Toilet Choke in Singapore: How to Unclog a Toilet Before You Call a Plumber

Most toilet chokes in Singapore homes come from too much toilet paper, or from something that should never have been flushed. If water is rising but not yet over the rim, you usually have time to fix it yourself. Work through these steps in order.

First, stop it overflowing

Do not flush again. If the bowl is close to the rim, lift the cistern lid and close the small isolation valve on the pipe behind or beside the toilet by turning it clockwise, so no more water refills the cistern. Lay old towels around the base, and keep children and pets out of the bathroom while you work.

What you will need

• Rubber gloves and a bucket
• A flange plunger, the type with an extra rubber ring, which seals a toilet drain better than a flat one
• Dishwashing liquid
• Hot water from the tap (not boiling)
• Old towels

Step 1: Plunge it properly

Make sure there is enough water in the bowl to cover the plunger cup. If it is low, add a little. Seat the plunger over the drain hole so it seals completely, push down gently once to get the air out, then pump firmly ten to fifteen times without breaking the seal. Pull up sharply on the last stroke. If the water drops away, flush once to test it.

Step 2: Dishwashing liquid and hot water

If plunging does not work, squirt a generous amount of dishwashing liquid into the bowl and leave it for ten to fifteen minutes. Then pour a bucket of hot tap water into the bowl from about waist height. Do not use boiling water, because it can crack the porcelain.

Step 3: Try again, then stop

Plunge a second time after the soap and hot water have had time to work. A toilet auger, sold in many hardware shops, can reach further than a plunger and is gentler on the porcelain than a wire hanger. If you have tried the steps above two or three times and the water still will not clear, stop. Forcing it can push the blockage further down the pipe.

What not to do

• Do not keep flushing. It only pushes more water toward the rim
• Do not pour strong drain cleaner into the bowl. It can damage the toilet, splash back, and make the job unsafe for the plumber who follows
• Do not mix different cleaning products
• Do not flush wet wipes, sanitary products or cotton buds, even if the pack says flushable

Why toilets choke

• Too much toilet paper flushed in one go
• Wet wipes, sanitary items and cotton buds
• A small object dropped in, often by a child
• A weak flush caused by a faulty flush valve or a low water level in the cistern
• A blockage further down the pipe that no amount of plunging at your end will clear

Signs you need a plumber

• The water rises again after you have plunged several times
• Other drains gurgle or back up at the same time, such as the basin, shower or floor trap
• Water or a bad smell comes up through the floor trap when you flush
• The toilet chokes again within a few days
• You know an object went down the toilet

If neighbours in the same stack are also having problems, the blockage may be in a shared pipe, which is usually handled by your Town Council for HDB flats or your management office for condos. Tell them as well as your plumber.

How to stop it happening again

• Flush only toilet paper and human waste
• Keep a small bin in the bathroom for wipes and sanitary products
• Flush in two goes if you have used a lot of paper
• Get a weak or slow flush checked early, before it turns into a choke

Related guides: Toilet keeps running? 5 causes and fixes · Blocked sink or floor trap guide · Burst or leaking pipe guide.

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