We have all the answers to the most common blocked toilet questions we get asked by clients.
1. Why is my toilet draining slowly?
A slow draining toilet is a sign that there is a blockage forming in the pipes. If the toilet fills up with water when you flush it and then drains slowly it means there is a partial obstruction somewhere down the line. There are a number of DIY methods you can try to remove the clog, some of which are discussed below. If these don’t work it’s imperative that you contact a local plumber as soon as possible. A partial clog will eventually become a complete blockage. Once the pipes are completely obstructed, raw sewage will no longer be able to travel safely through the pipes. Left untreated this could result in sewer back-up which can cause damage to your home and is also a health hazard.
2. How to unblock a toilet?
“How to unclog a toilet” is a loaded question because every blocked toilet is different. For example, the toilet could be clogged because too much toilet paper was used and a single flush wasn’t powerful enough to move it through the pipes. Alternatively, the toilet might be blocked due to a clog in the outside sewer pipes caused by tree roots. These issues require very different repairs. The first kind of toilet clog can probably be unblocked with a toilet plunger, while the second issue will require a licensed plumber with specific tools (such as a jet blaster).
Check out our blog post here on how to unblock a toilet for for tips and tricks.
3. How much does it cost to unblock a toilet? How much do plumbers charge to unblock a toilet?
Similarly to the question above, the cost of toilet repairs depends on the type of clog and the location of the clog. If a plumber simply needs to plunge the toilet and get the blockage removed in an hour or less, you can expect to pay between $150-$200 including the call out fee. If the plumber needs to use a jet blaster they will charge around $300 - $400 for the first hour, and then $150 - $200 for each additional hour after that. If the blockage is a serious issue such as a collapsed sewer pipe this could cost much more depending on how much pipe needs replacing.
4. How to unclog a toilet with baking soda or bicarb soda?
As professional plumbers, we don’t generally recommend attempting to unblock a toilet using bicarb soda / baking soda. This homemade natural drain cleaner may work on very minor clogs in the kitchen sink, but you’re better off using a plunger if the toilet is blocked. If you do want to try to unblock a toilet using bicarb soda you will also need distilled white vinegar. When these two substances combine they create a fizzing chemical reaction which may assist in dislodging a minor blockage. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the toilet followed with 1/2 cup of vinegar. Leave it to sit and fizz for an hour then pour a kettle of very hot (but not boiling) water down. If the water is too hot you risk cracking the ceramic bowl.
5. What drain chemicals are best for blocked toilets?
We do not recommend using chemical drain cleaners on any type of blocked drains including toilet drains. Chemical drain cleaners are incredibly corrosive and dangerous to use. Even minor exposure to the chemicals can cause skin, eye and throat irritation. If you decide to try chemical drain cleaners make sure you read and follow the safety instructions carefully. We have heard many horror stories of people using drain chemicals and injuring themselves. Drain cleaner chemicals are also terrible for the environment. Again, if you want to attempt DIY repairs on a clogged toilet, we would suggest using a toilet plunger over drain chemicals.
6. Can you flush tampons down the toilet?
No, it’s not safe to flush tampons down the toilet. Tampons are not flushable and should always be disposed of in a bin. Flushing tampons can lead to expensive blocked drain repairs. You can read more about the negative impact that tampons have on sewer systems here.
Tampons are not flushable. If you flush tampons down the toilet repeatedly they can get lodged in the pipes and combine with other debris causing blocked drains and blocked toilets.
7. Can you flush paper towel down the toilet?
Kitchen roll (aka paper towel) was developed as a substitute for reusable fabric cloths. It therefore needs to be thick, highly absorbent and strong so that it can get the same job done as fabric cloths, for example cleaning benches or mopping up liquids. As a result, kitchen roll is much more durable than toilet paper and does not disintegrate easily in water. Flushing paper towel or kitchen roll will almost certainly lead to a blocked toilet. It gets stuck in the pipes, accumulating over time and combining with other debris in the pipes.
For more information on why you shouldn’t flush kitchen towel down the toilet click here.
8. Can you flush wet-wipes down the toilet?
Wet-wipes are not flushable! Just because they can be flushed it doesn’t mean they should be flushed. Wet-wipes that are marketed as “flushable” are misleading and companies making these claims have been subject to lawsuits in recent years. According to Sydney Morning Herald article from 2016, Sydney Water removed more than 1000 tonnes of wet wipe materials from its wastewater system between 2014-2016. Almost seventy-five per cent of all sewer blockages involve wet wipes. If you want to avoid a blocked toilet in your home, place wet-wipes, makeup wipes, cleaning wipes, baby wipes and any other kind of disposable wipe in the bin.
Wet-wipes have caused blocked drains in both residential and Council sewer mains. Water companies spend millions of dollars clearing “fatbergs” out of public sewer systems every year.
9. What plunger should you use for a clogged toilet?
Toilets require a certain type of plunger. You can use a flange plunger or an accordion plunger. These plungers are designed specifically with a toilet drain in mind, which is a different shape to the kind of drain you find in a sink, shower or bathtub. Toilet plunger will get a better seal around the drain opening increasing your chances of successfully unblocking the toilet. You can attempt to use a cup plunger if that’s all you have on hand, but it will be less effective.
For more details on plungers see our blog post here.
10. How to plunge a blocked toilet? How to unclog a toilet with a plunger?
Start plunging vertically (straight up and down) in quick, forceful movements without breaking the cups seal over the drain. The goal is to create enough suction and compression to loosen the clog. Keep plunging until the toilet bowl empties by itself. Flush the toilet to check that it is now flushing normally.
11. How to unblock a toilet without a plunger?
If you’ve accidentally blocked a toilet and you don’t have a plunger, you can create a makeshift plunger using other items in the home. You can use either a toilet brush, a string head mop or a wire coat hanger that has been straightened with an old rag tied around the end. Cover the head of either item with a plastic bag. Place it over the drain opening and start pushing up and down with forceful movement with the same technique you would use a plunger. The main goal is to get a the best seal possible over the drain opening to maximise the suction.
12. How to get rid of drain flies in the toilet?
If you’ve noticed little moth-like flies buzzing around the toilet or other drains in the bathroom, you’re most likely dealing with a drain fly infestation. Drain flies are attracted to organic matter that has built up in the pipes, such as hair, dead skin cells, soap scum and other sludge. Drain flies lay their eggs in this organic matter and the drain fly larvae feeds on it. In order to get rid of drain flies and drain fly larvae permanently, you need to remove the food source and breeding grounds. You can attempt to do this with the bicarb soda, vinegar and boiling water but the best way to eradicate them for good is to get your drains professionally cleaned by a local plumber. Drain cleaning using a jet blaster machine removed virtually all sediment from the pipes.
Drain flies are attracted to organic sediment in drains and plumbing pipes. To get rid of drain flies you must eradicate the breeding grounds and food source.
13. Do tenants or landlord have to pay to repair a blocked toilet at a rental property?
In the majority of cases it is the responsibility of the landlord to cover cost of blocked toilet repairs. According to the Department of Fair Trading NSW, landlords are responsible for ensuring that a rental property is in a “reasonable state of repair” before a tenant moves in, taking into account the age of the property and the amount of rent they pay. However, tenants also have a duty to take care of the property during the tenancy. If the landlord can prove that the blocked toilet was caused by the tenants negligence then the tenant may be liable to cover the costs. An example of negligent behaviour could be repeatedly flushing tampons, wet-wipes, kitty litter or other non-flushable items down the toilet.
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