Toilet backing up - any plumbers out there?

[felly]

My toilet is backing up - still working OK but three quarters filling the bowl when flushed before settling back down to normal level. I've tried using a plunger on it but nothing happened. It's been doing this for about 4 days and has neither improved nor got worse during this time. Does this definitely mean I have a blockage and if so should I ring a plumber or somebody who specifically clears drains? Any help appreciated.

[felly]

I have asked the family immediately above me and they are not having problems.

[felly]

netibiza - my sister told me to do that. Unfortunately I haven't got a mop but suppose I could get one if you really think it will do the trick.

[netibiza]

Honestly it has worked here many times, but you have to plunge really hard, and several times, but lovely feeling when it goes!

[The Builder]

... might be a clue there felly, the way flats are usually arranged, you and the one above probably have a shared "soil stack" in the corner somewhere. If upstairs has no problem, then "usually" that means there is no manhole blockage.
Most often it's the tight bend behind your WC pan. Neti's idea with the mop is a good one.......... especially with Spanish plumbing lol
Get plenty of syphonic action going there felly .......... ooo-er
Or get one of those rubber plungers from a hardware shop.

[felly]

Hi everybody thanks for your advice. I thought I would let you know the outcome. I rang a plumber this morning and told him what was happening. He advised me to call out somebody who could unblock drains and gave me a number to ring. A chap arrived soon after and after watching what happened when the toilet was flushed said he was sure it wasn't a blockage in my toilet. He lifted the drain cover outside and the drain was full. He then lifted two more drain covers along the row and they were all full. As the other flats involved are council owned he said he was unable to fix it but rang the appropriate department who sent their workers out in no time. They cleared all the drains so problem solved. Brilliant service from all involved.

[The Builder]

ooops .............. sorry felly ............ I got that wrong. Can't win them all :o(

[felly]

That's OK - any advice was greatly appreciated. I know a lot more about blockages now :)

[anneasquith]

great outcome felly.......................totally unblocked !!!!!!!!

[felly]

Yes I know. I'm delighted as I generally seem to have trouble getting problems sorted not being a DIYer myself and having no partner to help. It was resolved so quickly too.

[arwyn]

felly glad you got it sorted, I'v just read through to catch up as I went off line after my last comment. I'm the only council house on a row of 4 so the last problem our row had I rang the council, they found the fault was at one of the private houses but still cleared it but I never found out if they charged them or not.

[felly]

Yes it's handy for me that most of the other ground floor tenants haven't bought their council properties. If that hadn't been the case I might have ended up paying for the lot. As it is I may be charged by the council for my share of the cost even though I didn't cause the problem but I won't be complaining as I'm just glad to get it sorted so quickly.

[what..the?]

Yes ...it was me that asked the last question the other week on this:

http://www.theanswerb...n/Question977015.html

I used a bent coat hanger in the end purley becayse I had that to hand and not much else I found it difficult to use because full length single thickness the wire just bends too much to be too useful and I couldnt make it double thickness of wire and twist to make stronger because my water level was still quite high it wouldnt have been long enough.

I had a go a couple of times with a small bent hoop in the probing end, and the start of the third occassion it just flushed clear, but I think its partly due to the fact it had been blocked for about 2 weeks and by then the toliet paper had really broken down