Before you start
Toilet clogged? Here is what to do first: stop flushing. Another flush can push the water over the rim. Do not keep flushing to "push it through". If the water is near the rim, wait for the level to drop before you start.
Put on rubber gloves and lay old towels around the base of the bowl.
Choose the right plunger
There are two common types:
- Flat cup plunger. A simple rubber cup for flat surfaces such as a sink or floor trap. It struggles to seal over the curved outlet of a toilet bowl.
- Flange plunger. A cup with a soft rubber sleeve that folds out from the bottom. The sleeve fits into the toilet outlet, so it seals better.
For a toilet, choose a flange plunger. Check that the rubber is soft and not cracked, since a stiff or split cup will not hold a seal.
Step-by-step: how to unclog a toilet with a plunger
HDB's home care guide for toilets describes a choked water closet as slow flow from a partial blockage in the sanitary pipe. It advises placing the plunger over the waste hole and pumping vigorously, and says the blockage usually clears after a few pumps.
- Seal the plunger over the outlet. Lower the plunger in at an angle so the cup fills with water, then press it over the outlet so the rubber covers the hole fully.
- Push gently first. Press down slowly to push the trapped air out. A hard first push can splash dirty water out of the bowl.
- Pump vigorously. Keeping the seal, pump up and down firmly several times. HDB says the blockage usually clears after a few pumps.
- Check that the water drains. Lift the plunger away and watch the level. If it does not drop, repeat the pumping a few more times.
- Flush once to test. Flush a single time and watch the bowl. Be ready to turn off the inlet valve beside the cistern if the water rises.
- Clean up. Rinse the plunger, then wipe the floor and bowl with household disinfectant.
What not to pour or flush
HDB's toilet care guide says not to dispose of solid items such as sanitary pads or diapers into the toilet, to prevent chokes. A covered bin in the toilet gives these items somewhere to go.
When a toilet is choked, avoid these shortcuts:
- Boiling water. It can splash back and scald you, and it is not part of HDB's method.
- Mixed chemical cleaners. Never mix bleach with acid-based toilet cleaners or ammonia, as the combination gives off harmful fumes. Strong chemicals can also damage fittings.
For habits that lower the chance of a choke, see our guide to bathroom maintenance to prevent chokes.
When the choke is in the common pipe
Some blockages sit beyond your toilet, in a pipe shared with other flats. Signs to watch for:
- The toilet, floor trap and basin back up at the same time.
- Water rises in the floor trap when you flush.
- Neighbours above or below report the same problem.
HDB's ceiling leak guide says flat owners are responsible for the upkeep of their own flats, while problems from common property, such as the roof, go to the Town Council. If the signs point to a shared pipe, contact your Town Council, say which fittings are affected and ask how the inspection will be arranged.
For a blocked drain inside your flat, see choked drain clearing.
Published choke clearing rates
22 companies in the directory publish a choke clearing rate. Their lowest published rates run from S$50 to S$150 per job, as printed, with S$80 per job in the middle. That middle figure is one company's real published rate, not an average.
FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY
Published choke clearing rates
For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published choke clearing rates from 22 companies run from S$50 to S$150 per job (middle rate S$80), to clear one choke in a toilet bowl, floor trap or sink. The middle figure is a real published rate, not an average. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a quote.
