Clearing a blocked waste
.gif)
General advice
- Blockages in basins and sinks are usually caused by the build-up of waste in the trap: fat, tea leaves, hair etc. It is advisable to flush through wastepipes and traps regularly, preferably with a suitable product you can buy from a shop. Do not use caustic soda as it destroys modern plastic fittings.
- The trap always holds some water which stops air or foul smells coming up the drain. However, waste can build up and become stuck in it.
- If more than one fitting (bath, basin or sink) is blocked, the blockage may be in the soil stack or main drain. This will need to be cleared by us. Contact your local TMO.
- Blockages in toilets are usually caused by unusual objects: nappies, toys or toilet fresheners. You must not use toilets as bins or waste disposers.
What to do
Note: If you live in a house we expect you to follow this guidance. If you live in a flat, contact your local TMO.
You need:
- bowl or bucket
- jug or cup to be used as a scoop
- wet rag or dishcloth
- plunger - for the toilet you can use a toilet brush or mop
- rubber gloves.
To unblock 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 rapidly.
To unblock 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 cup
- 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, you should contact your local TMO.
