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Plumbing

Blocked toilet: what to do first and when to call a plumber

A toilet that will not flush or drains very slowly is usually blocked in the pan or the pipe just below it. Stop flushing, and if the water is rising, close the isolation valve to the cistern. A plunger sometimes clears a simple blockage. If it does not, or other drains are affected, the blockage is further along and a plumber should deal with it.

How this usually shows up

  • The toilet will not flush
  • The water level rises and drains slowly
  • The bowl fills to the top when flushed
  • Gurgling from the toilet or other drains
  • Sewage smell in the bathroom

What may be happening

These are possibilities, not a diagnosis. Someone needs to see the problem to know which applies.

Too much paper or the wrong items
Wipes, cotton buds, sanitary products and thick paper can block the trap or pipe, even when a label says flushable.
A blockage in the pan or trap
The bend just below the toilet is the narrowest point and where blockages most often start.
A blockage further along the drain
If a shower, basin or another toilet is also slow, the blockage may be in the shared waste pipe.
Roots or damage in the drain
Roots, a collapsed section or a badly fitted pipe can cause repeated blockages.
Ventilation or a full septic system
Where the property uses a septic tank or cesspit, a full system or a poorly vented pipe can also cause slow drainage.

What you can safely check

  1. Stop flushing. Repeated flushing can make the bowl overflow.
  2. If the water is rising, close the small isolation valve on the pipe behind or beside the cistern if it is easy to reach and turns freely. Do not force it.
  3. Protect the floor with towels and wear rubber gloves.
  4. Try a toilet plunger with a good seal, using steady pushes rather than force. A few attempts are enough.
  5. Check whether the sink, shower or another toilet is also slow or gurgling. It points to a wider blockage.
  6. Try again after a while. Some blockages soften and ease with time.
Please do not
  • Do not use chemical drain cleaners. They can be hazardous and can damage fittings.
  • Do not push rods or wire into the pan. They can scratch the porcelain or damage the pipe.
  • Do not keep flushing to see whether it will clear.
  • Do not mix cleaning products.

When to get professional help

  • The plunger does not clear it after a few attempts.
  • Other drains are also slow or gurgling, or water comes up in a shower or basin.
  • Wastewater is overflowing or appearing in other parts of the property.
  • The toilet blocks repeatedly.
  • The property is in a building with shared drains, or uses a septic tank or cesspit.

How BB Cyprus can help

Send BB Cyprus a request telling us what has happened and whether other drains are affected. Drainage and sanitary fittings are areas we deal with. We review it, phone you back and tell you the appropriate next step. You get a written quote before any work starts.

This is part of our plumbing work.

BB Cyprus, also known as Bits&Bobs Cyprus, handles home repairs and property maintenance in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca. You do not need to know which trade you need.

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Every property is different, and electrical, refrigerant and pressurised-system work should be done by a qualified professional.