See 22 published choke clearing rates and sources
| Company | Service as listed | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiasu Plumber | Remove kitchen sink choke | From S$50 per job | kiasuplumber.com |
| SG1 Plumber Singapore | Floor-trap Choke Cleaning | S$50 per job | sg1plumber.com |
| AquaHero Plumbing | Clear Clogged Floor Trap | S$60 per job | aquahero-plumbing.sg |
| EZ Plumber SG | Clear Clogged Floor Trap | S$60 per job | ezplumber.sg |
| Plumber - Singapore Plumbing 24hrs | Supply Labour to Clear Toilet Bowl Choke | From S$60 per job | singaporeplumbing24hrs.com.sg |
| Sin Plumbing Singapore | Clear clogged floor trap | From S$60 per job | sinplumbing.com |
| Uncle Plumber | Clear clogged floor trap | From S$60 per job | uncleplumber.sg |
| GD Plumbing | Clogged toilet bowl / Clearing toilet bowl choke | From S$70 per job | gdplumbing.com.sg |
| Hdbplumber Service SG | Clearing toilet bowl choke | From S$79 per job | hdbplumberservice.com.sg |
| Ace Plumbing Specialist | Clogged toilet bowl / clearing toilet bowl choke | From S$80 per job | aceplumbing.sg |
| Active Plumbing Singapore | Clearing toilet bowl choke | From S$80 per job | activeplumbing.sg |
| Home Plumbers Singapore | Clear a toilet bowl choke | From S$80 per job | homeplumbers.com.sg |
| PlumbersGuru Singapore | Basic unclogging starts . Complex jobs with grease traps or root intrusion cost more. We | From S$80 to S$150 per job | plumbersguru.com |
| PW Plumbing Services | Toilet Choke Clearing | S$90 to S$150 per job | pwplumbing.com.sg |
| SR Power Plumber Pte. Ltd. | Clearing toilet bowl choke / clogged toilet bowl | From S$90 per job | srpowerplumber.com |
| Huat Plumbing | Toilet Bowl Choke Clearing | From S$100 per job | huatplumbing.sg |
| Prima Technologies Pte. Ltd. (Prima Services) | Toilet Bowl Choke Clearing | From S$100 per job | primaservices.sg |
| Sk Plumber | Toilet bowl choke clearing | From S$115 per job | sksplumber.com |
| Best Plumbing | Clogged toilet bowl / Clearing toilet bowl choke | From S$120 per job | bestplumbing.com.sg |
| Summer Plumbing Service | Clogged toilet bowl / Clearing toilet bowl choke | From S$120 per job | sgplumbing.com.sg |
| NILE Plumbing | Clear Choke (Sink/Basin) | From S$150 per job | nileplumbingsg.com |
| Siam Engineering Pte Ltd | Choke Clearing & Drainage | S$150 per job | siamengineeringsg.com |
The scope as printed is to clear one choke in a toilet bowl, floor trap or sink, so these rates cover choke clearing in general, not only toilets. For more detail, read our guide to toilet choke clearing cost or see wider plumbing costs.
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See plumbing companies in the directory with their published prices, the areas they say they cover and their sources.
Compare plumbersWhen to stop and call a professional
HDB's toilet guide says to engage a licensed plumber if you cannot clear the blockage. Call for help if plunging does not lower the water, the choke keeps coming back or other fittings back up when you flush.
PUB's plumbing works page lists clearing any blockage in a floor trap, water closet (toilet bowl) or sanitary appliance as simple work a handyman may do. Installing, changing or relocating a toilet bowl, or work on the sanitary piping system, is for a PUB Licensed Plumber. Engaging a plumber who is not licensed for regulated works has been an offence since 2018. PUB advises discussing scope and cost first, asking for itemised quotes and getting at least three quotes.
If the bowl itself needs fixing or replacing, see toilet repair. PUB's Licensed Plumbers page says you can find Licensed Plumbers through its online listings, the Singapore Plumbing Society or your Town Council. You can also compare plumbers and the areas they say they cover.
Questions
Can I unclog a toilet without a plunger?
HDB's toilet guide describes one method for a choked toilet: a plunger over the waste hole, pumped vigorously. There is no official alternative in that guidance, so a plunger is the safe first tool. If you do not have one, stop flushing and get one first.
Is it safe to pour chemical drain cleaner into a toilet?
Be cautious. Strong drain chemicals can damage fittings or splash onto your skin, and you should never mix bleach with acid-based toilet cleaners or ammonia, as the fumes are harmful. If you use a product, follow its label exactly and never combine it with another. If plunging has not worked, ask a plumber.
Why does my toilet keep clogging?
HDB's toilet guide links a choked toilet to a partial blockage in the sanitary pipe and warns against flushing solid items such as sanitary pads or diapers. If the choke returns soon after plunging, ask a plumber to find where the blockage sits.
Can a handyman clear a choked toilet?
Yes. PUB's plumbing works page lists clearing any blockage in a water closet as simple work a handyman may do. Installing, changing or relocating a toilet bowl is for a PUB Licensed Plumber. Ask the company which work it plans to do.
What if the water is about to overflow?
Stop flushing. Turn off the inlet valve on the pipe beside the cistern so it stops refilling, and lay towels around the base of the bowl. Wait for the water to drop before you plunge. If it does not drop, call a plumber.
Who do I call if the choke is in the common pipe?
If several fittings back up together or neighbours have the same problem, the choke may be in a shared pipe. HDB's ceiling leak guide treats common property, such as the roof, as a Town Council matter, so contact your Town Council.
Prices come only from the sourced company rates in the HomezyPro directory, shown with each company and its source.
Practical guidance for planning a home job in Singapore. Company prices come from the HomezyPro directory, each linked to its source; rules and safety points link to the agency or manufacturer that sets them. This is not a site inspection, a quote or professional advice for your home.
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