A Guide To Unblocking Your Toilet

A blocked toilet is no one's idea of fun - nor is trying to clear it. Still, there is no need fret, or think that you will have to spend a fortune on a plumber, as it should not be too difficult to unblock it yourself.

Before attempting to unblock it yourself, it is important to first protect the area around the toilet with either some layers of newspaper or some old sheets. Hopefully, they will not actually be necessary, but it is better to be safe than sorry. You should also make sure that you the right tools for the job - at least rubber gloves, a bucket and a plunger.

With those things in place, here is what you need to do...

Warm water alone can sometimes be enough to shift the blockage, so try slowly pouring half a bucket of it into the toilet. If there looks like there is some movement, then try another half bucket. If there is no movement at all, or if there is some but not enough, then you will need to get your plunger out.

Using your plunger try pushing backwards and forwards into the toilet. This push-pull motion is needed to try to force water through the blockage and break it up. Different plungers offer you different chances of success so choose your plunger carefully (if unsure, ask for advice at your local hardware or DIY store).

A plumber's snake is a flexible clearing rod that has a hand crank attached to it, that can be used to break up, or suck up, blockages. You may well not already have one, as they are not common in most households, but it is a worthwhile investment as they are not expensive and you can obviously re-use it for blockages in the future. To use it, drop it as far down into the toilet as you can get it, clamp it in place, and then turn the crank handle. Then, try pushing and pulling on it so as to disrupt the blockage.

A wire clothes hanger can be used in the absence of a plumber's snake. You need to first straighten it out, and then poke it as far into the blockage as you can get it. Your first aim is to wiggle it around and try to disrupt the blockage as much as you can. If you can loosen anything up, then try to fish parts of the blockage out with it

Another approach is to use a chemical drain cleaner or caustic soda to clear the blockage. But be careful. Before you pour anything down your toilet, make sure that it is a product that is specifically marked as being safe for use with porcelain. Read the manufacturer's directions carefully and make sure you are wearing those rubber gloves. Never mix chemical drain cleaners, only use one type of drain cleaner at a time.

By this point your toilet should be cleared; if it is not, then you have a blockage of extreme proportions, and you will need to arrange for a plumber to deal with it for you.