Blocked Toilet Cleared with an Expert Survey

We locate the blockage, clear it properly, and put a camera down the line, so you leave knowing why it happened and whether it will return.

24/7 Emergency Hotline (01) 849 1706

Since 1968

Over 35 years on Dublin drainage

24/7 call-outs

Answered any hour, every day

Request a callback

All enquiries are reviewed by our team before a consultation is confirmed.

What Actually Blocks a Toilet

Irish Water clears around 10,000 blockages a year, and about three in four come from the wrong things being flushed. Clearing blocked toilets since 1968, these are the causes we see most.

Wipes, even the ones labelled flushable

Labelled flushable or not, wipes do not break down. They snag on joints and bends and build up until the water stops. Irish Water once cleared an 8ft blockage of wipes.

MOST COMMON IN DUBLIN

Too much toilet paper at once

Older Dublin terraces have narrower waste pipes than newer builds. A wad of paper that clears a modern estate can jam in a hundred-year-old pipe.

COMMON IN OLDER PROPERTIES

Sanitary products, cotton buds & nappies

Unlike paper, these do not soften. They wedge in the trap and catch whatever is flushed after them until the water stops.

COMMON IN FAMILY HOMES

Something a child has flushed

Toys, socks, a toothbrush. If a toilet blocks with no obvious cause and there are young children about, this is usually it.

MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK

The cause matters. A one-off object is a quick clear, but a blockage that keeps returning usually points to a problem further down the pipe that a camera survey will find.s a year, and about three in four come from the wrong things being flushed. Clearing blocked toilets since 1968, these are the causes we see most.

How We Clear a Blocked Toilet

Five steps on every visit. The last two, cameraing the line and telling you what we found, are what a clear-and-leave job skips.

See how the water behaves

How the water sits or drains tells us where the blockage is before we touch the pan.

Work from the right access point

If the blockage sits past the pan, we clear it through the nearest manhole instead of poking blindly from the bowl.

Clear it with the right tool

An auger for the trap, rods or high-pressure jetting for anything further down the line. We pick the tool the blockage needs.

Camera the line

Once the water moves, the camera goes down the line to show whether the pipe itself caused the block.

Tell you what we found

You see the footage. If the line is clear, we say so. If it needs work, you get a price.

24/7 Emergency Hotline (01) 849 1706

What Dublin Customers Say About Us

    
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   emer kennedy 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Had an issue with drains and we got an immediate response and they were cleared by 10am the next day. Could not recommend highly enough.  Will definitely use again.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Shane C 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Top service by Alec and the lads. Drains were blocked, they showed up quickly, left the place tidy after, and very reasonably priced.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   killian mccarthy 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Issue was resolved promptly, and professionally.  I was also kept informed on costs. Would recommend.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Alan Moffitt 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Having been using ALEC and MN Davis  for drains and plumbing/heating for almost 6 years now. Have received great advice and quick response times to all types of Plumbing heating and drains services over this period. Response times have been phenominal to genuine emergencys.
Alec provides a support service to our maintenance company, which we couldn't survive without. We rely heavily on his technical fault finding ability and many years of experience to get the best results for our customers and value for money.
There is a significant shortage of plumbers in this industry and MN Davis provide for all our plumbing heating and drainage needs.
Thanks Alec
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Paddy 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great lads. From start to finish of job. Very polite and tidy in their work. Definitely recommend.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   MICHELLE MOCKLER 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Prompt service very quick to call out ..would highly recommend
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Ben Devey 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had an extremely positive experience with Davis Drain Services. Within minutes of calling them out of hours, they arrived to our house to clear a blocked septic tank. It was pumped out promptly before returning the following morning to rectify the issue. At all times they made us feel at ease and explained everything to us clearly. While on site they also provided helpful advice on how to rectify heating issues we were having. We would have no hesitation recommending them for both drainage and plumbing works. Thanks to Alec and team.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Lorainne Markey 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Just had Alec out to look at an issue with my boiler. We were without heat and he arrived so quickly after being contacted. He was able to pinpoint the issue straight away and had it fixed in minutes. I also asked advice on an issue with my drains that I have been encountering for a few years and he was able to give me advice on how fix it. Thank you Alec, I am very grateful for all you help.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Alison Joyce 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent company to deal with very professional service. A number of options offered along with a clear indication of the costs involved were hugely helpful.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Alan Wolfe 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great service, fast call out lovely team

How Much Does It Cost to Unblock a Toilet?

