Blocked toilet? What to try before you call a plumber

A blocked toilet is the one plumbing problem nobody wants to wait on. Many blockages clear with a plunger and patience — but some need proper kit, especially in older South West London pipework.

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1. Stop flushing

If the water level is high, don't flush again — it will overflow. Wait ten minutes; sometimes the level drops enough to work on. Lay old towels around the base just in case.

2. Use a proper plunger

A flange plunger (the type with a fold-out rubber cone) seals the toilet outlet far better than a cup plunger. Use steady, firm pushes rather than violent ones, and keep at it for a minute or two.

3. Hot water and washing-up liquid

A bucket of hot (not boiling) water poured from waist height, with a good squirt of washing-up liquid, can break up a soft blockage. Leave it ten minutes, then try one careful flush.

When to call us

If plunging doesn't shift it, if other drains are slow or gurgling, or if the toilet blocks repeatedly, the problem is likely in the soil pipe or an outside drain. Wet wipes — even 'flushable' ones — are the most common cause we find. Our blocked drains service clears it properly.

Questions

Can I use a chemical unblocker in a toilet?

We don't recommend it — they're rarely effective on toilet blockages and make the job hazardous for whoever clears it afterwards.

Why does my toilet keep blocking?

Recurring blockages usually mean something caught in the soil pipe, a partial collapse, or wipes and products that shouldn't be flushed. We can clear it and advise on the cause.

See our blocked drains & drain unblocking service →

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Smell gas? Leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency line on 0800 111 999 first.

Illustrative bathroom basin and domestic plumbing fittings — Illustrative image, not a completed customer project.