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Property/DIY

Help!! Blocked toilet and it's Christmas Eve!!

20 replies

superlambanana · 24/12/2013 12:09

I thought DH hadn't flushed it so I did... Cue almost-overflowing toilet. We only have one and my family is coming to stay in a few hours!! How do I unblock it?!

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superlambanana · 24/12/2013 12:10

Incidentally I can pretty much guarantee neither of us have thrown anything but toilet paper down there!

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Kitttty · 24/12/2013 12:36

Successive kettles of boiling water (x5?) and fairy liquid to break down any tissue -- wire coat hanger if that doesnt work

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MrsPresley · 24/12/2013 12:38

When you flush pour a bucket of water down at the same time.

I had a blocked toilet a couple of weeks ago and my dad told me to do this, and it worked

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PagingDrFaggot · 24/12/2013 12:42

If you don't have plunger use a mop and push the water down as hard as you can.

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KringleCandleLover · 24/12/2013 12:46

Stretch out a metal hanger and give it a good jiggle. Takes 2 mins to unblock.

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catpark · 24/12/2013 12:46

Get a plastic bag and tie it round the bottom of a mop. Plunge it into the toilet, do it a good few times, the water level should drop and you'll see/feel a whoosh as the water is sucked out. Flush and repeat a few times to ensure the blockage is gone.

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superlambanana · 24/12/2013 12:49

Thank you, will try all of the above!! Lord knows what's blocked it... Perhaps all the morning sickness didn't do it much good...

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PigletJohn · 24/12/2013 13:20

the pan is designed to have a capacity which is slightly greater than the cistern, so even if blocked, if the water level is normal, one flush will not overflow. However if it is totally blocked and no water can get away, a second flush, or a flush plus a bucket, can overflow. This may be undesirable.

Provided there is some flow and the level subsides to normal, tipping a bucket in from a height (not flushing at the same time) might flush it away.

If there are any foreign bodies causing a blockage, you need to hook them out rather than pushing them in.

if it is a downstairs WC, it is possible you have a blockage downstream in the soil pipe. You don't use "flushable" wipes, I hope?

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gamerchick · 24/12/2013 13:22

Pour a bucket of water down from a height.

Then flush and pour a bucket of water down.

Please don't use boiling water down your lav.

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PigletJohn · 24/12/2013 13:31

(yes, boiling water may crack the porcelain)

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hollylollypop1 · 24/12/2013 13:53

Is it just the toilet that is blocked? No signs of external manholes overflowing or sinks slow to drain?

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starofbethlehemfishmummy · 24/12/2013 13:56

Seconding the bucket of water from a height. Stand on a low stool if you have one (or find someone tall to do it).

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5HundredUsernamesLater · 24/12/2013 13:59

You haven't changed your brand of loo roll recently have you. I bought some Charmin once and my loo blocked as soon as we started using it.

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WoodBurnerBabe · 24/12/2013 14:03

You need half a dozen carrier bags and a spare loo brush. Put the carrier bags one at a time over the loo brush, one inside the other so you end up with a bag containing a bag containing etc over a loo brush. Use this to briskly plunge the toilet, should do the trick. You can salvage the loo brush, but I usually chuck - I generally replace loo brush a couple if times a year anyway so no great loss.

Have cleared many a loo like this!

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itsthawooluff · 24/12/2013 14:09

Alternatively, and not for the faint hearted, put on Marigolds, get bucket / basin, line with bin bag or three, and use your hands to extract any 'material' in the pan and dump in bin bag.

Then try the 'plunger' methods recommended above.

Then have a large drink and try and stop heaving.

Yes, I have had to do this.....................

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itsthawooluff · 24/12/2013 14:11

Sorry, forgot to say, then have stern talk with DH about how loo roll is for loos, and kitchen roll is for kitchen bins, no matter what it has been used for.

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hollylollypop1 · 24/12/2013 14:12

Just got to B&Q or Homebase and buy drain rods. Easiest things the use and no faffing!

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poshme · 24/12/2013 14:14

Go to a supermarket (I know) & buy the drain unblocker stuff. I dread to think whats in it but it works like magic.
Or metal coathanger undone & push & wiggle down the loo.

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gamerchick · 24/12/2013 14:24

If you do actually put your hands down don't look at what you're doing.. its easier to do then.

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MostWicked · 24/12/2013 15:38

Get a plastic bag and tie it round the bottom of a mop. Plunge it into the toilet, do it a good few times, the water level should drop and you'll see/feel a whoosh as the water is sucked out. Flush and repeat a few times to ensure the blockage is gone.

^^This - works like a dream!

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