2026-02-18

Common Causes of Blocked Toilets and How to Avoid Them

Blocked toilets are one of our most common call-outs, and most cases come down to a small handful of avoidable causes.

The usual culprits

• ✓ "Flushable" wipes, which don't break down like toilet paper
• ✓ Sanitary products and cotton wool
• ✓ Excessive toilet paper used in one flush
• ✓ Nappies and baby wipes
• ✓ Cat litter, even brands marketed as flushable
• ✓ Foreign objects, particularly in households with young children

Simple prevention habits

The safest rule is to only flush human waste and toilet paper - everything else should go in a bin, no matter what the packaging claims. Keeping a small bin in the bathroom makes this an easy habit to build.

If it does block

A plunger is worth trying first for a simple blockage. If that doesn't clear it, avoid repeatedly flushing, which risks an overflow - turn off the water to the cistern and call a plumber instead.

For persistent or recurring blockages, our blocked drains team can identify whether there's a deeper issue in the drain run itself.