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Blocked Toilet Guide

Most blocked toilets can be cleared at home. This guide shows what to try, how to tell when the problem is the drain, and when to call us across Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and London.

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The basics

Is it the toilet or the drain?

A toilet that is slow to flush or won’t empty is often blocked in the pan or the pipe just behind it. That is usually something you can try to clear yourself.

If other drains are affected too, the blockage is further along. Signs include a bath or sink that is slow when the toilet is flushed, gurgling noises, or a manhole outside that is full.

A blockage in the drain itself is a job for drain unblocking, usually with high pressure jetting. If you have a septic tank, a full tank can also cause toilets to back up, so see septic tank emptying.

If it’s the drain

How we clear a blocked toilet drain

When the blockage is out of reach, these are the services that sort it.

Drain unblockingClearing blocked drains and sewers. High pressure jettingClears grease, wipes and debris from the pipe. CCTV drain surveysFinds out why it keeps blocking. Septic tank emptyingWhen a full tank is the cause.

Try this first

What you can try yourself

  1. Stop flushing

    Flushing again can overflow the bowl. Wait and see whether the water level drops.

  2. Use a plunger

    A toilet plunger with a good seal on the pan outlet can shift most blockages. Push and pull steadily rather than hard.

  3. Try warm water and washing-up liquid

    Pour in a little washing-up liquid, then warm (not boiling) water from waist height. Boiling water can crack the pan.

  4. Avoid drain chemicals

    They can damage pipes, and if you have a septic tank they can harm the bacteria it relies on.

  5. Call a professional

    If the water won’t clear, or other drains are slow too, stop and call us.

Why it matters

Don’t keep flushing a blocked toilet

Repeated flushing can push waste back into the house, or flood the bathroom floor.

Wipes, even those sold as flushable, are a common cause of blocked toilets and drains. Only toilet paper should go down the toilet.

Call a drainage company if

  • More than one toilet or fixture is affected
  • Water gurgles or backs up when you flush
  • There is a smell, or a manhole outside is full
  • The blockage comes back after clearing
  • You have a septic tank or treatment plant
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Why Clearmasters

Why choose Clearmasters?

We tell you honestly if the problem is the toilet or the drain. If it is the drain we clear it, and if it keeps happening we find out why.

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Always on hand

Planned servicing at a time that suits you, and 24/7 call-outs when something goes wrong.

Straight answers

We explain what we found in plain English, and give you honest advice on what needs doing now and what can wait.

Trained engineers

Our engineers hold current confined space entry certificates and work on treatment plants, pump stations and drainage every day.

We tidy up after ourselves

We reinstate your ground and leave the site clean.

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Questions answered

Blocked toilet FAQs

Why does my toilet keep blocking?

Common causes are wipes and other items flushed, too much paper, or a partly blocked or damaged drain. If it keeps happening, a CCTV survey can show what is wrong.

What shouldn’t I flush?

Only toilet paper and human waste. Wipes, cotton buds, sanitary products, nappies and kitchen waste should go in the bin.

Can I use drain cleaner on a blocked toilet?

We would avoid it. Chemicals can damage pipes, and they can harm the bacteria in a septic tank or treatment plant.

When should I call a drainage company instead of a plumber?

If the blockage is in the pan or the pipe just behind it, a plumber or plunger may do. If several drains are affected, or a manhole is full, the blockage is in the drain and we can help.

Could a full septic tank cause a blocked toilet?

Yes. If toilets are slow or backing up and you have a septic tank, the tank may be full or the outlet blocked.

Got a different question? Call 03333 233566 or send us a message.

Related services

Drain UnblockingClearing blocked drains and sewers. High Pressure JettingScours pipes clear. CCTV Drain SurveysFind out why it keeps happening. Septic Tank EmptyingIf a full tank is the cause.

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