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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to think they are taking the piss?

32 replies

Louisarrr · 31/07/2017 20:23

My nana lives in a council property and her toilet has broken.
I rang at 2pm to ask someone to come out and fix it as she is desperate for the toilet.
She is 98 and has dementia.
Still nobody has been she's getting upset now.

OP posts:
MovingUpwards · 31/07/2017 20:26

What is wrong with it? If it's not flooding she can still use it?

DD0314 · 31/07/2017 20:28

Keep calling the emergency repairs number for her landlord, that's a long time to wait for a broken toilet to be fixed.

Original poster
Louisarrr · 31/07/2017 20:28

She can't use it,it's practically over flowing,there's lots of water practically over the top.

OP posts:
PassedTheMoronTest · 31/07/2017 20:28

98 with dementia and she is living alone?

Allthebestnamesareused · 31/07/2017 20:28

Flush it Confused

Kerberos · 31/07/2017 20:29

Over the top of where?

Kerberos · 31/07/2017 20:29

Can you get in to see her?

Original poster
Louisarrr · 31/07/2017 20:29

She has nurses popping in 2 X a day
It won't flush,handle won't flush

OP posts:
ImperialBlether · 31/07/2017 20:29

She can't stay there while it's like that. Is it just blocked? If so you can go to B&Q (shut now, sorry) and get a wire thing to put down the toilet. It costs under £15 and works immediately.

Original poster
Louisarrr · 31/07/2017 20:30

I'm here with her now but she doesn't understand why she can't use the toilet.
The water is nearly over the top of the actual toilet bowl with lots of waste floating around.

OP posts:
ImperialBlether · 31/07/2017 20:30

Allthebestnamesareused Do you REALLY think that's good advice?

FreudianSlurp · 31/07/2017 20:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PassedTheMoronTest · 31/07/2017 20:31

Oh okay, isn't there any way that you could go and get her and bring her to your house?

MovingUpwards · 31/07/2017 20:32

Ok for the time being she can toilet into a pan and either pour down her bath drain or an outside drain. Can you go help her? I'm sure you can flush it from within the cistern if it is just the handle that is broke

Seenoevil · 31/07/2017 20:32

Use a jug and put some of the water down the sink?
It's not ideal and yes it is vile but needs must, that way she can use the toilet at least?

CosmicPineapple · 31/07/2017 20:34

A wire coat hanger streatched out and bent at the end like a hook should work.
Also if the handle wont flush you can lift up the top of the cistern and you will see a thick wire with a hook that should be attached to the handle. You can pull it up and it will flush the toilet.

PassedTheMoronTest · 31/07/2017 20:35

OP are you with your nan?

Migraleve · 31/07/2017 20:36

If it's just a broken handle you can lift the cistern lid off and pull the bit up manually to flush

CalorieTowers · 31/07/2017 20:37

So sorry to hear this. I'm assuming it's blocked? If so a wire coat hanger might be able to break up any blockages enough for it lower the water level enough at least enough for her to use it. You can get great plungers from Homebase and the like to help as well although as PP say you might have to wait until the morning now. Have you spoken to neighbours to see where the blockage is if isn't within her immediate property? Would they if nothing else be willing to let her use their bathroom although I appreciate it might be distressing for her and therefore not possible. There are companies like Dynorod if nothing else works which I think are pretty much 24 hour but can't be certain so probably worth checking their website.

I hope it gets resolved soon.

CalorieTowers · 31/07/2017 20:39

And yes scooping out enough water is a worst case scenario as PP say.

Spangles1963 · 31/07/2017 20:39

What happens when you push the flush handle/button? Does it feels like there's no power behind it? Mine does this sometimes,I remedy it by by pumping it up and down several times,then something goes 'clink' and it works again. If you can remove the excess water in the bowl first (sorry,gross I know) to make room for more water,try this,it may work. The weight of a full flush may clear it.

Spangles1963 · 31/07/2017 20:41

Falling that,I've ground that a wire coat hanger opened out makes a pretty good 'unblocker'.

GladAllOver · 31/07/2017 20:42

Don't call DynoRod. They will charge a fortune.

Can you be more specific about the problem? We can give better advice.

Scoobydoobydont · 31/07/2017 20:46

This might not go down very well
But what difference does the fact it is a council property make.

If my Nan couldn't flushh the loo we would go round and scoops the water out/unblock it (with a plunger,
Coat hanger, hot water, soda crystals etc) or fix the flus depending on what was wrong with it.

Calling someone at 2 is unlikely to get you a response same day anyway, and sometimes you just need to deal with stuff rather than blaming other people
Be it your own home, rented, council or a palace.

Loads of tips above so try using some of them.

Sorry

BusterGonad · 31/07/2017 20:49

I had a toilet that wouldn't flush, we chucked down a bucket of water each time we used it as it was the same as flushing. Also put your hand in loads of carrier bags and pull the blockage out.