Clogged Toilet Repair FAQs

Q&A on un-blocking a toilet

Snaking the Drain Didn't fix my Clogged Toilet

Our toilet just "stopped up", have used a small snake and plunged. Nothing?

But after plunging it looks like "dirt" is coming back up into the bowl. Can't unstop the toilet. HELP! (Nov 1, 2014) Nee

Reply: try a kinetic water ram

Please first see TOILET CLOG REPAIR, UN-BLOCK

then also see BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS where I give alternatives to snakes in the drains - check out these more powerful drain cleaning approaches:

• USE a KINETIC WATER RAM to CLEAR a BLOCKED DRAIN
• USE a POWER SNAKE to CLEAR a BLOCKED DRAIN

New Toilet Backed Up just Like the One We Replaced

Hello and thank you for this awesome website. Here's my problem: I installed and new toilet (Glacier Bay with button on top of tank to flush) after removing the old toilet and snaking the drain.

The first flush was perfect so I used it to #1 and when I flushed it backed up just like the old toilet except this one seemed to have air come up when the water stopped filling(about 2" below rim)then when I washed my hands in the sink (which was also snaked after toilet drain the same day) that water seemed to be filling the toilet.

A plumber came over and snaked the vent on the roof and everything was good - until the next day (about 3 flushes later) it bubbled or gurgled and the sink drained into the toilet again.

I live in a single story home with an external sewer system that goes to the city sewer.

My other bathroom toilet and drain and shower are still working fine. Do you have any suggestions? thank you so much for your time. - Robin

Reply: there is probably a blocked main drain or sewer line not reached by the plumber's snake

Robin what you are describing sounds as if there may well be a blockage in a drain more distant from the toilet than was reached by drain cleaning efforts.

Air coming up into the bowl when the toilet is flushed could suggest a vent problem (which is why your plumber snaked the roof vent) but it can also be a symptom of drain blockage downstream.

When we can flush a toilet successfully, particularly after a period of dis-use, but when we find a backup after several flushes, that suggests that there is a blockage downstream far enough that the first 1 or few flushes are filling up a blocked or partly-blocked drain line.

When it's full the next flush backs up. The more flushes we can make before backup the more distant is the blockage.

Your comment that your other toilets and drains work would as you suggest often (but not always) mean that the blockage or partial blockage (or blocked vent) is in the system between the problem toilet and the point at which that toilet and other building drains join a common waste line.

But a distant blockage or partial blockage condition can also fool us into thinking another toilet drain is not blocked - depending in when various fixtures are flushed and depending on how much time has elapsed to allow a slow-drain to slowly empty.

Having trouble unclogging a slow-flush toilet even after using a snake and chemicals

Hi,

For a few months, my master bathroom toilet has been flushing very slowly and often requires multiple flushes to get solids down.

I have tried many of the solutions I have read about on the internet, but the problem persists. I've tried excessive plunging, a couple of drain clearing chemicals, and a 3 foot drain snake.

I've also tried hot water/dish soap in the bowl, and it seems to flush okay once or twice afterwards but then reverts to flushing poorly. The tub and shower are on either side of the toilet, and they both drain fine.

Their drains join into the main drain pipe close to the toilets drain, so I'm guessing the clog is around the toilet/drain connection (wax ring maybe?), or in the pipe between the toilet and the main drain.

We also just bought this house in October, so i don't know if this problem existed before we moved in. I seem to remember it being okay at the start, but I can't be sure.

This is really starting to frustrate me. Would the next step be to remove the toilet and check for blocks at the floor drain? I've never installed or removed a toilet before. Anything I should know?On 2018-02-20 by Ryan

Suggestions by (mod) -

If you're not hearing drain noises from nearby when the toilet is flushed then the problem may not be one with the vent system, which takes us back to the drain.

If the blockage is somewhat distant from the toilet then when no water has been run into that drain for some time, perhaps hours, you probably would get a pretty decent flush at the toilet. Subsequent flushes that fill the pipe behind the blockage would be slowed or backup.

Two things that are worth checking,

One is the volume of water filling the tank and the bowl. If those are two low you won't get a good toilet flush.

Beyond that it might be worth having a sewer line camera inspect the drain to find a blockage or point of damage.

