Clogged Toilet Repair in Toronto

Signs your toilet clog needs a plumber

If you have plunged properly with a flange plunger for a few minutes and the bowl still will not drain, it is time for help. The same goes for a toilet that clears and then clogs again within days, or one whose water level rises when the tub or washing machine drains.

• Water rising toward the rim on every flush
• Repeated clogs with only normal paper use
• Gurgling from the bowl when other fixtures run
• Water seeping around the base after plunging

What causes it in older Toronto homes

Children's toys, wipes labelled flushable, and cotton products cause plenty of clogs on their own. Older houses add some local factors. Toilets from before the mid-1990s were often replaced with early low-flow models that struggle to push waste through long horizontal runs. Many semis have a cast-iron closet bend that has scaled up inside, narrowing the path. And where a clay lateral has roots or a sag, toilets on the lowest floor are the first to show it.

What we do on site, in order

1. We protect the floor, then try a closet auger, which is designed to pass through the trapway without scratching porcelain.
2. If the object is stuck in the toilet itself, we pull the toilet, clear it from below, and reseat it over the flange with a brand-new ring.
3. If the auger goes through freely but the toilet still drains slowly, we look downstream at the stack and main line.
4. We test with several flushes and check the base for leaks before we leave.

What affects the price

We give you the price up front. The biggest variables are whether the clog clears with an auger or the toilet must be removed, and whether the real issue is in the main drain. A toilet bolted to a cracked flange or an old lead closet bend may need extra parts, and we will tell you before going ahead. If the fixture itself is the problem, toilet replacement may be worth considering.

When to call right away

Call immediately if sewage shows up in a lower-level shower or the floor drain downstairs when the toilet is flushed. That means the main line is blocked, and main drain cleaning is the next step. Our list of things not to flush may help prevent a repeat, and if the toilet runs constantly rather than clogging, see the running toilet guide.

Habits that prevent repeat clogs

Use less paper per flush, flush twice for heavy loads on older low-flow toilets, and keep a lidded bin in every bathroom for wipes and hygiene products. Teach young children that toys and the toilet do not mix; a surprising share of the toilets we pull are hiding a small figurine.

The job, in four moves

1. 1
   Close the stop

   Supply valve shut, tank and bowl sponged dry.

2. 2
   Lift the bowl

   Closet bolts cut, bowl pulled, old wax scraped off the flange.

3. 3
   Fix what is under it

   Cracked flange ring repaired, closet auger run down the bend.

4. 4
   Reset and test

   New seal and bolts, bowl set level, ten flushes watched for seepage.

Common questions