Mar 16, 2026
Signs of a Blocked Drain and What to Do About It
Strange smells, slow-draining water, or gurgling noises from your pipes? Here is how to spot a blocked drain early and what steps to take before calling a drainage engineer.
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Same-Day & Emergency Service - 7 Days a Week
Blocked Toilet?
Fixed Fast
Toilets unblocked quickly and hygienically by experienced drainage engineers. No mess, no fuss, no call-out fee. Available around the clock for urgent situations.
From £100
Fixed Price
24/7
Emergency Service
Same
Day Attendance
£0
Call-Out Fee
From Simple Blockages to Complex Problems
A blocked toilet is more than an inconvenience. In a single-bathroom household, it is an emergency. We attend blocked toilets right across the West Midlands, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire, and most are resolved within the hour.
Common Causes we See
Excessive toilet paper
The most common single cause, particularly in family homes and HMOs. A plunger will sometimes clear it, but if it keeps happening, the issue is usually downstream.
Foreign objects
Wet wipes (marketed as flushable but they are not), sanitary products, cotton buds, and children's toys. These snag on rough pipe joints and create a dam that catches everything else.
Fat & grease from kitchen waste
In properties where the kitchen and toilet share a drain run, fat and grease solidify in the pipe and gradually restrict flow until the toilet cannot flush through.
Tree root ingress
Roots grow into damaged pipe joints and create a web that catches solid waste. Very common in properties with mature gardens across Solihull, Birmingham, and Warwickshire.
Collapsed or displaced pipes
Particularly in older properties where clay pipes have shifted or cracked, or in former mining areas around Nuneaton and Bedworth where ground movement is ongoing.
How We Fix It
1
Assessment
We check whether the blockage is in the toilet pan, the soil pipe, or further downstream. This determines the right approach and prevents unnecessary work.
2
Clear the Blockage
Using professional tools (not a domestic plunger), we clear the obstruction. For downstream blockages, we use manual rodding or high-pressure jetting via the nearest manhole.
3
CCTV Check
After clearing, we run a camera through the line to confirm the drain is fully clear and to check for any damage that caused or contributed to the blockage.
4
Advice & Prevention
We will tell you exactly what caused the blockage and how to prevent it. If we find structural damage, we will explain your repair options, no pressure, just honest advice.
Property Types with Higher Risk
Some properties are more prone to toilet blockages than others. If your home fits any of these profiles, our CCTV drain survey can identify vulnerabilities before they become emergencies.
HMOs & Shared Housing
High toilet usage with multiple occupants means more wear on the drainage system. Common across Birmingham student areas and urban Coventry. Landlords should consider annual preventive jetting.
Period Properties
Victorian and Edwardian homes across the region often have original clay soil pipes with narrow bore and rough internal surfaces that catch waste more easily than modern smooth-bore PVC.
Properties with Mature Gardens
Tree roots are the number-one cause of recurring toilet blockages in properties across Solihull, Warwick, and the leafy suburbs. Roots penetrate pipe joints and create a web that catches solid waste.
Things to Try Before Calling an Engineer
Not every blocked toilet needs professional attention. If the water is draining slowly rather than not at all, and there is no sewage backing up elsewhere in the house, you can try a few things yourself first. These methods work best on simple blockages in the toilet pan itself.
Use a plunger properly
Most people own a plunger but few use it correctly. You need a flange plunger (the type with the extended rubber lip), not a flat-cup sink plunger. Place it over the outlet at the bottom of the bowl, making sure there is enough water in the pan to cover the rubber completely. Push down firmly but slowly, then pull back sharply. The pull creates suction, which is what moves the blockage. Repeat ten to fifteen times. If the water starts draining, flush once to check the flow is clear.
Hot water and washing-up liquid
Squirt a generous amount of washing-up liquid into the bowl and leave it for five minutes. Then pour in a bucket of hot water from waist height. The combination of soap and the force of the water can shift minor blockages, particularly if the cause is a build-up of toilet paper or organic matter. Do not use boiling water, as the thermal shock can crack a ceramic pan.
Wire coat hanger (with caution)
Straighten a wire coat hanger, wrap the end in a cloth or rag to avoid scratching the ceramic, and gently push it into the outlet. This can break up or hook a blockage that is sitting just past the u-bend. Be careful not to push too hard, as you can damage the wax seal at the base of the toilet.
What not to do
Do not use chemical drain unblockers in a toilet. Most chemical products are designed for sink and bath drains, not toilets. They can damage the rubber seals in the cistern mechanism, and if they fail to clear the blockage, you are left with a bowl full of caustic chemicals that make the job more dangerous for the engineer who attends. Do not flush repeatedly if the water is not draining. Each flush adds more water and increases the risk of overflow and water damage. If one flush does not clear it, stop.
If these methods do not work within 15-20 minutes, stop and call us.
Continuing to force a blockage can push it further into the soil pipe, where it becomes harder and more expensive to reach. A quick call to 0121 296 7829 will get an engineer to you the same day across Birmingham, Solihull, and the wider West Midlands.
When to Call a Professional
Some situations require professional equipment and should not be tackled as a DIY job. Call us straight away if any of the following apply:
Sewage backing up into the bath, shower, or sink
This means the blockage is in the main drain run, not the toilet itself. Every fixture connected to that run will be affected. You need high-pressure jetting to clear the main line.
Water rising in the toilet when you run the kitchen tap
This is a classic sign of a shared drain blockage. The water from the kitchen has nowhere to go and backs up through the lowest outlet, which is usually the toilet.
Bad smell from the drains or in the garden
A persistent sewer smell, particularly near manhole covers or gully traps, suggests a blockage or broken pipe that is allowing waste to escape. This is a health risk and needs urgent attention.
