A blocked toilet is frustrating, unpleasant, and (depending on how many toilets are available in the building) a time-sensitive problem! Luckily, many toilet blockages can be solved quickly — often, the best way to unblock a toilet is an easy DIY method. In this blog, the TWC team are sharing tried and tested advice on how to unblock a toilet fast. We’ll also share how to avoid costly plumber feeds, as well as prevention tips for further blockages.
Understanding How a Toilet Works
To understand how best to clear a blockage, first we need to break down how a toilet works. The process of flushing the toilet can be best explained through four simple steps, involving different parts of the toilet mechanism.
- When you press the flush, the handle lifts the flapper (a rubber stopper at the bottom of the cistern tank, that stops the water entering the toilet). When the flapper is lifted, water from the tank rushes down into the toilet bowl due to gravity.
- The float (otherwise known as a ballcock) which is a floating ball that sits on the surface of the water in the tank to control the water level, drops as this water leaves the tank. Once the water level has dropped enough to flush the toilet, the descent of the float opens the fill valve, causing the flapper to close again and stop the water flowing from the tank into the bowl.
- The increased level in the bowl causes an overflow of water into the toilet trap, the curved pipe behind the bowl. This pipe always retains some water after you flush the toilet, creating an air-tight seal that prevents sewer gas from backing up into your property.
- The water flowing through the trap creates suction due to the shape of the pipe, removing water and waste through the waste pipe. The fill valve, triggered by the float, then refills the bowl from the water supply line to its pre-flush level, and your toilet is ready to flush again!
Now you know how your toilet flushes, you can use this to identify where how severe the blockage might be, and the type of blockage you are dealing with. Read on, as we answer how to unblock a toilet quickly, and easily.
Identifying the Type of Blockage
There are several different types of toilet blockages that you can diagnose and treat at home. The most severe type of toilet blockage is a total stoppage, meaning that the water level has risen in the bowl but will not fall. This means that there is a complete block somewhere in the system that water cannot pass through. Another type of blockage is slow drainage, meaning that the water level will eventually return to normal, but the flow is partially obstructed by a blockage and is moving extremely slowly. Finally, the water level in your toilet bowl might be very low, or the bowl might be completely empty.
Depending on the type of blockage you have, you can determine where in the system your blockage is, and how best to approach clearing it. Slow drainage suggests a partial blockage in the drainage line, whilst high water level suggests a complete blockage either in the trap or the drainpipe. If your toilet bowl is empty, or the pipes are making gurgling noises, you likely have an issue with air trapped in the pipes that is creating suction and preventing the water from flowing freely.
How to Unblock a Toilet: Quick and Easy DIY Methods
Before you try and unblock your toilet, make sure you turn off the water supply valve to mitigate any potential overflowing, and always have an old towel handy for any spills. The TWC team have organised the following methods from least invasive to most invasive, meaning that you can try the easiest first and then work your way up if your blockage is more stubborn.
Unblocking with a Plunger
Many households will own one, but how to use a plunger effectively is a skill that you may not have had to practice before. The trick is getting an effective seal around the whole edge of the plunger, creating strong suction to dislodge your blockage. Your plunger should be large enough to cover the drainage hole at the bottom of the toilet bowl completely. Insert the plunger into the bowl at about a 45-degree angle and press down firmly to create a strong seal. To dislodge the blockage, press down hard and then pull up the plunger to create suction, and repeat this rapidly for about 30 seconds. Remove the plunger — if the water level recedes, your blockage has cleared, and you can turn the water supply valve back on and flush the toilet as normal.
