Need someone that is in the know about...

[EverSOLOlolololoLonely]

...slight loo blockages.

My loo seems to have a raised water line atm. Only about an inch and a half, but when I flush, it does come up higher(though not as high as it could). Is there anything I can put down the loo to clear whatever it is that is causing this? We are not loads of paper users in this house, so I'm not sure what it could be that's causing the problem, but I can't afford a plumber to find out, so need a readily available product to pour down it. Tried throwing a bucket of water down it quickly last night, but no luck there.
Any ideas really welcome please.

We had this, someone who had stayed over flushed sanitary towels down the loo

We tried all sorts of concoctions, the only thing that worked in the end was a good old fashioned plunger. Messy and unpleasant but brings the blockage back up so you can dispose of it elsewhere, rather than pushing it further down the pipes.

We even tried caustic soda (I think that's what it was) and the Mr Muscle super duper drain unblocker thing, but to no avail.

Thanks for answering MI and Oh dear! The thing is, I don't flush sanitary towels and there really is nothing else that could be doing the blockage thing. I'm at a loss as to what it could be.
Ds is really good with toilet paper as am I and Dd is still in nappies. The odd baby wipe has dropped in by mistake, but it's not something I make a habit of and they aren't the super thick ones anyway...

Might try the Mr Muscle

Plunger was the last resort for us, believe me!

If the water level is coming up that is not good.

I would call someone out with a plunger.

Plunger is the answer.

But do it yourselves! Don't call anyone out! (unless you've got money to burn)

Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear!

No, once the flush is finishing, the level is much more than it should be then soon drops down but it stops an inch and a half higher than usual(thank goodness for limescale rings).
Never used a plunger before

Just chuckling over the fact that three ladies have answered and all your names begin with M.

G'wan, have a plunge, its dead satisfying..like having your ears syringed.

I'm betting on a stray toy (you have toddlers?)

Yes, I have a toddler, but she is never in the bathroom alone, so it's definitely not a toy.

Not done anything yet and hoping for a natural remedy(hope the problem disappears down the toilet LOL!).

Thanks for your help.

You don't use rim blocks do you? We have had a few blockages (mostly outside, damn those trees!) and every time I am asked that.

As for me saying call someone in Vs DIY, having had an internal soil pipe burst (mad Au Pair put alsorts down her loo) and watched/smelt the waste pipe to my Klargester (bio sewage filtration system) be unblocked a few times (tree roots as above) but also have been without loos or unable to run water for up to 3 days - I am more than happy to part with £100 to have my lav sorted!

I'm sorry but it could be an indication of a blockage further down the sewage system and plunging may not make any difference.

Our house has dodgy drainage as do the other 7 house in our close and our toilet backing up usually means that there is something further down the line that is the problem. It happens quite regulary round here and the only solution is Dynorod or the equivilent.

Try plunging first but it might be something outside the house that is causing the problem.

I wouldn't use Dynorod or any of the big franchises who can charge £75 +vat per 30 mins plus £50 +VAT per 30 mins for the jetting machine

our blockage in the recent snow cost over £250 as no one but the big boys would come out and after 3 days with no facilities I would have paid more tbh!

Are having our drains lined this year at a vast sum.

OUCH!

I thought I might get a short hose pipe and shove it through the soil pipe via the toilet and give it a blast through...will that cause more probs do you think?

I do have trees, but I'd be surprised if they were causing the trouble.

BTW, I do use a rim block but it's a caged one and has been run out for a while now. Unlikely to be causing a problem...

The problem is that a mains tap is not enough pressure, wouldn't creep along in the same way etc so you would just end up with more liquid in your pipe.

It can start with just a wet wipe/loo paper gets caught on a joint/bend/whatever. This then 'catches' solid matter (tissue and organic) and lets the water through until the build up is so great that the water struggles to get through the blockage, hense the rise in the pan when you flush (clean water inlet faster than waste water can get away) so by the time you see this water level change it'll been there a fair while.

Do you know where your manhole cover is located that is for waste sewage water? If you can, lift it and get someone to flush the loo (you can put some food dye down if you are really keen - obsessed, moi? )to work out if it is the internal soil stack/pile (so inside your house) or between your house and the next house/sewerage system.

If it is outside you will need to get it rodded or jetted (my normal guy jets for £97.50 inc vat per blockage job, not per 30 mins) You can buy your own rods, I'll bet you can even hire them at a hire shop.

Check you do not have cover on an insurance policy, credit card or bank account for emergencies. I forgot that I have emergency cover of this variety on a bank accout, so even more pissed off that I parted with so much for my unblocking!

I'd sort it before it gets worse...I had a local guy unblock our drains for £60 which isn't too bad, don't go with dynorod or equivalent you'll need a second mortgage!

a plunger sorted out our blockage, i agree, was v satisfying just like mrsmaidamess said!

I think you will probably need to get a man out. We often have blocked loos. