How to Unblock a Toilet Without Calling a Plumber

A blocked toilet always seems to happen at the worst moment, but most blockages are close to the bowl and can be cleared with a plunger, hot water or a cheap toilet auger. This guide walks you through each method in order, from gentlest to strongest, and shows you how to tell when the problem is further down the pipe and really does need a professional. General information, not professional advice: wear gloves, never mix drain chemicals, and stop if you are unsure.

First, Stop the Overflow

If the water in the bowl is rising after a flush, do not flush again. A second flush adds a full cistern of water to a bowl that cannot drain, and that is how bathrooms flood. Your first job is to stop more water arriving.

1. Lift the cistern lid Take the lid off the cistern and put it somewhere safe, such as on a folded towel on the floor. Ceramic lids crack easily.
2. Hold the flush valve shut Press the flapper or the siphon unit down, or lift the float arm up, to stop the cistern refilling and emptying into the bowl.
3. Turn off the water supply Look for a small isolation valve on the pipe feeding the cistern. Turn the screw slot a quarter turn with a flat screwdriver so the slot sits across the pipe. If there is no valve, you can keep the float lifted while you work.
4. Protect the floor Lay old towels or newspaper around the base of the toilet. Have a bucket and a jug nearby.

Work Out What Kind of Blockage You Have

Before reaching for tools, spend a minute working out where the blockage is likely to be. This decides which method will work and saves you from wasting effort on the wrong one.

If something solid such as a toy, phone or sanitary product has gone down, try to retrieve it rather than force it. Plunging can push a hard object into the trap where it jams firmly.