So you have a blocked toilet in your home. While you may need a plumber to clear your clogged toilet, we’d first like to share some tips you can try before giving us a call. Even if there’s no plunger around, some of these tips can still help!
However, if you need a plumber, Ottawa residents have trusted John The Plumber since 2006. We’re available and happy to provide same-day or next-day blocked toilet service.
Just remember, don’t panic!
Scroll down to read our tips and tricks to unclog a toilet, or click the button below to schedule fast, friendly, and reliable clogged toilet Ottawa services!
Clogged toilets are frustrating and they can be stressful – especially if you’ve had bad luck trying to unblock the toilet yourself!
Whether you need a plumber in Barrhaven or deep in the east end, John The Plumber is ready and available to help with same-day and next-day plumbing service – 7 days a week!
Toilet clogs can be stubborn! Sometimes they fix themselves within half an hour, other times you need a licensed plumber to help with your toilet troubles. John The Plumber comes equipped with everything needed to fix a clogged toilet. We have toilet augers, we have drain snakes, electric drain augers, hydro jetters, chain knockers, and more! If there’s a tool that can help your plumbing system, our licensed plumbers are equipped and experienced with it!
Toilet clogs, especially recurring and frequent toilet clogs, are often caused by a partial drain blockage stuck somewhere in the system. The insides of your drain pipes aren’t usually very clean, and certain pipes are worse than others. Over years of usage, waste matter can stick to the insides of your pipes and accumulate. As more mass accumulates in the pipes, the mass begins to interfere and restrict the flow of water. While certain home remedies may help to some degree, the best solution is always a physical drain cleaning. John The Plumber’s Ottawa drain cleaners come equipped with every effective tool for cleaning drains – from electric drum snake machines to drain power washes. If you need drain cleaning services, call and schedule an appointment with our expert plumbers!
Your drain system is an interconnected network of drain pipes. At one point or another, every drainage pipe in your plumbing system connects, and they all use and share the plumbing vents on your roof. Plumbing vents are used to replace the air in your drain system when wastewater pushes the air down the line. If the drain vents are blocked and you flush the toilet, your toilet won’t flush correctly due to a vacuum in your drain pipe system. When this is the case, John The Plumber has equipment that can help clear the venting blockage and restore proper airflow, thus restoring drain flow. Choose John The Plumber for your plumbing vent repairs!
Sometimes, clogged toilets can occur because something is weakening the flush of a toilet. It may be that the water level in the tank or bowl is too low, it could be that the jets are clogged, or it could be something else. If you’re experiencing frequent toilet blockages, schedule an appointment with one of our plumbers to investigate the issue. With some luck, one minor adjustment will fix your flushing issues!
Modern toilets are built to maximize water efficiency while maintaining a powerful flush. Older toilets may not have the same effective design which could lead to a toilet clog. Additionally, a common issue is a small item lodged in the bends of the toilet. If a small toy or clip is stuck in the toilet, any matter that attempts to flow by may also become stuck. While a toilet replacement is usually among the last options, it may be worth considering to rid yourself of toilet trouble once and for all.
Sometimes toilet clogs are caused by major problems with your drains. Improper sloping, for example, will frequently cause you issues indefinitely. Even if the toilet issues are a new development, that doesn’t mean that they will be an isolated incident. Our licensed plumbers may evaluate the available plumbing to ensure that your system meets Ontario plumbing codes, and provide advice on how to remedy the situation if changes are required. If a drain replacement is required, John The Plumber is considered by many as employing the best plumbers in Ottawa, and our experts will make honest recommendations as to how you should proceed.
A drain backup is when water and waste rise up from drains, such as sink drains, floor drains, and shower drains. Drain backups indicate that there is a blockage in a drain pipe that affects multiple drains. For example, if you flush your toilet, and the waste from your toilet rises from the shower drain, then you likely have a blockage in a pipe that the shower and toilet share – like the plumbing stack. Our plumbers will test multiple fixtures and drains to gain information that will help deduce the location of the blockage. From there, we will explain the best solution to clear the blockage, and restore drain flow!
