Blocked loo !!!!! (yuck !)

[Gilli]

This is probably a really stupid question, but does anyone have any tips on how I can unblock my upstairs loo. Have already prodded about with a wire hanger to see if I could break up any "blockages" to no avail.

Obviously, I want to avoid calling a plumber if possible.

I'd normally look in my DIY manual, but having recently moved it is boxed up somewhere !

[tali122]

try using caustic soda or purchase some draining rods- far cheaper than a plumber

[sddsddean]

If it is definately the loo thats blocked ( nothing else is backing up etc) the best way, though not for the squeamish, is to get you arm down the loo! Its not nice I know, but you can put on a rubber glove or even use a carrier bag to cover you arm (as long as there are no holes in it!), although best is with a bare arm. Although it sounds nasty, you know what went down the loo and it won't do you any harm as long as you wash afterwards!

[Clanad]

Ummm... A plunger usually works quite well.  Caustic soda's can be dangerous if used incorrectly.  Perhaps the toilets in the U.K. are designed differently than here in the U.S., but I don't think anyone could get their arm down one here, especailly considering the design of the water trap.  At any rate, a plunger only costs about $4 here...

[Gilli]

Thanks everyone .... it seems to have righted itself with lots of flushing.

sddsddean - I'd already tried that, just didn't want to mention it. That was the "yuck" bit in the title !

[smudge]

Just a tip for next time - rather than using caustic soda - you could always try a bag of Soda Crystals - they are cheap & work really well on blocked sinks, etc. (Although you don't do the same things in those!).

Glad your loo is now flowing freely!

[kaktus]

Another tip even if the problem is solved...

 

Just keep filling water in it until the rim and leave it, at some point the pressure gets high enough and the blockage is cleared.

[Kos]

I've also used a length of hosepipe, pushing it down as far as I could, prodding back and forth a number of times and then pulling it back about an inch and blowing for all I was worth (blow- don't suck!!)

[bradleyy]

Why is caustic soda dangerous?

[Clanad]

Caustic soda (sodium hydroxide- NaOH) is basically lye.  It reacts violently with acid and is corrosive in moist air to metals like zinc, aluminium, tin and lead forming a combustible/explosive gas. When sodium hydroxide reacts with water and fluids, it can become hot enough to cause fires. If allowed to collect in the water traps of drains it can become an insoluble block that almost nothing will dislodge... It is extremely dangerous if spilled on skin or splashed in eyes...

[netibiza]

Plunge a mop down it rapidly several times - it should glug away in the end then tip several buckets of hot or cold water down to clear completely.

[netibiza]

Plunge a mop down it rapidly several times - it should glug away in the end then tip several buckets of hot or cold water down to clear completely.

[flaming]

I was lucky using a wire hanger a lot.  I just moved into my second/third  floor flat and quickly learnt that I could not take the same liberties as I could at the old house, with either the  kitchen sink (2nd floor) or bathroom(3rd floor).  I have to be careful about the tissues.  A bit is OK , but better to leave another lot for another flush.  Also, I can't expect it to deal with paper towelling.  Fortunately I am past the age when there would be anything else being flushed.  On the subject of those , I had always been taught not to flush them away to avoid the blockage problems.   When I travelled in the Middle East a lot, there are little baskets beside loos,  for used paper, as nothing is flushed away there.  They just don't have the sanitation/amount of water to deal with everyone flushing loo paper away.

I am a lot more careful now I have a water meter in this flat.  I used to be a water waster, esp. on the garden.I tried the  thing which flushes the loo with less water, but it was not successful because it didn't flush with enough force to take the paper away, which is how I got into blockage trouble in the first place.

[Gewl]

Firsly - don't panic! This WILL work. I spent hours trying to unblock mine and then tried this and it worked first time. Yayy! My genius friend Michael told me to inflate a plastic food bag (or a carrier bag without holes) - one that you can blow into and tie up. Make the 'balloon' bit of the blown-up bag the right size so it fits in the bit of the toilet where the waste goes down (you may have to do a bit of trial and error here - I did). Then make sure there's the minimum amount of water in the loo itself - bail if you have to! Yes it's gross but by this time I was past caring and it's better than paying the call-out charge for a plumber. Put the inflated bag into the loo and push it, and keep pushing it, into the hole and as far round the 'bend' as you can get it, holding on to the bag. It creates a seal and a sort of vacuum so that the 'blockage' and the water can only move one way....the right way. Suddenly you'll hear the air through the pipe and voila - sorted - and for nothing. Thank you Michael. Genius or what?! G

[Gewl]

OK - firstly don't panic - this WILL work! I had spent hours trying to unblock mine and then my friend Michael suggested I try this and it worked first time. Yayy! So, get yourself a plastic food bag (or a carrier bag without holes-or seal the holes up with sellotape) - one that you can inflate and tie up. Blow into the bag and inflate it to about the size of the hole in the loo where the waste goes down. Trial and error may be required here - it was for me. Then make sure there is the minimum of water in the loo - bail if you have to - yes it's gross but I was past caring at this stage and it's so much better than having to part with that plumber's call-out charge! Put the inflated bag into the loo and push it, and keep pushing it, into the bit where the waste goes. It creates a seal and a kind of vacuum - and that's the idea - and then eventually - voila! You will hear the air in the pipes, and the blockage and the water will disappear. Sorted - and for free! Michael you're a genius. Thank you. G