Recurrent blockages (third time or more)
If your toilet blocks regularly despite normal usage, the problem is structural. A CCTV drain survey will find the root cause, whether it is tree roots, a collapsed pipe, or a displaced joint.
Only one toilet in the property
We treat single-toilet households as priority callouts. You should not be without a working toilet overnight. Call us and we will attend the same day, including weekends and bank holidays.
Overflowing manhole cover outside
An overflowing external manhole means the main sewer line is blocked. This is usually caused by fat accumulation, root ingress, or a collapsed section of pipe. Do not attempt to lift the manhole cover yourself.
Commercial Blocked Toilet Service
A blocked toilet in a commercial setting is more than inconvenient. It is a compliance issue. Restaurants, pubs, offices, schools, and rental properties all have a legal obligation to maintain functional sanitary facilities, and a single blocked toilet can shut down an entire washroom.
We work with commercial property managers, landlords, and facilities teams across Birmingham, Solihull, and the surrounding counties. Our commercial service includes:
- Emergency response for restaurants and hospitality where a blocked toilet during service hours means lost trade and potential Environmental Health attention
- Multi-unit HMO and rental property unblocking with invoicing direct to landlords or managing agents
- Scheduled preventive maintenance including annual high-pressure jetting to keep drains clear in high-usage establishments
- CCTV condition reports for insurance claims or to document drain condition as part of property inventories
If you manage multiple properties or require ongoing drainage support, call 0121 296 7829 to discuss a maintenance arrangement.
Preventing Blocked Toilets
Most toilet blockages are entirely preventable. Follow these straightforward rules and you will significantly reduce the chance of a blockage:
Only flush the three Ps
Pee, poo, and (toilet) paper. Everything else goes in the bin. This includes wet wipes, even those labelled "flushable". They do not break down like toilet paper and are the single biggest cause of sewer blockages nationwide. Sanitary products, cotton buds, dental floss, and nappies should never be flushed.
Use less toilet paper per flush
Thick, quilted toilet paper is more comfortable but dissolves much more slowly in water. If you prefer a premium paper, use less of it per flush. For families with children who are heavy-handed with the roll, consider a paper holder with a built-in brake, or simply have a conversation about it.
Keep fat out of the drains
If your kitchen drain and toilet share a drain run (common in many Birmingham and Solihull terraces and semi-detached houses), cooking fat poured down the kitchen sink will solidify in the shared pipe and restrict flow for the toilet too. Wipe greasy pans with kitchen roll before washing, and pour cooled fat into a container for the bin.
Get a survey on older properties
If your property was built before 1960 and you are experiencing any drainage issues, a CCTV drain survey is worth the investment. It will show the condition of your soil pipe and main drain, identify any displaced joints, root growth, or sections that are starting to fail, and let you plan repairs before a total blockage occurs.
Find Toilet Unblocking Near You
We attend blocked toilets across three counties. Select your area for local information and response times.
West Midlands
The West Midlands metropolitan county is our core service area, covering Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry, Dudley, Wolverh...
View West Midlands areasWarwickshire
Warwickshire stretches from the urban edges of Coventry through historic market towns like Warwick and Stratford-upon-Av...
View Warwickshire areasWorcestershire
Worcestershire covers our extended service area from Bromsgrove and Redditch through to Worcester, Kidderminster, Droitw...
View Worcestershire areasFrequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to unblock a toilet?
Our toilet unblocking service starts from £100 inc VAT with no call-out fee. Most single-fixture blockages are resolved within an hour. If the blockage is further down the line and requires jetting, we will advise you of any additional cost before proceeding.
Can you unblock a toilet on the same day?
Yes, same-day and emergency service is available 7 days a week across our coverage area. For urgent situations such as an overflowing toilet, sewage backing up, or a single-toilet household, call 0121 296 7829 and we will prioritise your job.
Why does my toilet keep blocking?
Recurring toilet blockages almost always point to a downstream issue, such as a partially blocked drain, root ingress, a displaced pipe joint, or a bellied section of pipe that collects waste. We recommend a CCTV survey to identify the root cause and stop the cycle of repeat blockages.
Is a blocked toilet an emergency?
If it is your only toilet, or if sewage is backing up or overflowing, then yes, it is an emergency and you should call us immediately. We treat single-toilet households and sewage overflow situations as priority call-outs with no extra charge for emergency response.
Will you need to remove the toilet?
In most cases, no. Our engineers can resolve the majority of toilet blockages without removals. However, if the blockage is beneath the pan or in the soil pipe immediately behind the toilet, removal may be necessary to gain proper access. We will always explain why before proceeding.
What should I do while waiting for an engineer?
Stop using the toilet immediately to prevent overflow. Do not attempt to flush repeatedly. If water is rising, turn off the water supply to the cistern if you can access the valve. Place towels around the base. Ventilate the room and keep children and pets away from any sewage.
Related Services
Our engineers carry equipment for multiple drainage tasks, so we can often handle several issues in a single visit.
Drain Unblocking
Fast, fixed-price drain clearing using manual rodding or high-pressure jetting. Free CCTV camera check included with every job.
CCTV Drain Surveys
HD camera inspections with same-day written reports. Ideal for home buyers, build-over applications, and diagnosing recurring problems.
Emergency Drainage
Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. No extra charge for evenings, weekends, or bank holidays. Typically on site within 60 minutes.
Checkatrade Verified · 9.8/10 Rating · Fully Insured
Craig Argyle and Jamie Ruby founded Cofton DJS with over 10 years of drainage experience. All work uses WRc approved materials and comes with a written guarantee.
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