UK Flood Barriers Toilet Bung

Paul_Varjak

I purchased UK Flood Barriers' toilet bung a few weeks ago, based on the following claims in its advert:

https://web.archive.org/web/20130105020032/http://www.ukfloodbarriers.co.uk/toiletbung.aspx


I believed the claims were false, so a complaint was made to the Advertising Standards Authority. As a result, UK Flood Barriers amended its advertising accordingly:

http://www.ukfloodbarriers.co.uk/toiletbung.aspx


Gone is the claim that the toilet bung is designed for a toilet U-bend.

Gone is the claim that the toilet bung prevents sewage back-flow.

Gone is the claim that the toilet bung is a Flood Angel product.


The fact is that these bungs are designed only for use in straight pipes with a circular cross-section. A toilet U-bend is neither straight nor circular in cross section.

UK Flood Barriers now claims that the toilet bung reduces the risk of sewage of back-flow significantly, rather than prevent it. When I tried the bung I found that significant amounts of water leaked passed the bung - certainly several tens, possibly hundreds of litres still passed by the bung every hour.

If you are only subject to flash floods there may be some merit in the device but I doubt this device would be of any use in areas that are subject to floods lasting more than a day.

You would be better advised to fit a one-way valve in the sewer system. You don't have to deploy these devices at the time of a flood as they remain in the sewer system permanently. They are also much more effective at preventing back-flow and, unlike a toilet bung, will prevent back-flow through toilet, shower and all other service pipes. They can be purchased from as little as £70.