Or you could go directly to hang a plumber to use a drain auger to clear the drain for a much longer distance.

Watch out: if your hom eis on a private septic system it's possible that the undelrying problem is a failed or failing septic system.

Ask a local septic contractor to open and inspect the septic tank for signs of blockage, over-filling, or drain-back from the septic fields.

I dropped a plastic cap into my flushometer toilet and it went down the drain

I dropped a plastic cap into my flushometer toilet and it went down the drain. Now it flushes slowly and overflows.

Please tell me what to do. Is the cap still retrievable. THANK YOU. (May 4, 2015) Alan

Reply: Larger object may need to be broken up or pushed through by snake

Alan

I've retrieved toys, underpants and the like from toilet drains when by luck the obstruction was close to the toilet.

We had to remove the water from the tank and bowl, remove the toilet, and fish in the drain.

If the obstruction is not close by it's probably lodged at the next trap or bend in the waste line.

Or it may be possible to push the obstruction onwards to the next cleanout by using a plumbing snake.

Multiple toilets are blocked - what does that mean?

My Uncle's house was built in like the 1950's and we used one of the toilets and it didn't flush properly and started to fill back up.

Then the other toilet in the house stopped working at the same time. They both did the same thing, we plunged both of them and it just filled the bowls back up. Help. (Feb 21, 2015) Liz

Reply: the building main drain or septic or sewer line is blocked or the septic system has failed

Sounds as if the main drain or septic is blocked.

Start by asking your plumber to check for a blocked drain; inspect the septic tank for blockage or for a failed or blocked drainfield by noting if the sewage levels in the septic tank are above the bottom of the tank outlet pipe.

Using Chemicals or Additives to Un-Clog a Blocked or Slow Draining Toilet FAQs

Using caustic soda on toilet clogs? Really? DO NOT follow this advice

1. I think this is the one of the best way to unblock a seriously clogged toilet. Especially when you have disposed organic waste into it and have tried, plunger, wire hanger, loads of water etc and have been unsuccessful.

2. Please take extreme care while handling caustic soda. You will require about 3 kgs of caustic soda, a plastic bucket, a plastic pipe or any long plastic object to help stir, rubber/plastic gloves, goggles for your own safety and protection.

3. It is ideal to do this at night. take about 3 to 4 liters of water in a plastic bucket, cover your nose with a piece of cloth, slowly add about 1 kg of caustic soda into the water very slowly. Stir the mixture slowly. make sure the room is well ventilated and do not inhale the fumes.

Get away from the room if it is taking longer to mix water and caustic soda. Always add caustic soda to water, do not do it the other way, do not add water to caustic soda.

The exothermic reaction between water and caustic soda will make the water boil quickly. so adding water directly to caustic soda is not advised.

4. The water will heat up during mixing and will generate fumes. do not touch the mixture with bare hands as it will be highly corrosive. if a drop of the mixture falls on your skin, wash it will lots of water.

5. once mixed, slowly pour the solution into empty toilet bowl, cover the toilet seat and get away from the toilet for about 45 minutes.

6. Again mix caustic soda and water as described above for the second time. and slowly pour it into the toilet and leave it over night.

7. in the morning pour couple of buckets of hot steaming water into the toilet from about waist length. By now the toilet will be able to flush out quickly. If not mix water and caustic soda again as described above and pour it into the empty toilet. Wait for couple of hours and pour hot water into the toilet.

8. Never pour caustic soda directly into the toilet. Caustic soda crystals can solidify inside the toilet pipes creating a bigger block. (Apr 1, 2014) Anonymous

Reply: really? Caustic soda is dangerous and not recommended for homeowner use on clogged toilet drains.

Watch out: Caustic soda is not only dangerous to work with, it can burn the skin, cause blindness if you get it in your eyes, and it can destroy septic tank and drainfield bacteria and contaminate the environment.

Furthermore, using harsh chemicals as blocked toilet de-cloggers should not be attempted before a proper diagnosis of the reason for clogging has been determined. For local clogs at a toilet simple plunging with a toilet plunger will often do the job safely and immediately.

For remote drain clogs you will probably need help from an experienced plumber who may use a power snake or other drain cleaner or may use a drain line camera / scope to determine if the line is broken, crushed, or damaged.

