A blocked toilet fills the bowl and may spill onto the floor. Paper, wipes and sanitary items cause most blocks, because they hold together in the pipe. Toys and other objects can also cause one. A block further down the drain can show up here first.
Stop flushing as soon as the water rises, since each flush adds more water. Try a plunger once or twice, because many soft blocks shift that way. If the water still does not drop, the block sits deeper. At that point, stop and ask for help.
A toilet that blocks again and again often has a problem in the pipe, not the pan. The guide to blocked drains covers the whole picture. You can also read about a blocked sink or a blocked bath and shower, since a shared pipe may link them.
A job usually starts with the pan, where a block near the bend is easiest to reach. Nearby fixtures show whether the block sits in a shared pipe. This quick look often shows whether any tool is needed.
A plunger or a toilet auger moves soft blocks, and paper and wipes often break up under pressure. Work normally stops once the water drops. You can ask to see what came out, although not every engineer offers this.
If the pan clears but water still rises elsewhere, the block sits further down. A drain rod or a water jet can then clear a longer length of pipe. The right tool depends on the pipe, so describe the symptoms in your request.
It is common to flush several times to check the flow. Nearby fixtures show whether a hidden fault remains. A fix that lasts only a day points to a deeper problem, since the real cause may still sit in the pipe.
The engineer who takes your job runs a separate business, so the engineer sets the price, the arrival time and any guarantee. Use these questions to compare quotes, since answers differ from one engineer to the next. Write the answers down, because a written note helps if the job changes.
The guides checked for this page do not price toilets on their own. However, guides for general drain clearing give a rough idea. MyJobQuote lists drain cleaning at £80 to £100 and rodding at £80 to £145.
These are not Dundee quotes, and a hard block deeper in the pipe can still cost more. MyJobQuote also lists a standard call-out charge of £50 to £100. Ask whether a call-out charge applies, and get the full price in writing.
A plunger often clears a soft block made of paper. Use it gently, one or two times. Avoid strong chemicals, because they rarely shift a solid block and can be harsh on old pipes. If the water stays high, stop and ask for help.
Stop flushing and leave the water to settle. A block that a plunger cannot move often sits further down the pipe, since a plunger only works near the bend. Send a request and say that you already tried a plunger.
If the water is not rising and you have another toilet, waiting is usually fine. Do not flush it again, since that adds water. Treat it as urgent if sewage spreads, if other fixtures back up or if it is your only toilet.
Repeat blocks usually mean a partial block further down, such as roots, a displaced joint or build-up. A CCTV drain survey can show the cause. As a result, you fix it once instead of clearing it again and again.