Where the blockage sits and how it needs clearing decide the price. We quote every job before we start.

You Get the Price Before We Start

We look at the job first, tell you what it needs and what it costs, then wait for your go-ahead.

€100 to €250

per visit

This is an estimate. We quote the actual price after seeing the job.

24/7 Emergency Hotline (01) 849 1706

How to Stop a Toilet Blocking

Most blocked toilets are avoidable. Clearing them across Dublin since 1968, these six habits make the biggest difference.

Put a bin next to the toilet

Wipes, cotton buds and sanitary products go in the bin. A bathroom bin prevents most of the blockages we clear.

Flush twice if you need to

Older Dublin houses have narrow pipes. A second flush shifts what the first one leaves in the bend.

Watch what children flush

If a toilet blocks with no obvious cause and young children are about, something has gone down it. A toilet lock costs less than a call-out.

Skip the chemical drain cleaner

It rarely shifts a real blockage and wears at the pipe lining over time. A plunger does more for nothing.

Notice a slow flush before it blocks

A slow flush means the pipe is narrowing. Catching it early is a quicker, cheaper job than a full block.

If it blocks twice, get a camera down

A toilet that blocks twice usually has a pipe problem. A tree root, a displaced joint, a build-up. A camera finds which.

24/7 Emergency Hotline (01) 849 1706

Common Questions About Blocked Toilets

The questions we get asked most before a visit.

How much does it cost to unblock a toilet in Dublin?

Most blocked toilets in Dublin cost between €100 and €250 to clear. A blockage in the trap is quicker and cheaper than one further down the soil pipe. You get the price before any work starts, and the camera check is included.

Can I unblock a blocked toilet myself?

Often, yes, if the water rises and then slowly drains. Use a flange plunger, cover the outlet fully, and push with steady pressure for five or six strokes. If the water still will not drop, the blockage sits past the trap and needs proper equipment.

How do I know if the blockage is in the toilet or the drain?

If only the toilet is affected, the blockage is usually in or near the pan. If sinks or showers gurgle or run slow when you flush, the blockage is further down the soil pipe or the main run outside, which needs clearing from a manhole.

Why does my toilet keep blocking?

A toilet that blocks once is usually something that was flushed. A toilet that blocks again and again usually has a fault in the pipe behind it: a build-up, or a cracked or displaced joint that needs a no-dig repair. A camera survey shows which.

Should I use drain cleaner on a blocked toilet?

No. Chemical drain cleaner rarely shifts a real toilet blockage, sits in the trap doing little, and wears at the pipe lining over time. A plunger is safer, more effective, and costs nothing. If the plunger fails, the blockage needs equipment.

How long does it take to clear a blocked toilet?

Most are cleared in under an hour on site. A blockage in the trap is quick. One further down the soil pipe or the main run takes longer, because it has to be reached from a manhole and often needs rodding or jetting.

What should I do before you arrive?

Stop flushing, because each flush adds water and raises the risk of an overflow. Leave it to settle and try a plunger if the water is not near the rim. If it is overflowing or close to it, turn off the valve behind the toilet and ring us straight away.

Is a blocked toilet an emergency?

Usually not. A blocked toilet that is not overflowing can wait for a same-day visit, especially if you have a second toilet. Treat it as urgent only if it is overflowing, or if it is the only toilet in the house and unusable. In that case, ring the 24/7 line.

Get Your Toilet Unblocked

Tell us what the toilet is doing and where you are. We come back with a price, usually the same day.

Get a free quote

Send this and we come back with what the repair involves and what it costs.

24/7 Emergency Hotline (01) 849 1706