Waste Comes Up in Other Fixtures when Toilet is Flushed FAQs

When I flush a toilet in my top floor apartment waste shows up in a toilet on a lower floor

I live in a converted block of flats on the 2nd floor above shops which was offices before flats. Every time I flush my toilet I’m on top floor, what ever I’ve flushed then floats up in the flat below me toilet. On 2018-02-11 by Hollie

Explanation by (mod) -

Hollie

That's telling us that there is a blockage in the building drain below the flat below yours.

Toilet backs up through tub drain

hi just earlier today i had a backup happen in my one and only bath, it didnt overflow but some watse came up threw the tub, then slowly drained back out, i went to go look at the pipes downstairs and found water had escaped out from what looks like under the toliet and ran down the pipe.

This is a recently purchased home and was not lived in for the prior 2 years, i went and purchaced a toliet snake and some septic treatment products, im still unable to get a full flush so i havent used the treatment yet but the snake gave me no results. any ideas? (Oct 27, 2012) james

Reply:

James,

What you describe sounds like a partially blocked drain line. The plumbing snake may not have been long enough to get to the blockage. Sometimes a drain treatment will clear a blockage, but if not, the plumber won't be happy to have to work with acid or otherwise dangerous chemicals in the wastewater. I'd guess, if the drain works slowly you can go ahead and try it.

Soapsuds coming up in toilet

I live in a multi-unit building, the gentleman on the bottom floor was experiencing soap suds coming though his toilet.

The plumbers came and installed longer pipes, which solved his problem. Immediately after, however, my toilet (I'm on the top floor) stopped flushing and my water pressure in all faucets/showerheads increased tenfold.

Could these things be related in any way? Plumbers have come back twice and said they fixed the problem, that the toilet was just clogged, and that it's a new "green" toilet so it doesn't have as powerful of a flush.

Unfortunately I am now stuck with a toilet that has not been flushed in days and threatens to overflow every time I try.

I've tried plunging to no avail multiple times. Thank you. - Kristen 10/23/2012

Reply:

Kristen:

It sounds as if the building plumbing drain layout may be improper - but obviously I can't tell from just an email note;

The soapsuds backup describes a blocked drain or perhaps less likely a venting problem; adding longer pipes ? I'm unclear what that fixed. Longer what, and where?

And if a fixture is too far from its vent (i.e. "longer pipes?) it will often not drain properly.

You can test the "green toilet" low flush volume to see if that design is not working in your installation by trying a larger flush volume temporarily - pour water from a 5-gallon bucket into the toilet, being careful not to overflow.

Poor toilet flush problems, discussed in detail

at TOILET REPAIR GUIDE, can be due to

• blockage in the drain
• improper drain piping diameter, routing, distances from plumbing vent, slope
• inadequate flush volume, possibly due to mis-adjustment of the toilet fill level or due to improper operation of the flush control valve
• fixture design and shape (some toilets are just bad flushers)

Try looking through the additional toilet repair articles found More Reading.

Clogging waste at the top of the waste pipe under our toilets

Plumber was here two days ago,because both toilets(adjacent bathrooms) were plugged and overflowed .

Toilets were pulled and drains were clear. The problem was fecal matter and toilet paper clog at the base of the toilets.

Two days, later the same problem is occurring. Any solutions? On 2017-12-24 by Mary

Solution by (mod) -

Mary,

That's what a blockage can occur in normal use depending on the obvious problem of waste consistency.

However if blockages of the toilet base are recurrent, I suspect there is a problem with the wax ring installation or the type of wax ring.

The wax ring seals a toilet base to the toilet flange. If during installation the wax is squashed out such that it partially blocks the waist opening that can cause clogging.

Some toilet wax rings include a smaller inner diameter plastic funnel designed to assure no splash out around the toilet base. However. Smaller-diameter could also be clogging.

So if the problem occurs again I would pull the toilet and look carefully at the wax ring condition and the Seal of the toilet to the waste-pipe.

And of course check with your plumber that there is no abnormal little or small diameter piping or improper use of the wrong type of elbow in the drain,

And that a proper volume of flush water is being used for each toilet flush.