By Matthew Baring-Gould, Kingscliff-based drainage plumber. Servicing Tweed Heads for 4 years. 5.0 stars across 173 Google reviews. Licensed NSW 383340C and QLD 15036450. ABN 74 605 392 348.
Blocked toilet at a Chinderah rental unit. Plunged clear and tested. Flushing normally again. Tenant mentioned another occupant in the complex had the same issue and it had been Lego down the toilet. If this one recurs, we will need to remove the pan and investigate. More concerning finding: two sewer pipes on site did not have sealed caps, which lets sewer gas escape into the living space. This is a health issue and needs closed caps installed.
What the customer called us for
Tenant called us out for a blocked toilet. The toilet was slow-draining and would not clear.
What we found when we got there
Plunged the toilet and it cleared. Tested the flush and it worked normally. Not a recurring job on our visit, but the tenant mentioned another unit in the same complex had the same symptom and the cause there had been Lego blocks down the toilet. If this toilet blocks again, the next step is pan-removal and investigation. Separate finding on the visit: two sewer clear-outs on site did not have sealed caps. Uncapped sewer clear-outs let sewer gas escape, which is a real health issue in a residential setting.
Why we did it this way
A blocked toilet in a complex where another unit had Lego-related blockages is a red flag. Kids do put things down toilets, and the problem can hop between units in a shared sewer. The honest advice on a one-time clear is: it is fixed for now, but if it comes back we go straight to pan-removal to find the object. On the uncapped sewer clear-outs, that is non-negotiable. Sewer gas is hydrogen sulphide plus methane plus ammonia and other volatiles. In small concentrations it smells bad. In larger concentrations it is a genuine health risk and occasionally a fire risk. Closed caps are an inexpensive fitting that fixes it for good.
What we did on site
- Attended site and investigated the blocked toilet.
- Confirmed the toilet was slow-draining.
- Plunged the toilet clear.
- Tested the flush and confirmed normal operation.
- Documented tenant report of Lego blockages in another unit in the complex.
- Walked the site and identified two sewer pipes with no sealed caps.
- Documented the uncapped sewer pipes in photos.
- Advised the tenant and quoted to supply and install closed caps on both uncapped clear-outs.
The result
Toilet cleared on the day and flushing normally. Quote in for the closed caps on the two uncapped sewer clear-outs. If the blockage recurs, the next visit is pan-removal.
If you have the same issue
If you rent a unit in a complex and the toilet keeps blocking, ask the other tenants whether they have the same issue. Shared sewers in units sometimes carry problems between flats. Also check whether all your sewer clear-out pipes have proper sealed caps – if any are missing, you are breathing sewer gas without knowing it. Call Matty on 0447 188 394 or request a quote.
Customer names and addresses have been withheld. Individual results vary. Drain Masters Plumbing is licensed in NSW (383340C) and QLD (15036450).
Frequently asked
How dangerous is sewer gas?
In small concentrations, sewer gas causes headaches, nausea, and a bad smell. In higher concentrations (continuous exposure in a poorly ventilated area), it is a genuine health hazard. Hydrogen sulphide, which is one of the main components, is toxic at concentrations above a few parts per million. Sealing the clear-outs is the cheapest fix for any health concern.
What is a sewer clear-out?
A pipe end that sticks up from the sewer line, usually outside the house near the boundary or inside a disconnector gully. Its purpose is to let a plumber enter the line with a jet or snake to clear blockages. When not in use, it has to be sealed with a closed cap. An uncapped clear-out is a direct vent of sewer gas into the open air.
Why did plunging work this time but might not next time?
A plunger works when the blockage is just a wad of paper or soft material right at the pan or trap. If the blockage is a hard object (like a Lego block) further down the line, plunging only moves it, it does not clear it. The object stays in the line and the next flush catches on it again. If that is what is happening here, only pan-removal and physical retrieval will fix it permanently.
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