How to unblock a toilet (with video)

Tools required:

a binliner
a plunger
a coathanger
a toilet snake or augur

Difficulty rating: 2
Can be done by one person.

Timescale: approx 30 mins - depending on how bad the problem is.

1 - Stop flushing!

Flushing a blocked toilet only adds more water to the problem and, if it has nowhere to run, the bowl may overflow and flood the bathroom.

2 - Turn off the water supply

indoor stopcock

Check the cold water pipe near the toilet. The stopcock in newer systems is often located there. Turning this will cut off the water supply.

mains stopcock

If you can't find a stopcock in this pipe then you will have to turn off the mains cold water stopcock to the house.

ball valve cistern

As a temporary measure, if you have an older toilet sytsem you may also lift the ball valve in the cistern. With the ball valve in this position, water cannot enter the toilet cistern.

3 - Put down some newspapers or old towels

4 - Put on some rubber gloves.

5 - If the toilet bowl is full, remove some of the water to a bucket.

6 - Locate the obstruction.

If you can see the obstruction, wrap the binliner around your arm and hand and attempt to pull it out. Take care to ensure that the liner fully covers your arm and no toilet water comes in contact with your skin.

7 - Try to move the obstruction

If you can't see what is causing the blockage then you may be able to move it through the drains system.

plunger

By plunging

Press the plunger down firmly and then slowly pull upwards. Keep at it until you hear the water going down the pipes and feel the toilet unblock. Pressing down and pulling up like this creates suction inside the plunger head which then draws out the blockage and assists its passage down the drain.

Wash the plunger after use.

coathanger

With a coat hanger

If plunging doesn't work, try using a coathanger.

First, straighten it out.

With the hook end pointing away from you, move the wire in and out in a circular motion. This should loosen the blockage and help it to go down the pipes.

auger

With an augur or toilet snake

Insert the augur or toilet snake into the toilet, pushing down until you can feel the blockage. Move the tool around inside the bend until you can pull out the blockage or dislodge it so that it flows away.

8 - Check the toilet is now clear

To do this slowly pour some water from the bucket into the toilet bowl. If it flows away, pour in more water at a faster rate to simulate the toilet cistern flow rate.