Blocked Basin
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If your bathroom or kitchen sink drains slower than usual, the problem might be more than just a few tufts of hair and food particles.
Blocked Toilet
G★★★★★
4.6 · 2,000+ Google reviews
4.6 · 2,000+ Google reviews
A blocked toilet is one of those problems you need sorted immediately. Our licensed plumbers clear blocked toilets fast and find out what caused the blockage so it does not keep happening.
We answer calls around the clock and can usually be there the same day across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, with upfront fixed pricing.
Why choose Same Day Trades for a blocked toilet?
We are local, licensed and insured plumbers who do this work every day, so we get it right the first time, with no mess and no surprises on the invoice.
- Fully licensed and insured plumbers
- Upfront fixed pricing before we start
- Same-day service where we can, with 24/7 phones
- Workmanship guaranteed and the job left clean
- Servicing Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide
Whatever the job, you get honest advice and a tidy, professional result.
Common causes of a blocked toilet
Most blocked toilets come down to something that should not have been flushed, or a problem further down the drain. The usual causes are:
- Flushing wipes, sanitary products, nappies or cotton buds, even so-called flushable wipes
- Too much toilet paper at once
- Toys or objects dropped in by children
- Tree roots growing into underground pipes
- Old pipes narrowed by mineral build-up or grease
- A collapsed or cracked drain
If several drains are slow at the same time, the blockage is usually in the main sewer line and needs a plumber.
What you should never flush
The simplest way to avoid blocked toilets is to flush only the three Ps: pee, poo and paper. Everything else belongs in the bin. The most common culprits we pull out of blocked toilets are wet wipes (even those labelled flushable), paper towel, sanitary products, nappies, cotton buds and dental floss. These do not break down like toilet paper and quickly snag on pipe joints or tree roots, trapping waste behind them. Keeping a small bin in the bathroom prevents the vast majority of blockages.
What you can try before calling a plumber
For a simple blockage, a few things are worth trying:
- Use a flanged plunger, which seals over the outlet for more suction, and plunge firmly several times
- Pour a bucket of warm (not boiling) water in from waist height to help shift the clog
- Avoid chemical drain cleaners, which can damage pipes and release harmful fumes
Do not keep flushing a blocked toilet, as it can overflow and cause water damage. If plunging does not clear it, stop and give us a call.
When to call a plumber
Call us if the plunger does not work, the toilet keeps blocking, water backs up into the shower or sink, you hear gurgling from other drains, or there is a sewage smell. These point to a blockage deeper in the system that household methods will not clear. The longer a serious blockage is left, the greater the risk of an overflow and water damage, so it is better to call early than to keep trying.
Signs the blockage is in your sewer
Sometimes a blocked toilet is a symptom of a bigger problem in the main sewer line. Tell-tale signs include several fixtures draining slowly at once, gurgling from drains when you flush, water rising in the shower when you use the toilet, and a sewage smell inside or outside. A sewer blockage needs professional equipment to clear and diagnose, and ignoring it risks raw sewage backing up into the home, so it should be treated as urgent.
How we clear a blocked toilet
We do not just clear the blockage, we find out why it happened. Depending on the job we use:
- A closet auger or drain machine to clear the trap and nearby pipe
- A high-pressure water jetter to scour the pipe and cut through grease and roots
- A CCTV drain camera to inspect the pipe and confirm the cause
This means we fix the real problem, not just the symptom, so it is less likely to come back.
Tree roots and recurring blockages
If your toilet keeps blocking no matter what you do, the cause is often tree roots or a damaged pipe underground. Roots are drawn to the moisture in drains and grow in through tiny cracks and joints, trapping waste and causing repeat blockages. A camera inspection shows exactly what is happening, and we can clear the roots with jetting and seal the pipe with no-dig pipe relining so the problem stops returning for good.
Blocked toilet emergencies
A blocked toilet is urgent, especially if it is the only one in the house or it is overflowing. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, and we can usually get a licensed plumber to you the same day across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. If your toilet is overflowing, turn off the water at the valve behind or beneath the toilet, or at the mains, to stop the flow while you wait for us.
How much does it cost to clear a blocked toilet?
A simple blockage near the toilet is an affordable job. Costs rise if the blockage is deep in the sewer, caused by tree roots, or needs a camera inspection and high-pressure jetter to clear. Emergency and after-hours call-outs also cost more than a standard appointment. Rather than guess, we give you an upfront fixed price before we start, so you know exactly what you are paying with no surprises on the invoice.
How to prevent blocked toilets
A few simple habits prevent most blocked toilets: only flush the three Ps, keep a bin in the bathroom for everything else, do not use the toilet as a rubbish bin for food or cleaning waste, and teach children not to flush toys or too much paper. If you have large trees near your drains, a periodic camera check and clean keeps roots in check before they cause a blockage. These small steps save you the mess and cost of a blocked toilet down the track. It also helps to run a bucket of water through rarely-used toilets now and then to keep the trap full, and to avoid flushing cat litter, food scraps or cooking fat, all of which set hard in the pipe and build up over time.
