Blocked Toilet Plumbers
Tap Doctor Plumbing & Gas, trusted since 1985
Licensed plumbers for blocked and overflowing toilets, from the pan to the main drain, with drain cameras and jetting when the blockage is further down. We agree a firm price before we pick up the tools, and there’s no call-out fee during business hours.
- 1Tell us what needs doing
- 2Pick a day and time that suits
- 3We confirm and send a licensed Tap Doctor plumber
- 4Job done, problem solved
- Trusted since 1985
- Fully Licensed & Insured
- No call-out fee in business hours
- Locally Based Plumbers
- ★★★★★2,000+ Google reviews
- Trusted since 1985
- Licensed plumbers, fully insured
- Drain camera and jetting
- Phones answered 24/7
Toilet blocked or overflowing? Do this now
A blocked toilet can overflow onto the floor in seconds. These steps keep the damage down until a plumber gets there. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What to do first
- Stop flushing. Another flush can overflow the bowl.
- Turn the water off at the isolation valve (stop tap) behind or beside the toilet, so the cistern can’t refill.
- Skip the chemicals. Drain cleaners rarely clear a toilet and can damage pipes. A plunger is fine to try.
- Call 1300-655-827 if the water won’t go down or other drains are playing up.
Signs the blockage is in the main drain
- The shower or floor waste gurgles or fills up when you flush
- More than one toilet or drain is slow at the same time
- The drain outside (overflow gully) is overflowing
- Sewage smells inside or in the yard
- The toilet clears, then blocks again within days
- Big trees near the sewer line
After-hours call-out fees vary based on the day, time and location.
Call 24/7: 1300-655-827Blocked toilet repairs, from the pan to the sewer
We clear blockages in the pan, and when the blockage is further down the line we find it and clear that properly too. These are the blocked toilet jobs we do most.
Blocked toilet pans
Paper, wipes and sanitary items stuck in the pan or just past it. We clear the blockage with the right tool for the job and check the toilet flushes and drains properly before we leave.
Objects stuck in the toilet
Toys, phones, toothbrushes and anything else that has gone down the toilet. Some can be pulled out from the pan; others mean lifting the toilet to get them out, then refitting it.
Main drain and sewer blockages More →
When the toilet backs up and other drains gurgle, the blockage is in the main drain or sewer line. We clear it with a drain machine or hydro jetting, then check the line runs freely.
Tree roots in the sewer pipe More →
Roots get into joints and cracks in older sewer pipes and catch everything that’s flushed. We cut them out with high-pressure jetting and show you where they’re getting in.
CCTV drain camera inspections More →
For toilets that keep blocking, we run a camera through the pipe to find the cause: roots, a collapsed or sagging pipe, or a build-up. You see what we see before deciding on any repair.
Toilets that keep blocking
A weak flush, a worn outlet valve or a badly aligned pan connector can leave a toilet blocking again and again. We fix the cause, not just the blockage. Cistern faults are covered on our leaking cistern page.
Other blocked drains in the house More →
A blocked kitchen sink, shower, basin or bath usually has a different cause to a blocked toilet. See blocked sinks, showers and basins.
The rest of the toilet More →
If the toilet is cracked, rocking or past its best, we can replace it. All our toilet repairs and installations are on our toilet page.
Recent blocked toilet jobs
Short videos from recent Tap Doctor jobs: a metal rod pulled out of a toilet, and main drains jetted clear of a blockage and tree roots.
Blocked toilet: 2 metre metal rod pulled outCoogee
Toilet backing up: main drain jetted clearBull Creek
Tree roots in the main drain: jetted and camera checkedKensington
What causes a blocked toilet?
Most blocked toilets come down to a handful of causes. Knowing them helps stop the next one.
Wipes and paper towel
Wet wipes, including ones sold as flushable, and paper towel don’t break down like toilet paper. They are one of the most common causes of blocked toilets.
Too much paper at once
A big wad of paper with a low-water flush can lodge in the pan. Flushing twice is better than once with too much.
Sanitary items and nappies
Pads, tampons, cotton buds, dental floss and nappies should always go in the bin.
Objects dropped in
Toys, toothbrushes and phones get stuck in the bend of the pan and catch everything after them.
Tree roots
Roots in the sewer pipe cause blockages that keep coming back, often with more than one drain slow.
Damaged or sagging pipes
Cracked, broken or dipped sewer pipes hold waste instead of carrying it away. A drain camera shows where.
Why people call Tap Doctor for blocked toilets
A blocked toilet is never a job you want to wait on. This is how we handle every one.
Licensed plumbers
Every job is done by a licensed plumber, and Tap Doctor is fully licensed and insured.
A firm price before any work starts
Your plumber works out where the blockage is, explains what’s needed and gives you a firm price. Nothing starts until you agree.
No call-out fee in business hours
You don’t pay for us to turn up and look. If you decide not to go ahead, you owe nothing during business hours.
