Clogged Toilet

[frugalangler]

My kitchen sink was always a bit slow. Could sometimes help it by dissolving accumulated grease with a kettlefull of hot water poured straight down the drain, but it was still marginal improvement.

I know, off topic to original post, but reinforces the fact that it's time to remove and inspect!

I had one similar, our kitchen was at one end of house and sink was the only thing on the line to the 'stack'. It took multiple minutes for a sink full to drain. I drain-o'd it, snaked it, boiled it, replaced the under-sink pieces, etc. all to no avail. I finally crawled into the crawl space, tapped on the line and it went THUD, not ping like a typical galvanized (which is what it was back then) would do.

I sawzall'd the pipe at each end to get it out, it fell on the ground so hard it would have hurt if my leg were under it, not at all what I expected. (yea, in hind sight I should have supported it, but I was young and fearless back then) It was all I could do to drag that sucka out of the crawl space, when I got it out and sectioned it in the middle, that 4" was constricted the entire length down to barely an inch of opening and the crust was HARD as a rock.

Replaced it w/ new 4" plastic, problem solved, and family much happier!

 

[teejk]

It's probably wasted breath but I have never had to pull a toilet, I have always been able to use a snake to clear the clog, I certainly would go that route before pulling the toilet. Good luck.

Yeah but sounds like he treats his throne with the respect it deserves. If so I suspect his toilet is merely the cork. That's why I suggest he work backwards to ensure it isn't in the septic tank (that was suggested by somebody way up on this thread). If everything is ok from there, at a minimum I would insist on minimal water usage "upstream" to alleviate the head pressure that might be present if he removes that cork.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Actually it is two nuts and a replacement wax ring. Previous owners of my current house snaked and scratched the bottom of the toilet. I know, I see it every time I do a #1. But whatever mechanical means used, it is better than hoping it will clear.

I am well aware of how to install a toilet as I have installed several, I was just saying I have always been fortunate enough to use a snake to break loose anything that was causing a clog and to me it just seems to be the next logical step in the process because you would know after a few minutes if it was going to work or not, if not uproot the toilet.

 

[ultrarunner]

In my life never have experienced a clog or called a plumber, either growing up or as an adult.

Now as a property manager clogged drains are a way of life for some renters... as in constant.

Years ago I would do one "Free" clear and after that tenant was charged.

All manor of items were found... last week it was afro-extensions... a fist size wad of hair and nothing was going past it.

Again... the flush-able line of household products is a boon to plumbers everywhere...

May not be as much of a problem with properly installed ABS pipes.. but toys, keys and phones drop in all the time.

 

[teejk]

In my life never have experienced a clog or called a plumber, either growing up or as an adult.

Now as a property manager clogged drains are a way of life for some renters... as in constant.

Years ago I would do one "Free" clear and after that tenant was charged.

All manor of items were found... last week it was afro-extensions... a fist size wad of hair and nothing was going past it.

Again... the flush-able line of household products is a boon to plumbers everywhere...

May not be as much of a problem with properly installed ABS pipes.. but toys, keys and phones drop in all the time.

Again, it seems to be his and his alone and not abused. He also said it is on the lower level which gravity being what it is might mean that he gets to deal with any abuse upstream. Even a partial blockage there will make them appear to operate properly (a 3" or 4" waste line will hold a lot of "stuff" that can slowly bleed out). In our case we had a floor drain where we became aware of a problem. Many houses will exit through the side wall (with a clean-out). Dunno his exact plumbing situation.

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm not a plumber but my arsenal includes a 6' water closet auger, a 35' powered cable snake, a Spartan 300 Cable Machine with 110' of 5/8ths inner-core with assorted heads from retrieval to root cutters and assorted balloons to force blockages using water pressure...

That said... most toilet issues are dealt with using a pro toilet plunger of the type where the rubber head and fold out to make a perfect fit for toilet duty.