If multiple toilets and drains are experiencing flushing issues in your home, there’s a good chance that there’s an issue with your sewer. If the drains aren’t full of water, it’s a good idea to use a camera to inspect the lines to locate the source of the issue. If it’s a blockage in your sewer, you’ll need our sewer cleaning services. We use similar equipment as drain cleaning, however, this equipment is heavy-duty. Not only can this equipment clear out regular blockages, but it can also remove tree roots that may be interfering with your sewer. Other sewer issues can be collapsed pipes, cracks, and bellowed pipes. Whatever the case, we can service your sewer system and make the experience as easy as possible.
Unfortunately, there are often a number of issues that may be causing you issues in your plumbing system. The best way to locate the source of the problems is often to run a drain camera inspection. We’ll insert a commercial-grade plumbing camera into your drain cleanout or toilet drain, push it deep and navigate the bends of the system until we see what is causing the issue. Once we see the problem, we can diagnose it and offer solutions.
If you’ve got a clogged or overflowing toilet, you probably want help from plumbing pros sooner than later! John The Plumber is the local plumbing expert that can handle all your plumbing emergencies. We offer emergency plumbing services, so that we can often schedule your toilet repair the same day that you call. When plumbing issues catch you off guard and are turning from bad to worse, trust John The Plumber for your fast, friendly, and reliable plumbing services!
If you’ve got a clogged or overflowing toilet, you probably want help from plumbing pros sooner than later! John The Plumber is the local plumbing expert that can handle all your plumbing emergencies. We offer emergency plumbing services, so that we can often schedule your toilet repair the same day that you call. When plumbing issues catch you off guard and are turning from bad to worse, trust John The Plumber for your fast, friendly, and reliable plumbing services!
Since 2006, John The Plumber has been the plumber Ottawa depends on for fast, friendly, and reliable plumbing services.
Our team is built of many of Ottawa’s most talented, knowledgeable, and friendly plumbers.
We offer our prices upfront so there are no surprises.
And, we have a reputation for good, honest work, and high-quality products.
Toilets shouldn’t clog too often. A lot of the time, it’s caused by flushing the wrong things. However, sometimes it’s caused by a more serious problem. Here’s a list of common toilet clog causes:
Our toilets are meant to handle three things: water, human biological waste, and toilet paper. Flushing anything else is a risk to your toilet, plumbing system, wallet, and sewer system. Try to avoid flushing these:
“You’re 10-ply, bud.” The thicker the toilet paper, the greater the risk of a toilet clog. I know that comfort is key, but some toilet papers are practically towels. There must be a happy medium!
Most of us would rather use too much toilet paper than too little. However, if your toilet paper outweighs the contents in the toilet bowl, your toilet may have a bad time. Pro Tip: Using a Squatty Potty or spreading the cheeks when sitting down greatly reduces the TP required for cleanup.
Personal wipes, even those marketed as ‘flushable’, are risky. They simply don’t break down in the water the way toilet paper does. As a result, they can get stuck and cause a blockage that doesn’t dissolve. If you like to stay fresh, consider installing a bidet!
We often see toilet blockages caused by Q-tips. Ironically, there is often a garbage can near the toilet. Our recommendation is that you use the garbage bin for Q-tips, as Q-tips often become stuck in the curves of the toilet or in the toilet drain itself.
If high-ply toilet paper is too thick to flush down the toilet, paper towel is absolutely too thick to flush. This is nearly a surefire method to clog your toilet! Save yourself some money on plumbing services, and throw used paper towels into the garbage! If, however, you prefer flushing paper towels down the toilet – please keep John The Plumber’s phone number saved in your phone!
Wrappers don’t belong in the toilet! We often see cigarette butts, plastic wrappers, and a number of other pieces of garbage cause stubborn clogs that require a lot of work to fix. Don’t get me wrong – John The Plumber wants the work. However, we feel it’s our duty to help you prevent plumbing services when possible!
