CLEARING
A BLOCKED WASTEPIPE OR TOILET
- General Advice
- You Need
- What To Do
General Advice
- If more than one fitting (sink, basin, bath, shower) is blocked,
the problem may be in the soilstack or main drain. This will need to
be cleared by a plumber. Contact us.
- Blockages in basins and sinks are usually caused
by the build-up of fat, tea leaves, hair etc. See What To Do below.
- If a wastepipe is slow to drain but not blocked:
- place a bowl under the trap
- unscrew the joints and remove the trap
- clean thoroughly and replace the trap, checking the seals are in place
and all joints are screwed up tightly.
You should clean wastes regularly with hot water and a suitable product
from a DIY store.
- Blockages in toilets are usually caused by unusual
objects: nappies, toys, air fresheners etc. You must not use toilets
as bins or waste disposers.
- Air fresheners that attach to the rim of the toilet
pan should be securely fastened.
- When cleaning the toilet, it is helpful to do some
pumping with the toilet brush to ensure that the soilpipe stays clear.
You Need
For a blocked
waste
- Bowl
- Jug or cup to be used as a scoop
- Rag or dishcloth
- Plunger
For a blocked toilet
- Bucket
- Jug or bowl to be used as a scoop
- Toilet brush, plunger or mop
What To Do
Unblocking a
bath, basin or sink
- Bale out most of the water.
- Hold the rag tightly over the overflow opening.
- Place the plunger over the plug hole and pump up and down.
- After clearing the blockage, it is advisable to clean out the trap.
See General Advice.
Unblocking a toilet
- If the pan is already full, remove some of the water into a bucket
using some form of scoop, eg a jug or bowl.
- Push the brush or plunger to the bottom of the pan.
- Pump it up and down vigorously about 10 times. This creates a vacuum
and pressure which may shift the blockage.
- Flush the toilet to see whether the blockage has gone.
You may need to repeat this process several times before the toilet flushes
normally. If there is no improvement after a couple of attempts, contact
us. Always thoroughly wash your hands and all equipment after you have
finished.
General Advice | You Need
| What To Do
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