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Original poster

Help me unblock my toilet

56 replies

TheMagneticFox · 29/10/2020 23:21

It keeps blocking, I’ve tried everything. I am in a Housing Association property and I’ve had them out twice in the last 4 weeks to fix it but it still blocks up. I only put paper and bodily fluids down it, except bleech I use for cleaning and the plumber the 2nd time he came advised twice a week to use bicarb and white vinegar twice a week which I’ve been doing.

It’s just me and my 6 year old, she does not put anything in the toilet apart from paper but probably uses a bit too much as she has a fine motor delay so struggles to rip it off at the right point, I have been supervising her as much as I can but being the only adult in the house it’s hard to supervise her every time to check shes only using a bit. She often also seems to need the toilet immediately before or after me (anxiety I think as she has separation anxiety) which I don’t think is helping.

The flush works but again DD can’t always use it due to her delay and I may not be able to get to the bathroom straight away to help her flush as I’m busy (I wfh and I also cook every meal).

I do not want to call the HA again to fix it as I’m worried they’ll charge me this time. They tried to blame me the first time it happened so I don’t want to risk it.

I’ve plunged, put bleech in, and tried to forcefully flush with hot water. Is there anything else I can try? The water level is slowly going down so I don’t think it’s a complete blockage like the last two times when I called the HA out.

I know it’s late at night but can manage tonight and tomorrow at least.

Please move if in the wrong section.

OP posts:

Original poster

TheMagneticFox · 30/10/2020 00:26

@catnoir1

Are you top floor?

How did you guess?

OP posts:

Lucked · 30/10/2020 00:28

My mums had an issues with poor flushing and the out pipe had a kink. Have they actually looked or just unclogged it?

Original poster

TheMagneticFox · 30/10/2020 00:30

@Lucked

My mums had an issues with poor flushing and the out pipe had a kink. Have they actually looked or just unclogged it?

Your guess is as good as mine, whichever is the cheaper options knowing my HA

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

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Home improvement

halloweenagain · 30/10/2020 00:32

Sorry my picture isn't showing for you.
It is called a toilet snake.
Basically a divide of a long flexible metal rod that is pushed through the system by a turning screw system.
Basic but effective.

Original poster

TheMagneticFox · 30/10/2020 00:32

@halloweenagain

Sorry my picture isn't showing for you. It is called a toilet snake. Basically a divide of a long flexible metal rod that is pushed through the system by a turning screw system. Basic but effective.

I've heard of those, I'll try and get one thanks

OP posts:

QueenPaws · 30/10/2020 00:39

Definitely try 2ply paper
Here's my story to make you feel better!
Mine blocked once and then my other toilet blocked. Was confused as there is only me and it seemed a bit odd. Anyway it ended up overflowing and yeah let's not talk about that. They came out to look at it and I was talking to them about how I bin wipes etc, they opened up the drain outside and the entire thing was clogged with a giant mass of wipes. Turns out my upstairs neighbour flushed them, and is still doing it (he refuses to stop) so I fully expect it to block again! The pipe/drain is for my flat and his so I knew where the wipes were from

Stillamum3 · 30/10/2020 01:26

You could perhaps try keeping a pile of ready torn off sheets of paper ready for your little girl to use and see if it makes any difference. Then at least you'll know whether it's the paper. Also, if you're in a hard water area, try some limescale remover in it. Good luck!

WindyRose · 30/10/2020 05:38

OP when I moved to current house both toilets and handbasins were completely blocked with long, black hair (not mine) cig butts, tampons etc, so I bought Caustic Soda from the hardware store, mixed as per instructions on the label and hey presto! I repeated again in 2-3 days and haven't had another blockage...it was the previous tenants who caused the problem. It's not expensive either, other manufactured products will contain CS but a low rate and won't do the job properly and cost an arm and a leg.

In saying the above, CS works great but 'must' be used with caution specially around your DD and/or other children...any chance you could send her somewhere for an hour while you use this? Make sure you mop up any spills with cold clean water and bin any rags.

Make absolutely certain you read the label instructions and only mix in plastic, not metal, and also wear rubber gloves and eye protection. If it contacts your skin it will burn, so rinse with cool water immediately.