Dental floss can stick to the gunk in your drains and create a tangled net that other matter must pass through. As waste passes by, some of it gets stuck. As more and more mass accumulates to the dental floss, it becomes a nightmare to remove from the drain – and plunging may not be enough!
Tampons don’t dissolve. In fact, they’re designed to hold onto liquid without dissolving! If you flush a feminine hygiene product down the toilet and it catches on something on the way down, it will be difficult to dislodge!
Cotton doesn’t dissolve in water! Cotton balls, cotton swabs, and other disposable cotton items are likely to stick inside your drain and interfere with other matter as you flush the toilet.
To prevent clogged toilets, we recommend scraping plates into the garbage – not the toilet!
If there is too little water in the toilet tank, the flush will be weak. If the flush is too weak, the contents in the toilet bowl may remain after the flush, or become stuck in the pipes.
If your drains are damaged or aren’t to code, they may not function properly. Drain repairs or drain replacements are often required to remedy situations like this. If you need a drain repair or replacement, our plumbing experts are happy to help!
As mentioned above, plumbing vents are required to keep the correct air pressure in the drains. Without proper venting, you’ll deal with more than just toilet clogs. A common issue to watch for is water being sucked out of the P-traps, thus allowing sewer gas to enter your home.
Have you ever wondered, why does my toilet clog so frequently?
In this article, we will discuss the various factors that could be contributing to this problem and how to tackle them. READ MORE >
Good plumbers aren’t cheap. While we’re eager to offer you world-class service and earn your business, we think it wouldn’t be fair if we didn’t offer you solutions to fix the problem yourself. Before calling your favourite emergency plumber, give these a shot:
If you have a plunger on hand or there’s one near the toilet, you’re in luck. Most times this is all you’ll need to get the toilet flowing again. Just place it in the toilet bowl over the hole and push gently down and pull up. Do this a few times and things should get going. Once the water starts going down the drain you can try to flush again.
You may not think that it would work, but take it from this Stittsville plumber… Dish soap dissolves the gunk on your dishes, and it can similarly help with a clogged toilet from time to time. If you can find or get your hands on about one cup of soap you’re in business. Add the soap and a few cups of hot water. Let it sit for about 15 minutes and try to flush the toilet. Pro tip: Hot water helps a lot as well. Use a kettle to heat water, but don’t bring it to a boil – too hot is dangerous for the porcelain. Add one heated kettle of water at a time, and repeat that several times over a half-hour – and you’d be surprised how effective this can be.
Here’s another thing you can try for that blocked toilet. A coat hanger. Odds are you may have one hanging in the bathroom somewhere. If it’s a wire one, you’ve got something you can use. Straighten it out as much as you can and grab a rag to wrap around the end so you don’t damage the toilet bowl. This can act as a sort of plunger if there isn’t one in the bathroom. Toilet still blocked? Grab your phone and give us a call! We’ve got plumbers in Orleans all the way to Stittsville on standby, eager to help!
Contrac has a reputation for manufacturing high-performance, high-efficiency toilets. They use less water than most while producing an equal or greater flush-force.
American Standard is one of the great innovators in plumbing. They keep clean, clog rarely, and look great!
With a long history of reliability, efficiency, and style, you can’t go wrong with a brand like Gerber!
When we visit a home to fix a clog, we don’t want to have to come back – even though that would be profitable!
Instead, we want to help solve your problem properly the first time.
Our business model is to offer world-class service and earn lifelong customers.
We’ll fix your problem, we’ll offer you a few tips, and we’ll help you avoid similar issues in the future.
Plus, if there’s a serious issue, you’ll have the local experts available immediately!
If you’re interested in saving money on plumbing in Ottawa, we have two recommendations.
First, check out our Peace of Mind Plumbing Program. It’s a monthly membership to our loyalty club, that comes with tons of perks including discounts, credits, waived fees, freebies, and more!
Click the link above to learn more!
The second suggestion is to check out our Plumbing Offers page. We regularly change and update offers, so it may be your lucky day!
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