Blocked toilet? We'll get it flushing again
Few household problems feel more urgent than a toilet bowl filling to the rim. Our plumbers, based in Matraville, clear blocked toilets for homes all over the southern Eastern Suburbs. We find out whether the trouble is in the toilet itself or deeper in the sewer line, then explain your options and give you a fixed price before we start.
Is it the toilet or the sewer?
Only the toilet is affected
The bowl rises and drains slowly, but the basin, shower and sink all run normally. The blockage is most likely in the toilet pan or the pipe just behind it.
Several fixtures gurgle
When you flush and the shower drain or bath bubbles, or the basin drains sluggishly at the same time, the shared sewer line is probably choked further along.
The gully outside is overflowing
The overflow relief gully is the round grate outside, usually near the laundry or bathroom. It is designed to spill outdoors so sewage doesn't come up inside. If it's overflowing, the main line is blocked.
It blocks every few weeks
A toilet that keeps blocking even with careful use often points to roots, a sagging pipe or a broken joint in the sewer line underground.
Plunger first, or call a plumber?
For a simple blockage, a plunger is worth a go. Use a flange-style toilet plunger, the kind with a soft extension on the cup, so it seals in the outlet of the bowl. Push down gently first to push the air out, then work it firmly up and down a dozen or so times. If the water level drops away and the toilet flushes normally afterwards, you've probably solved it.
It's time to stop and call us if:
- Plunging hasn't worked after a few tries.
- Something solid, like a toy, phone or deodorant lid, has gone down.
- Other drains in the house are slow or gurgling too.
- The overflow relief gully outside is spilling.
- The toilet keeps blocking again within days or weeks.
Please don't keep flushing to try to force it through. Each flush adds more water to a bowl that can't empty, and that's how bathrooms end up flooded. Caustic drain chemicals aren't a good idea either; they rarely clear a toilet and can burn skin and damage old pipes.
What shouldn't go down the toilet
Toilet paper is designed to break down quickly in water. Most other things aren't. The most common causes of the blockages we clear are:
- Wet wipes, including ones labelled flushable. They hold together and snag in pipes.
- Paper towel, tissues and cotton balls.
- Sanitary items and nappies.
- Dental floss and hair, which tangle and catch other debris.
- Cooking fat poured into the toilet, which sets hard in cool pipes.
A bin with a lid next to the toilet makes it easy for everyone, including guests and kids, to do the right thing.
How we clear a blocked toilet
If the blockage is in the toilet itself, we use a toilet auger to reach through the trap and break up or pull back the obstruction without scratching the porcelain. Occasionally the pan needs to come off the floor to retrieve something stuck in the outlet.
If the sewer line is blocked, we clear it from the overflow relief gully or an inspection point using an electric eel or a high-pressure jetter. We can then send a drain camera down the line to find out what caused it. That way you know whether it was a one-off or whether roots or broken pipes will keep causing trouble, and you get clear repair options with a fixed price.
Blocked toilets in southern Eastern Suburbs homes
Many of the older brick and fibro homes in Matraville, Maroubra, Malabar and Botany still rely on their original clay sewer pipes. Over the decades, roots from gardens and street trees work their way into the joints looking for water. They grow into a mat that catches toilet paper and waste, and the toilet starts to back up. Clearing the roots gets things moving, but a camera inspection tells us if a longer-term repair is worth considering.
Newer townhouses and apartments in Pagewood and Eastgardens usually have PVC sewer pipes, so roots are less common. There, the culprit is far more often wipes or something dropped into the bowl. Some homes also have low-flow toilets that need a little more care with how much paper goes down at once.
Why locals call us for blocked toilets
- Local plumbers working from 30/10 Girawah Place, Matraville
- Backed by 100+ five-star Google reviews
- Free on-site quotes with a fixed price before any work
- A lifetime labour warranty on everything we fix
- Licensed plumbers and gasfitters, licence number 398171C
Common questions
Why is my toilet blocked when I have not flushed anything unusual?
In older homes, tree roots in clay sewer pipes can catch ordinary toilet paper and slowly build a blockage. A pipe that has sagged or cracked can do the same.
Are flushable wipes safe to flush?
We don't recommend flushing any wipes. They do not break down like toilet paper and are one of the most common causes of the blockages we clear.
What is an overflow relief gully?
It is a drain outside your home, usually with a round grate, that lets sewage overflow outdoors if the sewer line is blocked, instead of backing up into your bathroom.
My toilet and shower are both gurgling. What does that mean?
When more than one fixture is affected, the blockage is usually in the sewer line they share, not in the toilet itself. A plunger will not fix that, so give us a call.
Who is responsible for a blocked sewer line?
The private sewer pipes on your property are generally the homeowner's responsibility, while the water authority looks after its sewer main. Our sewer responsibility guide explains where the line usually falls.
Can you tell me what caused the blockage?
Yes. After clearing a sewer line we can run a camera through it and show you the footage, so you can see if roots, a broken pipe or a buildup of waste was to blame.
Do I need a new toilet if it keeps blocking?
Not usually. Repeated blockages are more often caused by the pipe beyond the toilet. If the toilet itself is cracked or faulty, we can talk you through replacement options.
Should I use drain cleaner in a blocked toilet?
It is best not to. Chemical cleaners rarely clear a toilet blockage, can damage older pipes, and can splash back and burn whoever unblocks the toilet next.
Find out more about our blocked drain service, our tap and toilet repairs, CCTV drain inspection and drain jetting. We unblock toilets in Matraville, Kensington, Pagewood and Eastgardens.
Want to know more first? Our free sewer responsibility guide explains which parts of the sewer line are yours to look after, and our blocked drains guide covers prevention.