Preventing a blocked toilet
- 1. Always only use the minimum amount of paper.
Large amounts of paper create a large ball in the waste pipe where only the outer surface will dissolve in the water and the core will cause an increasingly larger blockage until the toilet backs up. - 2. To prevent a blockage, only use minimal quantities of toilet paper and never flush the following down the toilet:
- Sanitary products
- Condoms
- Latex
- Hair
- Cotton
- Plastics
- Cigarettes
- Paper towels
- Baby wipes
- 3. Sometimes the toilet can become blocked due to a lack of water from the cistern. If there isn't enough water being delivered from the cistern, it may not have enough force to move solid material around the u-bend. The water level in the cistern should be an inch below the overflow pipe. If the water is much lower than this, then there may be a problem with the inlet valve or the Ball Float.
- 4. Check to see if the Ball Float mechanism is touching the side of the tank or is catching on part of the mechanism preventing it from rising. Readjust the shaft holding the float so it can move freely and allow enough water in to fill the cistern to the correct level.
If the water level still does not rise, contact Domestic & General and we will put you touch with a professional. - 5. To keep the toilet clean and obstruction free, try making your own toilet bombs. You will need:
- A mixing bowl
- 300 grams of baking soda
- 70 grams of citric acid
- A spray bottle filled with water
- Essential oils for fragrance (optional)
- A rubber spatula
- Old ice cube tray
- A mixing bowl
- 6. Mix the baking soda and citric acid in a glass bowl. If you have sensitive skin, it’s a good idea to wear gloves during this process.
- 7. Then mist the blended powders once or twice with water, stirring with the spatula until the mixture starts to come together – you need very little water for this, if it starts to fizz then you’ve added too much.
- 8. Drop in your favourite blend of essential oils: rosemary, peppermint, lemon and bergamot are all popular for their clean fragrance.
- 9. Press the mixture into the ice cube tray with the spatula and leave overnight to dry.
- 10. Store in a large jar in the bathroom, and drop one or two into the toilet bowl last thing at night to fizz away and clear any potential blockages while you sleep.
- We update the maintenance tips and troubleshooting guidance from time to time and aim to make it as helpful as possible. The purpose of the maintenance and troubleshooting section of this website is to provide you with general guidance. Please ensure you read and follow our instructions carefully and do not undertake the maintenance or troubleshooting unless you are aged 18 or over, are competent to do so and are confident that you can complete the maintenance. If in doubt do not attempt any actions and where an appliance is gas fuelled refer to a Gas Safe engineer for assistance.
This website is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice and does not:
- cover every reason that your product could fail;
- cover all of the maintenance that can be undertaken for your product;
- supersede any advice in your instruction manual or from your product manufacturer.
Do not carry out any maintenance or use the troubleshooting guide if it puts you or anyone else in danger or if you believe it may cause damage to your, or another person’s property.