How to Unblock a Toilet

Step 1
If possible remove as much of the water as possible from the pan into a bucket so that you can use a wire or plunger to try and shift the blockage. Then, lift the drain cover nearest to the toilet to see if the chamber is full of water. If so, the blockage is further along the soil pipe. If the chamber is empty, the blockage is in the soil pipe from the toilet to the chamber or in the toilet pan. Use drain cleaning rods or call out a drain cleaning company if the blockage isn't in the toilet.

Step 2
Toilet plungers work in the same way as the smaller sink versions but the head is shaped to fit a toilet pan. Plungers with a pump action handle can be hired, these are effective at forcing water around the pan, clearing the blockage.

Step 3
For compacted blockages, try using a flexible metal wire with a handle, called a toilet auger (you can get these a plumbers' merchants). Feed the wire into the pan and wind the handle when the wire meets the obstruction. Pull out the blockage and flush the toilet several times.

Step 4
If the water still doesn't flush away, call a professional in.

Tips and Advice
- Chemical cleaners can be useful for dissolving too much toilet paper or lighter blockages. Always wear rubber gloves and flush the toilet several times to remove the chemical.
- Keep a couple of local plumbers' cards or numbers in the kitchen just in case.
- Try to remove hard objects rather than pushing them further down the soil pipe and causing problems in the drains.