vinegar slowly into the toilet.

Vinegar and baking soda will typically react to form bubbles, so ensure you pour carefully and slowly to prevent the toilet water from overflowing or splashing. Allow the baking soda and vinegar mixture to work for a couple of minutes.

You’ll need to flush your toilet to establish whether the clog has cleared. You might need to repeat the process until the clog clears. The clog will clear when your toilet makes a fast suction sound and drains naturally thereafter.

Hot Water and Dish Soap

Heat up a gallon of hot water on the stove and pour some dish soap into your toilet while the water is heating up. When the water is extremely hot, but not boiling, pour into the toilet carefully. Wait for 10-15 minutes while the dish soap and hot water soften the clog.

Once you do so, the toilet will unclog and flush freely. Alternatively, you could use hot water and shampoo from the sink if you wish to clear your toilet without leaving your bathroom.

Household Bleach

Similar to soap, household bleach helps break down the waste. The procedure resembles the one that involves dish soap. Simply replace the solid or liquid dishwashing soap with 2-3 cups of bleach. After one or two minutes, pour one cup of powdered soap. Wait 10-15 minutes and flush your toilet. You’ll discover this approach is more efficient for a very clogged toilet.

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