Unblock a toilet Leeds
Everyone has been there. All of a sudden, the toilet fills up ominously when you flush it and then doesn’t drain away as it should. Most of the time, the problem resolves itself and the water will eventually drain away. But on some occasions, the waste water either doesn’t diminish, or the toilet keeps blocking repeatedly. Knowing what the signs of a blocked toilet are, and how to deal it can help prevent a highly unsanitary situation from developing or becoming worse, Dr drainage details how to unblock a toilet.
Signs of a blocked toilet
This is not a glamarous subject, but an important one nonetheless. All too often, people will ignore the signs of a blocked toilet, because as mentioned above, frequently, a toilet will end up clearing naturally. But if you notice any of the following, on a regular basis – then it’s time for action.
- A bad smell – Yes – we know – bad smells are naturally associated with toilets. But if there is a lingering bad smell which seems to emanate around the house, this can be a sign that the drainage pipes have a blockage somewhere and waste might be backed up
- Gurgling sounds – Water often makes a sucking or squeaking sound when draining away, but if there are persistent gurgling noises happening, even when you aren’t using any water, this is an early warning sign that water isn’t flowing freely through the pipework
- Slow draining water – If your toilet bowl fills up and either doesn’t drain away at all, takes longer than usual to drain, or it appears that your toilet keeps blocking, this is the number one sign that something is down there that shouldn’t be!
What causes a blocked toilet?
Anything that goes into a toilet should be degradable in water. Anything that isn’t degradable will likely cause drainage issues with continued flushing of them. There are a great many items that do not belong in a toilet but the usual suspects that get flushed are items like wipes (baby wipes, makeup removing wipes) feminine hygiene products, rubbish (think hair balls, dust wiped from bathroom surfaces) and cosmetics. A surprising number of people will dispose of items down their toilets without thinking twice about whether they should be flushed into the water system. If this behaviour is continuous, a blocked toilet is an inevitable eventuality.
Self-help tips for unblocking a toilet
Before calling out a plumber or toilet unblocking specialist, there are some DIY steps that can be tried.
If your toilet is draining away slowly, but still draining, try these tips:
- Use a plunger – you’ll need one that’s suction cup is wide enough to create pressure round the neck of your toilet basin- if you don’t have a plunger – try using a toilet brush to manually plunge the water down and create the pressure required to push whatever item is causing the blockage through the system
- Try an off the shelf drain un blocker, this can help the break up of thick heavy substances such as oil that may be blocking your drain.
If your toilet is not draining the water away, try this:
- Use a drain rod (or coat hanger!) – Drain rods are designed to swivel around the u-bend of a toilet and effectively poke through or break up any items that are causing a blockage. You can use a wire coat hanger in a similar manner
When to call a professional
If your toilet keeps blocking, you’ve tried the self-help methods discussed here, or you notice any of the concerning signs mentioned above, it might be time to call the professionals in to help. It’s best to avoid leaving the toilet to see if it unclogs on its own for more than a week since an undiagnosed drainage issue could cause highly unsanitary circumstances for you and your family or business. The best course of action, is of course, prevention, but if it’s gone past that point, get in touch with a trustworthy, local business who can come and sort the issue for you.
Dr Drainage – The experts in all thing’s drainage
Hopefully our handy self-help tips will do the trick, but if you find yourself in a pickle with a blocked toilet, we have a dedicated team that are on call 24/7 who guarantee same day response. No one wants to be left hanging around with a blocked toilet emergency so give our trusted, friendly team a call and we will be right there to support. Use our contact form for a super speedy response.
