| Author |
Message |
    
jeffl
Citizen
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 311
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 9:39 pm: |     |
I have a toilet that clogs frequently. It's easily unclogged with one plunge from a plunger but will then clog again within a day or two. What do I do next? Call a plumber? Rent a snake? |
millie amoresano
Citizen
Username: Millieamoresano
Post Number: 37
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 12:03 am: | |
Try using a snake to unclog the toilet.The blockage may be stuck further down in the toilet. |
jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3428
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 8:49 am: | |
I vote with the take the next smaller step approach as well.
The word snake is a rather generic term.
If you do not have a snake, purchase a toliet auger. Much better for this job.
Then if that does not solve the problem, then you need to go further.
Now here is the trick. The "Snake" you will buy is narrow, in like 1-2 inches wide but long. (Great for working sink or bath tub drains. If you run that into the sewer line, the sewer lines are 4-5 inches.
If you are lucky you may knock a clog loose, but some luck will be invloved.
If you rent, (and know how to use) a larger unit, rent one that has blades that open when the snake is run in reverse.
Steps:
You drive the snake into the piping as far as you wish, boring your way down a drain with the blades narrow.
Then you run water so that 'stuff' will flush away from the blades as you work.
Then you reverse the unit. The blades flip open to scrape the inside walls of your pipe as you slowly extract the snake. The water is flushing the removed 'stuff' down stream.
Good luck, and sometimes, the final step is to hire a 'Roto-Router' type of guy.
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic. |
jeffl
Citizen
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 313
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 9:18 am: | |
Thanks George. I think I have a toilet auger. It's about 5 to 6 feet long and very narrow. The thing that may be hard to judge is whether it's working or not because the toilet drains fine after plunging it. It's just that it re-clogs easily.
I'll take your advice. Thanks for taking the time to lead me through this.
Jeff |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 4497
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 9:19 am: | |
CAUTION
Be very, very careful using a snake or toilet auger in old houses. Through the 1920s the waste bend beneath the toilet was made with lead which is solf and easily punctured.
Both of the homes we have owned here, while the bathrooms had been updated to one degree or another, still had the lead bends.
If your toilet is ten to fifteen years old it is probably one of the first generation low water usage models and they are notorious for clogs and not flushing properly. |
jmfromsouthorange
Citizen
Username: Jmfromsorange
Post Number: 34
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 2:48 pm: | |
we recently redid one of the bathrooms and replace the toilet in another. both tend to clog more then usual. we've had the plumber here several times. he tells us toilets are made more water effiecent now; less water is used per flush. we were told to use less toilet paper. |
jeffl
Citizen
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 321
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 3:40 pm: | |
I wondered whether it was related to the restricted water in our new toilet. What happens if I "fool" the toilet into filling with more water? Will that help? |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 450
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 1, 2004 - 8:11 am: | |
...or you could take more frequent, but smaller dumps!  |
jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3431
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 1, 2004 - 9:54 am: | |
I have another thought that helps with the 'less water per flush units' and for units on long runs from the mains.
Every couple of days flush the toliet, the go back and flush it again three or four times in a row (after it fills with water).
This puts a slug of water into the pipes and will help to flush stuff along. Every couple of days will help to keep the stuff moving.
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic. |
compsy
Citizen
Username: Compsy
Post Number: 105
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, February 1, 2004 - 11:58 am: | |
You might try keeping a plastic waste basket near the toilet, and filling it water which you can then dump into the toilet to trigger its flushing mechanism. If you do this a few times in succession you are putting more water down the pipes more quickly than usual, and sometimes you can move down whatever's blocking the toilet without plunging it.
This doesn't replace the toilet auger method, but can work as a preventive or occasionally corrective measure.
The other thing, and I know this is gross, is to make sure that whatever goes down isn't too large. Small pieces of whatever don't clog a toilet as much as large pieces do. |
jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3437
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 1, 2004 - 12:57 pm: | |
The water bucket suggestion triggered another trick that I learned.
Sometimes the plunger and snake is just the wrong approach.
Use a bucket of water and slowly add water to the bowl from the bucket and fill to the brim. Let the weight of the water slug set on the blockage. Add water as it seeps out as the water will absorb into the stuff causing the blockage and can dissolve it, and the weight of the water slug will push it along.
When it clears, add 2 buckets to keep it moving.
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic. |
Richard O'Connor
Citizen
Username: Roconn
Post Number: 142
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 8:38 am: | |
BE VERY CAREFUL with the augers....
A friend had had some problems....roto-rooter 'fixed' problem re-curred a few yrs later ... plunging blew a HOLE in the lead bend where the auger had done some damage ...
Now he has a brand new ceiling in his kitchen 
The big problem is low flow toilets...particularly in some of the homes around here there are long horizontal runs of pipe to push the waste through and 1.6gallons just doesn't do it.
We're saving water (IMHO) in the wrong place here. Stop watering the lawn
Anyway.... I have a mid size flush in my primary bath ... probably around 3gal and it works for the most part ok .... low flush in the powder room ... clogs a bit more but it's very close to the waste stack so its not a big issue .... usually water weight will clear it .... then in the basement I have one of those vintage toilets that has something around a 5 gallon flush ... it will push just about anything down the line ....
Less paper is one of the solutions to the problem ... and honestly flushing half way through the process of your morning routine can help also ... one flush waste solids, one flush paper solids ...
We're not saving water with water saving toilets ..... if you have to flush twice every time you're back at 3+ gallons.
Smart legislation huh?
Richard (ROC)
--Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.--
--AIM: ROConn |
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