It’s something we all dread – stepping into your bathroom barefoot (or worse, in socks), not realising your toilet has overflowed and soaked the floor through.

Blocked toilets are a frustrating but common problem. Although they can often be treated at home, serious cases may require expert assistance.

Warning signs of a toilet blockage include:

At Greenstar, we have decades of experience dealing with blocked drains and pipes. In this guide, we discuss the possible reasons your toilet may be blocked, how to fix it, and when to consult the help of a professional.

What Causes Toilet Blockages?

A toilet blockage can be blamed on a few possible causes.

Foreign Objects Blocking Pipes

One of the most common – and easily avoided – causes of toilet blockages comes from flushing foreign objects. These items are too large or hard to move through the small pipes leading to the main sewer line, and so get lodged inside. As waste builds up around the trapped object, it’s harder and harder for the water to flow through, eventually leading to a total blockage.

Common culprits include:

  • Baby wipes
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Cotton pads
  • Too much toilet paper
  • Tooth floss
  • Serviettes

Hard Water

More difficult to deal with, some blockages are caused by living in an area with hard water.

‘Hard water’ refers to water with a high mineral content. In the UK, houses may have hard water if they’re built on a bedrock made up of sedimentary rocks like flint, limestone, chalk, and sandstone. It is most common in the South East of England, which mainly consists of chalk and limestone regions. You can check if you live in a hard water area using this map.

If you live in a hard water area, you may notice a white or yellow-ish rim around the toilet water line. You’ll also notice that limescale builds up in your kettle and iron quickly.

Although hard water isn’t dangerous to humans, it can cause a lot of damage to your plumbing. As the minerals in hard water flow through your pipes, they leave behind residue (typically made of calcium). This residue can build up in time, restricting the flow of water.

Weathered Pipes

If your plumbing system is particularly old, your pipes may have been damaged by rocks, tree roots, or simply age. This can make it hard for water to flow through them.

Low-Flow Toilets

Some older toilet models are known as ‘low-flow’ toilets. As the name suggests, their flush is much weaker than that of modern toilets. Blockages can occur if the flush is too weak to push the blockage down the pipes.

How to Clear a Blocked Toilet

Generally speaking, the quicker you spot a blocked toilet, the easier it is to treat.

Simple problems can be treated with a plunger, auger, or liquid solution, but more complex issues may require professional treatment.

Plunger: Simply align the rubber head of the plunger over the toilet drain and push down on the handle a few times. If the blockage isn’t too serious, you’ll probably hear the water flowing down the drain. Flush the toilet a couple times afterwards to make sure the blockage is fully gone.

Toilet augers: Also known as ‘drain snakes’, augers are made up of a rotating handle and a long cable. Lower the cable into the drain until it hits the blockage. Rotate the head of the auger using the handle at the top, and the blockage will hopefully be broken up by the movement. Flush the toilet afterwards to clear any remaining debris.

Liquid Drain Cleaner: If your blockage is minor enough, a homemade solution of baking soda and white vinegar may do the trick. Read our guide to creating the mixture for more information.

When Do You Need to Consult a Professional?

If you’ve tried the above options and your toilet is still blocked, it’s time to call in the professionals.

A plumber will inspect your pipes for the blockage, often using a pipe camera. They will then use advanced tools like motorised augers, specialised flange plungers, and hydro-jets to fully clear the blockage.

Need an Emergency Plumber? Greenstar Can Help

As one of the leading emergency plumbers in the South, Greenstar’s expert plumbers have nearly three decades of experience unblocking toilets quickly, cleanly, and efficiently. We are available 24/7 and will endeavour to be at your residence within two hours.

Our quotes are competitively priced and fixed rate. No matter how long the problem takes to solve, you don’t have to worry about hidden fees or unexpected extras.

Whether you’re struggling with a blocked toilet or a burst pipe, we’ll get your plumbing up and running again in no time.

Call us at 01202 355 344 to arrange an emergency drain clearing today!