Using Hot Water and Dish Soap
The combination of dish soap and hot water can be quite effective in clearing toilet blockages, particularly if you do not have a plunger. First, pour about half a cup of dish soap into the toilet bowl. Since the dish soap is denser than the water, it should drop to the bottom of the bowl and penetrate the clog. Leave this to work for about half an hour, and then boil the kettle and then leave it to cool down for a couple of minutes. Using freshly boiled water has the potential to crack the porcelain of your toilet! Once the dish soap has been in the bowl for 30 minutes, pout the hot water into the toilet bowl, making sure not to overfill it. The hot water should now be able to dissolve and wash away the clog. Again, if the water level recedes, follow the final step outlined above.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
The chemical reaction created by combining baking soda and vinegar causes a fizzing effect, which can help to loosen the blockage in your pipes. For an easy DIY toilet unclogging method, simply add one cup of baking soda to the toilet bowl, and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Then, add a cup of vinegar. The reaction will cause foaming and bubbling as the vinegar and baking soda mix, which is a good sign that it is working well on your clog. If possible, leave this mixture to sit overnight, or for at least one hour. If the water begins to recede, turn on the water valve and flush the toilet as normal to remove the mixture from the bowl. There is no harm in repeating this method if it does not completely clear the blockage the first time, but if the blockage remains persistent, you may need a stronger mechanical action to shift it.
Toilet Auger (or Plumbing Snake)
A plumbing snake is a long, flexible metal cable with a coil of metal wire on the end. It can be attacked to a crank that helps to feed the snake through the pipe or pushed through by hand. The plumbing snake works by reaching the blockage and then using the metal coil to dislodge and break up the obstruction in your pipes manually. To use your toilet auger, push the metal wire firmly into the toilet until it meets resistance. Then, slowly turn the handle clockwise. This should enable the metal wire to break apart the blockage. If the blockage successfully passes and the water level recedes, carefully remove the drain auger and then turn on the water supply valve and flush the toilet.
Water Pressure (for Severe Blockages)
If your toilet is extremely badly blocked, you can try using a pressure washer or a hose to shift the blockage, but please proceed with caution.
Insert the nozzle of the hose or pressure washer into the toilet, and then switch it on. The hose will be pulled into the pipe by the force of the water leaving the pipe, until it reaches the blockage. The pressure of the water leaving the hose then hits the blockage, pushing it out of the pipe, and clearing the walls of the pipe from debris. Whilst this method can be very effective, it should never be attempted if your toilet bowl is very full, as it could cause an overflow. Always place old towels around the base of the toilet to collect any spillages, and remove excess water from the bowl with a bucket to avoid any issues.
How to Prevent Toilet From Blocking In The Future
Prevention is definitely better than cure for your plumbing, and good drain care habits help you to avoid the stress and unpleasantness of a toilet blockage in the future. Here are some TWC top maintenance tips for toilets to help to avoid this situation!
- Only ever flush human waste and toilet paper. “Flushable” wipes are not water soluble enough for our sewage systems, and can cause a huge amount of damage to your plumbing — did you know that wet wipes are behind up to 80% of blockages in UK sewers? You should also never flush sanitary items.
- Perform regular toilet maintenance. Bleach your toilet once a week, which can help to reduce limescale and the build-up of organic matter to avoid clogs. You can also have a look inside the cistern tank of your toilet once a month, to check for any degradation of moving parts and to ensure that the water level is correct.
- If you are struggling with regular blockages, consult an expert! At TWC, our friendly engineers will be happy to schedule regular drain checks, perform drain jetting to clean out your pipes, or simply give advice on avoiding blockages in the future.
When DIY Methods Don’t Work: What to Do Next
Still wondering how to unblock a toilet? If you have attempted to clean your toilet blockage yourself, and the DIY toilet unblocking methods outlined in this blog have been unsuccessful, give TWC a call. We use the latest equipment and a range of professional methods to shift even the most stubborn drain blockages, from CCTV drain surveillance to high pressure drain jetting. We also encourage you to contact us if you are experiencing complex or frequent blockages — if you are having to unblock your toilet weekly, or it is very difficult to shift blockages when they do occur, this could be a symptom of a deeper plumbing issue that we can diagnose and rectify. For example, if you are hearing strange noises from your toilet, like gurgling or bubbling, give us a call!