At every property I have installed a "Kelly" clean-out just outside the foundation which lets me snake up or downstream and to get an idea what is flowing...

I never secure the cap 100% so if there is a problem the sewage backs up outside in the landscape vs. having the mess in the home... and makes for an early warning tell-tale.

Opening the clean out and running the tub will quickly verify if the effluent is flowing or not...

If flowing and it backs up you know the problem is downstream and most often roots for me... if little flows than the problem is upstream.

People have sworn a blue streak that nothing could be in the line and then I come up with a zip lock of feminine products or condoms...

One thing I do not have is a camera for inspection... I have borrowed one on occasion but most to verify condition due to roof deterioration, separation or collapsed line.

PS... the chemical strong enough to dissolve and clear blockages is acid and sold at supply houses... it will also turn galvanized and cast-iron into Swiss Cheese in no time...

 

[EddieWalker]

Until he removes the toilet and inspects the trap, I'm not believing that something isn't in there. It's just so common to find stuff in there that nobody had any idea of, and too many clients have absolutely guaranteed me that nobody else but that person used that toilet. If a grand child, or anybody else's child has ever been in that house, then that's who did it!!!

 

[Kentuckyfarmer]

Until he removes the toilet and inspects the trap, I'm not believing that something isn't in there. It's just so common to find stuff in there that nobody had any idea of, and too many clients have absolutely guaranteed me that nobody else but that person used that toilet. If a grand child, or anybody else's child has ever been in that house, then that's who did it!!!

I agree with pulling the toilet. Usually dropping a Duce and flushing you know right away if a plunger will take care of the problem if the toilet was working properly to begin with. If you pull the toilet look in the bottom and see if anything is visible. Look in the pipe and see if water is standing. If there is water standing in the pipe there is no problem in the toilet. Depends on how old the house is as what kind of pipe was installed under the slab or out side to the tank. If it was clay tile outside could be tree roots, pipe collapse, and if it was cast iron inside under the slab it could also be collapsed. If there isn't any water in the pipe under the toilet flush the toilets and round water in the sinks upstairs and see if water backs up in the pipe. If it does time to start digging or get a plumber with a sewer machine and run a auger bit down the pipe. If the pipe is collapsed you will usually pull dirt back on the auger bit but you will also know just about how far it is away by measuring how much cable you run in the pipe. If water doesn't back up in the pipe and everything is flowing good and can't see anything in the bottom of the toilet take a 3/8 log chain and tie a knot in it. Chain should be about 10 feet long with knot in the middle. Fish one end of the chain in the toilet from either end. You will have to tip the toilet this way and that way to get the end to come out but then slowly work the chain with the knot thru. Stool augers work good but some times they will go right by what is hung in the trap. I have pulled straws, wallet, apples, underwear, snuff cans, styrofoam cups, toys, glass, wigs, female products etc etc. Work as a plumber in a commercial setting on a military installation for 11 years. I can't tell you how many hundreds of toilets I've pulled and run a chain thru because a stool auger or plunger couldn't take care of the problem. Only one toilet I can remember not being able to remove the obstruction and it was a fiberglass cup that was logged in tight and some one at one time knocked the bottom of the cup out with a stool auger or something. It would flush with a number one and would with a number two if it was the runs but if it was a log with paper in the mix it would choke. I busted the sid out of the toilet to see what was in there and it surprised me how it could even get in there to being with.

 

[TomSeller]

All this talk about toilets reminded me to buy a replacement Korky flapper when I was at Walmart. I noticed "my" toilet was refilling when I walked into the room a few times. I really like the Korky style, very simple to swap out. Gotta hunt down and stop those leakers. I'm a straight shooter and get right to the ******* on things like this. .

 

[beowulf]

OP, wondering if things have been fixed, if the clogged toilet has blown up and you have moved, if you have just abandoned the problem bathroom, or if you are just sharing the wife's toilet. Still have the problem? Progress?