Rule number one: do NOT flush again "to see if it goes down". If there’s a blockage, you’re only adding more water to an already full bowl. Here’s the right sequence.
What to do, in order
If the level is high, wait 10-15 minutes: it often goes down slowly on its own, a sign of a partial blockage. Meanwhile, shut off the cistern valve to avoid accidental flushes.
Half a cup of dish soap into the bowl, then a bucket of good hot water (NOT boiling: the ceramic can crack) poured from about a metre up. Wait 15 minutes: it dissolves and lubricates light organic blockages.
You need enough water to cover the cup. Push gently and PULL hard: it’s the pull that shifts the plug, not the push. 10-15 firm strokes, then check.
What NOT to do
- No muriatic acid or caustic soda: if they don’t clear it, the plumber will have to work in corrosive water (and some refuse to)
- Don’t use a DIY drain snake aggressively in the toilet: it scratches the ceramic and can get stuck in the trap
- NEVER flush "biodegradable" wipes, sanitary pads, cotton buds or cat litter: they cause 80% of blockages
- If the shower and sink bubble too: stop, the problem is in the stack or the sewer — you need drain jetting, not DIY
When you need a technician
If after the plunger and hot water it still won’t drain, or if the blockage comes back after a few days, the plug is deep or there’s a structural cause. The plumber arrives with the right probes; if the problem is the communal stack or the sewer, you need power jetting with a drain jet.
Plumber: see the service and the cities we cover → Network median pickup time: 5 minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to have a plumber unblock the toilet?
A simple clearing generally runs between €80 and €180. If drain jetting is needed (stack or sewer) the cost depends on access: get a quote before the work.
The toilet blocks often: what causes that?
Recurring blockages in the same spot almost always point to a structural cause: reverse slope, roots in the pipe, scale build-up. A CCTV inspection finds the exact spot and stops you from paying over and over for stopgap unblocking.