We find the cause
When a toilet keeps blocking, we use a drain camera to find out why, so you’re not paying for the same blockage twice.
We call ahead and arrive on time
We confirm your booking, then call before we arrive so you’re not waiting at home all day.
Pay when the job is done
Cash, card or Osko bank transfer, collected when the work is finished.
How pricing works
What a blocked toilet costs depends on where the blockage is. One in the pan might take minutes, while roots in the sewer line need jetting and a camera, so instead of guessing over the phone a licensed plumber looks first and agrees a firm price with you on site before any work starts.
No call-out fee in business hours
You only pay for the work you agree to, and there’s no obligation to go ahead. After-hours call-out fees vary based on the day, time and location.
Firm price agreed on site
The price is agreed before we start. If we find something else that needs doing, such as a broken pipe, we quote it before any further work is done.
How you can pay
Cash, credit card or debit card, or bank transfer with Osko for an instant payment. Payment is collected when the job is done.
How to choose a plumber for a blocked toilet
Whoever you call, these are the checks worth making before anyone works on your toilet or sewer line. Here’s how we measure up against each one.
What customers say about our blocked toilet work
“Jamie was really professional & polite. My blocked toilet was fixed in no time at all.”
“I called Tap Doctor Saturday morning with a blocked toilet. … He arrived on time and told me upfront how much it was likely to cost for each potential cause and clearly explained each option. … He identified the problem and fixed it (tree roots!) within the first hour.”
“When your toilet is overflowing into your bathtub and it is fixed so quickly big thumbs up.”
“Would recommend these guys, they fixed blocked toilets at my parents place in a timely manner in a job that turned out a lot more complex than first seemed.”
“I rang the tap doctor because we had a blocked toilet on a Saturday morning at work. … He was very professional and respectful. Did great work efficiently and had a great manner about him. Quick and tidy.”
“We had Nathan and he was amazing, step by step he updated me and explained what was needed to be done to fix our blocked toilets, he also provided quotes throughout the process.”
Local plumbers, since 1985
Tap Doctor Plumbing & Gas has been clearing blocked toilets and drains since 1985. Our plumbers live and work in the areas they cover, so there’s usually someone close by, and our phones are answered 24/7.
Customers mention our plumbers by name in their reviews, from Nathan and Jamie to Chris, Paris and Matthew.
- Perth
- Plumbers in Perth →
- Mandurah
- Plumbers in Mandurah →
- Canberra
- Plumbers in Canberra →
- Gladstone
- Plumbers in Gladstone →
- Phone
- 1300-655-827, 24/7
Blocked toilet FAQs
What should I do if my toilet is blocked?
Stop flushing, and turn off the isolation valve (stop tap) behind the toilet so the cistern can’t refill and overflow the bowl. A plunger can clear a simple blockage in the pan. If the water won’t go down, or other drains are gurgling or backing up, call us on 1300-655-827.
Should I use a chemical drain cleaner on a blocked toilet?
We don’t recommend it. Chemical cleaners rarely shift a solid blockage, they can damage older pipes and seals, and they leave caustic water in the bowl for whoever clears it next. Tell us if you’ve already used one.
Why does my toilet keep blocking?
A toilet that blocks again and again usually has a cause further down the line: tree roots in the sewer pipe, a cracked or sagging pipe, a build-up of wipes, or something stuck in the pan. We find the cause, often with a drain camera, so you’re not paying to clear the same blockage twice.
Are flushable wipes safe to flush?
Not really. Wipes don’t break down the way toilet paper does, even when the packet says flushable, and they’re one of the most common causes of blocked toilets and drains. Put them in the bin.
How do I know if it’s the toilet or the main drain?
If only the toilet is blocked, the problem is usually in the pan or close to it. If the shower or floor waste gurgles or fills up when you flush, or the drain outside is overflowing, the blockage is in the main drain or sewer and needs clearing with a drain machine or jetter.
Can you clear tree roots and see what’s causing the blockage?
Yes. We clear tree roots and heavy blockages with hydro jetting, and use a CCTV drain camera to see inside the pipe, find the cause and show you what we found before recommending any repair.
Can you give me a price over the phone?
A blockage can be in the pan or metres down the sewer line, so we don’t guess over the phone. A licensed plumber looks at the job and gives you a firm price before any work starts, with no call-out fee during business hours and no obligation.
Do you charge a call-out fee?
Not during business hours. You only pay for the work you agree to. After-hours call-out fees vary based on the day, time and location.
Can you come out after hours for a blocked toilet?
Our phones are answered 24/7 on 1300-655-827, and in most cases we can send a plumber after hours. If the toilet is the only one in the house or it’s overflowing, call rather than booking online.
Are your plumbers licensed and insured?
Yes. Every job is done by a licensed plumber, and Tap Doctor is fully licensed and insured.
Toilet still blocked?
Book online in under 2 minutes, or call us any time.