Blocked toilets on the Northern Beaches and North Shore in Sydney are the most common plumbing problem we see at homes and businesses. There is obviously always an urgency to fixed a blocked toilet, and most of the time it is simple to fix if you know the correct steps to undertake.
HOW TOILETS BECOME BLOCKED
Your toilet will become blocked when something is causing a blockage in your pipes, either internally or externally on your property.The external pipes are located underground somewhere on your property and connected to the local public sewer. The internal pipes are contained within your home or business and move waste and water outside to the external pipes.
The reason your toilet blocks up is caused by whatever you flush down your toilet at some point, including sanitary items, flushable wipes, excessive amounts of toilet paper etc. These items can build up over time until the blockage occurs. When the internal pipes are clogged, the blockage usually is close to the opening of the drain. However external blockages in your sewer pipes are most often caused by tree roots entering the pipes, build up of material in the pipes like grease or food matter, or old pipes that collapse.
The external blockages can cause much more damage and you will need to call a licensed Northern Beaches/North Shore blocked drain plumber to assist you in clearing the blockage.
In regards to more straightforward, internal blockages, there are steps you can take listed below which may be able to clear your blocked toilet drain.
HOW TO UNBLOCK YOUR TOILET
1. CLEAR THE TOILET BLOCKAGE WITH A PLUNGER
The first step to try when you have a blocked toilet inside your home or business is a plunger. They are cheap to buy and very easy to use, and a large majority of people will already own one. Make sure if you don’t already have a plunger, to buy one that fits over the toilet drain correctly, such as a flange or accordian plunger. If you buy a plunger suitable for a smaller drain, it obviously will not work.
Make sure before you try to use the plunger to unblock the toilet drain, that you slowly put it down over the toilet and press down to reduce the amount of air in it, this will provide better suction from a tight seal. It must also be submerged in the water to work correctly.
Use the plunger with quick up and down movements, without letting any air into the plunger. Keep this movement going until the toilet bowl empties all of the water out, then flush the toilet to see if the blockage is cleared.
2. CLEAR THE TOILET BLOCKAGE WITH AN AUGER
If the plunger fails to clear your blocked toilet drain, the next tool you can use to try and clear it, is an auger. You can buy auger from the majority of hardware stores including Bunnings. Like a drain snake, a toilet auger has a cable that rotates using a handle. When the cable reaches the blockage it will try to dislodge it and either be pushed back down or come up through the drain pipe. After the cable has forced through the blockage, pull the auger out of the toilet by rotating the handle and pull backwards. Unlike a plunger, an auger will not scratch your toilet.
After you remove the auger, flush the toilet several times to determine whether it has cleared the blockage. Repeat the process again if the toilet is still clogged.
3. WHEN YOU SHOULD CALL A LICENSED PLUMBER
If a plunger or auger do not clear your blocked toilet, it could mean that you have a blockage in the external pipes or main sewer line on your property. It is now important to clear a licensed plumber to remove the blockage, especially before it goes any worse. If the sewer pipes become completely blocked, you may have sewerage overflowing on your property and flooding which can have more serious consequences.
4 Elements Plumbing are experts in clearing all types of blocked drains and are available 24/7 for emergencies. For urgent plumbing issues call our Northern Beaches/North Shore emergency plumbers on 1300 790 930.