Blocked toilet or blocked drain?
If only your toilet is affected, the blockage is usually in or near the toilet itself. If your toilet, shower, sink and floor drains are all slow or backing up, the problem is in the shared drain or sewer line, which is a bigger job. Either way, we can clear it, and our drain repair and camera services let us diagnose and fix the underlying cause, not just the blockage you can see.
Why chemical drain cleaners can make it worse
When a toilet blocks, it is tempting to reach for a supermarket chemical drain cleaner, but with toilets they often do more harm than good. They rarely clear a solid blockage like wipes or an object, they sit on top of the clog generating heat, and that heat can crack porcelain or soften and damage plastic pipes and seals. The caustic chemicals are also hazardous to handle and to the environment, and if the toilet then overflows you are dealing with caustic water. A plunger, and failing that a professional with a drain machine or jetter, is far safer and more effective. If you have already poured chemicals in, let us know so we can clear it safely.
The right plunger and technique
Most people use the wrong plunger. A flat cup plunger is made for sinks; for a toilet you want a flange plunger, which has an extra rubber flap that seals into the toilet outlet for much stronger suction. To use it well, make sure there is enough water in the bowl to cover the plunger head, insert it to form a tight seal, then push and pull firmly and steadily a dozen times without breaking the seal. The suction on the pull is what shifts the clog, so do not just push. If a few rounds of proper plunging do not clear it, stop before you splash, and call a plumber rather than risk an overflow.
Blocked toilets in rentals and businesses
We clear blocked toilets for homeowners, renters, landlords and businesses. In rentals, a blocked toilet is usually the landlord or agent responsibility unless a tenant caused it by flushing something they should not have, and we can provide a clear report of the cause if it is needed. For cafes, offices, venues and other businesses, a blocked toilet is urgent because it affects customers and staff, so we prioritise commercial call-outs and can arrange work outside trading hours where possible. Whatever the property, we give an upfront fixed price and get the toilet working again fast across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Why choose Same Day Trades for a blocked toilet
We clear blocked toilets every day, so you get fast, effective service from licensed plumbers with the right equipment. You get 24/7 phones, same-day service where we can, upfront fixed pricing, and a plumber who finds the cause so it does not keep happening. Searching for a plumber near you? We cover Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide and get your toilet working again fast.
Blocked toilet FAQs
Why does my toilet keep blocking?
Recurring blockages usually mean an underlying issue such as tree roots, a partially collapsed pipe, or buildup narrowing the drain. A camera inspection finds the cause so we can fix it properly.
Can I unblock a toilet myself?
Often, yes. A flanged plunger and a bucket of warm water clear many simple blockages. If that does not work, or other drains are affected, call a plumber.
Should I use a chemical drain cleaner?
We do not recommend it. Chemical cleaners can damage pipes, harm the environment and release dangerous fumes, and they rarely clear a solid blockage.
What should I not flush?
Only the three Ps: pee, poo and paper. Wipes (even “flushable” ones), sanitary products, nappies, cotton buds and paper towel all cause blockages.
Do you offer emergency blocked toilet service?
Yes. We answer calls 24 hours a day and can usually get to you the same day across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
How do you clear a stubborn blockage?
We use a drain camera to locate the blockage and a high-pressure water jetter to clear it, then inspect the pipe to confirm the cause.
Can tree roots block my toilet?
Yes. Roots get into small cracks and joints in underground pipes and grow into a mass that traps waste. We can cut them out and recommend a longer-term fix like pipe relining.
How much does it cost?
A simple clear is affordable; deeper sewer blockages, root removal or camera and jetter work cost more. We give you an upfront fixed price before starting.
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What our customers say?
Why choose us?
Trusted Tradesmen
With hundreds of 5 star reviews, we’re the local tradesmen you can trust.
Transparent Pricing
We make sure you know exactly what you are paying for ahead of time.
Licensed And Insured
You’re in safe hands as our tradesmen are fully licensed and insured to do your job.
Workmanship Guarantee
Our work will be free of defects in workmanship and workmanship will be warranted for life.
Convenient Bookings
We offer convenient booking times that can be worked around your schedule.
Available All Hours
We take calls 24 hours a day and 365 days a year so that we’re always available to be of service.
Trusted Tradesmen
With hundreds of 5 star reviews, we’re the local tradesmen you can trust.
Transparent Pricing
We make sure you know exactly what you are paying for ahead of time.
Licensed And Insured
You’re in safe hands as our tradesmen are fully licensed and insured to do your job.
Workmanship Guarantee
Our work will be free of defects in workmanship and workmanship will be warranted for life.
Convenient Bookings
We offer convenient booking times that can be worked around your schedule.
Available All Hours
We take calls 24 hours a day and 365 days a year so that we’re always available to be of service.