The Dreaded Blockage đźš˝
Few household dramas compare to the sheer panic of a clogged toilet. You hit the flush, expecting sweet relief… and instead, the water starts creeping higher… and higher. Your heart rate spikes, beads of sweat form, and you suddenly find yourself bargaining with the plumbing gods. It’s the stuff of suburban nightmares.
But before you start planning your escape or blaming the dog, take a breath. Read this blog. You’ve got this.
Quick First Steps!
First rule of toilet triage: don’t panic. The toilet can smell fear.
Stay calm. Panicking won’t unclog anything, it’ll just make you sloppy.
Don’t flush again. One flush is a test. Two flushes? That’s a flood waiting to happen.
Check the water level. If it’s looking dangerously full, grab a container and bail some out into a bucket (preferably not your favourite mixing bowl).
Using Your Plunger (Properly This Time)
A plunger isn’t a magic wand…it’s a tool, and like any tool, it works best when you know how to use it.
Use a flange plunger. That’s the one with the little extension on the bottom, designed to seal perfectly in a toilet bowl.
Add a bit of dish soap and hot water. This helps break down paper and grease, giving you a smoother plunge.
Plunge with purpose. None of that wild jabbing. Go for slow, steady, rhythmic plunges to build pressure.
It might take a few rounds, but patience and persistence often do the trick.
Alternative DIY Tricks!
Still blocked? Time to get creative (but safely).
Hot water + dish soap: Pour some in, wait 10–15 minutes, then flush. Often, that’s enough to break things down.
The wire hanger method: Straighten one out and gently poke at the blockage (emphasis on gently, scratching porcelain will haunt you forever).
Enzyme-based cleaners: These work over time and are far safer than harsh chemicals, both for your pipes and the planet.
What Not to Do.......
Some things are just asking for trouble:
Never use boiling water. It can crack your porcelain faster than you can say “whoops”.
Avoid chemical drain cleaners. They can corrode pipes, damage seals, and wreak havoc on the environment.
If you’ve already tried all of the above and your toilet is still staging a rebellion, it’s probably time to bring in the Curran professionals.
Prevention Is the Real Hero
Most toilet blockages are totally preventable. So, make sure your loo only handles the three P’s: pee, poo, and paper (and not half a roll of it either).
Avoid flushing:
Baby wipes — even the “flushable” ones (they lie).
Paper towels.
Feminine hygiene products.
Excess toilet paper (less is more, trust us).
When to Call Curran!!!!!
If your toilet keeps clogging, chances are the issue’s deeper down, like a blockage in the main sewer line. That’s not something you want to DIY.
Don’t risk a messy backup. Call the team at Curran and we’ll get things flowing again in no time. Our plumbers have seen it all, fixed it all, and left bathrooms cleaner than when they arrived.
Because when things start backing up, you don’t need stress, you need Curran!
