Poo that will not flush, no matter what (TMI)

[BerylStreep]

I have a problem.

DS did a poo yesterday, which just will not flush away. He is only 7, but it was absolutely enormous. Flushed a few times to no avail. It is a sinker, not a floater.

I poured soda crystals down the toilet and left it overnight - made no difference.

This morning I thought it needed cut up a bit, so I donned rubber gloves, and hacked at it with the handle of an old toothbrush. Now I have cut up poo which won't flush.

Put bleach in the toilet and left it all morning. Still no difference.

I have just poured 3 litres of boiling water down the toilet - still nothing.

Please, please, please has anyone any ideas?

And what on earth could have caused this giant man poo to emerge from my 7 yo DS?

Sorted, at last.

Copious amounts of boiling water did the trick.

Should this unfortunate incident recur - stick a bucket of water down it swiftly. Cold water will do.

Hahaha. This made me laugh (sorry).

Big bucket of water should have done the trick.

A bucket of water held up high while you flush does it.

Please don't pour boiling water down your toilet.. its a bit risky in the cracking the pan stakes.

Usually a wad of toilet paper on top of the poo sorts it in our household.

I was going to say, you need to weigh it down and down it under loo paper!

This happened at work. A manager had to tackle it with a blunt knife in the end.

modern WCs have low-water-content cisterns.

I recommend getting a flapper valve instead of a syphon. It gives a good forceful flush as it basically opens a hatch in the bottom of the cistern and the water just falls out. If you old syphon gives a poor flush, now is the time to do it. The cistern will have to come off. Replace the big rubber doughnut washer and the steel plate and screws. Use stainless coach bolts and nuts that you can order on ebay. Once you have taken a cistern off you will know why.

Adjust the overflow pipe and the float so the water level is slightly below any holes for screws or levers. Every extra inch of water depth helps the flush. Test, by holding the float down, that it will not overflow, and any excess water runs down the overflow pipe. Some plumbers cut the pipe very short which limits the amount of water the cistern can hold.

If you are in a hard water area, use Parazone Bleach Blocks which will clean away limescale from the waterways in the rim, which may be obstructing the flow.

If you have one of those annoying cisterns with buttons in the lid, consider changing it for a more sensible cistern. It will not cost much and is pretty sure to be a standard fitting.

I was going to recommend hot water as it melts the fat in the poo that holds it together and makes it hard to flush.

PJ - you have an amazing amount of truly useful knowledge.