Please google 'caustic soda' so you know what to expect. My dear old grandmother (and lots of other oldies) used it all the time for cleaning and also when making soap and I remember she would never let me near it when I was a child.

Westfacing · 30/10/2020 05:56

It's the S-bend that is blocked - so put on some gloves and try to dislodge if you can get your fingers over the ledge, bit grim but I've done it.

Or a straightened out wire coat hanger, folded, that you can poke around and break up the paper mass.

actiongirl1978 · 30/10/2020 06:00

My DD always blocks her toilet, I use a bit of garden cane and poke through the blockage until it give and I can flush it again.

Igmum · 30/10/2020 06:12

Yes to the straightened out wire coathanger. Not the nicest job in the world but works every time

NoGoodPunsLeft · 30/10/2020 06:27

Agree with PP above about a mid poo flush. We use Cushelle sometimes & tjats really thick so we do two flushes otherwise it tends to block.

I feel your pain with your DD, ours uses too much too no matter how many times she's told to use less. She won't let me in with her anymore either!

KindergartenKop · 30/10/2020 09:09

I find 3 ply is too thick for a small child to use! My kids always block the loo with it.

ancientgran · 30/10/2020 09:15

Bin bag over the end of a mop should work. It’s a like a ginormous plunger. Second this, one of my kids was in a student house, one of the toilets was well what can I say, it was blocked and disgusting. Did the bin bag over a mop and it cleared in seconds.

BusterGonad · 30/10/2020 09:30

Replace the toilet paper with a box of tissues so your daughter can pull a few out at once rather than rolls of loo roll.

BornOnThe4thJuly · 30/10/2020 09:37

@BusterGonad

Replace the toilet paper with a box of tissues so your daughter can pull a few out at once rather than rolls of loo roll.

Tissues aren’t designed to disintegrate like toilet roll is, so best to leave pieces of toilet roll for her like a PP suggested.

saracorona · 30/10/2020 10:00

I've had the same problem, I adjusted the flush so that more water flushed through. Modern toilets are water saving and sometimes it's not enough to push the waste away

BusterGonad · 01/11/2020 10:08

Bornonthe4th I never realised. Sorry!

Starisnotanumber · 01/11/2020 10:49

If you are using expensive thick or 3 ply toilet paper stop and try to use different paper.
Just buy the cheap stuff that is 2 ply
After dd has been do an extra flush to get everything out of toilet bowl.

timegoesbysoslowly · 01/11/2020 11:09

I had this recently but my toilet was completely blocked. It's a council house, turned into quite a saga, but short version we had to have Dalrod out to put camera down drains. Was told it's soap scum clogging on the pipes. So will happen again but so far no issues.

Was told we would need pipes cleaning or replaced. But in end council must have got the quote and decided nah too expensive. Said miscommunication and Dalrod had cleaned pipes when put camera down, this is bull.

So far no issues but we will see but my toilet was completely blocked, nothing was going down.

BornOnThe4thJuly · 01/11/2020 12:11

@BusterGonad

Bornonthe4th I never realised. Sorry!

Neither did I, but my partner is a plumber and told me off for letting the kids use tissues. You’d think it’d be all the same wouldn’t you.

Original poster

TheMagneticFox · 06/11/2020 11:44

So update, toilet is still blocked, I've tried everything on this thread. I thought i'd fixed it as it was fully draining and seemed fine but then a few hours later blocked up again. Going to have to call the housing association out again to solve it, I am so annoyed about this.

OP posts:

BornOnThe4thJuly · 06/11/2020 15:51

It sounds like there’s an issue further down the soil pipe to me, or in the sewers. I hope they get it sorted soon for you.

Confuzzlediddled · 06/11/2020 15:58

Call your water company and they will investigate if its a problem outside your own pipes (I work in this area for Yorkshire water) it is possible there is a blockage in the shared pipes causing the problem.

Original poster

TheMagneticFox · 06/11/2020 16:56

Housing Association came to look said its too bad this time and are calling the water board out. I can expect a visit anytime in the next 48 hours.

OP posts:

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