The Dogmother Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Our upstairs loo is partially blocked; either Rosie used half a roll of loo paper, or did an elephant poo. It still flushed, but takes ages for the water level to go down. I spent my lunchtime (in my smart work clothes) using the plunger on it and it flows a bit better, but it's still blocked - any ideas? The blockage appears to be either in the U bend or just the other side of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Last time that happened here I stuck a wire coathanger down it and poked the mass a bit. It seems to relieve the pressure then it flushed away after a few tries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 Ah haaa, I'll have a go with one of those then. Phil has some flexi-rods that he's going to bring over to my place this evening. Thanks Bron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 Thank you Lydia - great idea... guess what I am going to be doing this evening? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Flexi rods or a plumber's snake are your best bets I think, although if you can get a coat hanger in there, all the better! Our snake was a brilliant investment, endlessly useful when your lodgers think that stuffing food down the sink is a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Try and empty as much of the water out of the pan as possible then throw down some bicarb followed by some vinegar. The fizzing usually pushes things along a bit. This trick works well for blocked drains too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 Righty ho! I'll get my industrial strength rubber gloves on tonight and get going! I can usually fix most things, but this one is defeating me. I shall give it a good go with the plunger again tonight and empty 2 buckets of water into the pan as I flush it. If that doesn't work, then I'll try the coat hanger/flexi-rod/bicarb thing and see if that shifts it. The blockage is only partial and thankfully we have a downstairs loo, but I'd like to get it fixed. Have spoken to Madam about the amount of loo paper being used. It's unusual to find something that can't be fixed by either my axe, claw hammer or a screwdriver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Righty ho! I'll get my industrial strength rubber gloves on tonight and get going! I can usually fix most things, but this one is defeating me. I shall give it a good go with the plunger again tonight and empty 2 buckets of water into the pan as I flush it. If that doesn't work, then I'll try the coat hanger/flexi-rod/bicarb thing and see if that shifts it. The blockage is only partial and thankfully we have a downstairs loo, but I'd like to get it fixed. Have spoken to Madam about the amount of loo paper being used. It's unusual to find something that can't be fixed by either my axe, claw hammer or a screwdriver You have forgotten the chainsaw!I'll ask my plumber son when he comes in from work if there are any tricks of the trade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 So I have! Thanks Egluntine - I'll await his advice too. Phil came round at lunchtime and stood watching me plunging the loo Normally I am happy to get on with things myself, but I was in work finery and he was in his DIY clothes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Our loo has an odd bend and can get blocked rather easily Last time we tried a plunger to no avail - went to our local ironmongery/hardware shop and he recommended using a large string mophead. Plug the gap with the mophead and plunge - it creates a great suction and works a treat Soak said mophead in bleach ( or similar) leave in outhouse for next time Hope this helps, Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 Ahhh, now I have a Vileda mophead type mop... great thinking Bat Girl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Good luck. Make sure the loo is fairly empty before you try the bicarb and vinegar trick or you could be ankle deep in gunk. The coat hanger trick has worked for us in the past and at least you have another loo. I hope you get it sorted out quickly. Over Xmas our neighbour blocked the drain outside by tipping the lard from his deep fat fryer down the loo (Lord knows why? ) The fat made it out of his property and into the shared drain before setting. He went away for Xmas but we didn't so had to call out a plumber and then the local water board on Boxing Day and it took hours to get the problem cleared. When we mentioned it to the neighbour he shrugged and said, oops that might have been the fat from my fryer and grinned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 If it's just a larger quantity of what should go down the loo it should clear with a few buckets of water My downstairs loo sometimes gets a bit slow at emptying after a flush and I chuck buckets of water down it (poured carefully from a height) and several buckets and flushes later it is fine. Bit of a waste of water, but my drains are fairly dry as there is only me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 I'm going to fill a couple of buckets from my overflowing water butts and lug them upstairs - good exercise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Our snake was a brilliant investment, endlessly useful when your lodgers think that stuffing food down the sink is a good idea. It amazes me what people think is acceptable to throw down a sink or toilet. I have had to have words with my sis-in-law in the past about flushing cotton buds. Some very good ideas there though, I shall have to refer back to this thread if my loo ever gets blocked again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 In an emergency and without access to a mop/snake etc. you can empty as much as you can and then wrap quite a few plastic carriers (Te$co ones preferably ) around the brush end of the loo brush and use that as a plunger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 Thanks Chaps, it seems to be sorted now, although I will be keeping my eye on it for a while. The buckets of water version did the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 [It amazes me what people think is acceptable to throw down a sink or toilet. I have had to have words with my sis-in-law in the past about flushing cotton buds. Cotton buds!!!! My aunt used to flush food waste away down the loo A neighbour, many years ago, always had a dustbin with a foot of water in the bottom from when she had peeled vegetables. She used to throw the lot in the bin, water and all, never put anything down the sink There are some strange people around. Clare, glad your loo is back to normal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 My resident plumber said the advice given was all good....but don't go shoving things round the U bend if you have a macerator fitted. Also if it recurs, check whether your bath/washbasin are emptying more slowly than usual. If they are, the blockage could be in the down pipe. In which case, you need a plumber! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 ..... and I hope you've got Rosie on Syrup of figs and are limiting toilet paper to two squares per visit? I won't say anything to her on Saturday - must remember....lips sealed.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 ..... and I hope you've got Rosie on Syrup of figs and are limiting toilet paper to two squares per visit? **Mental Note....when visiting Lesley....take own bog roll.** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 4, 2008 Author Share Posted April 4, 2008 we won't be there on Saturday Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...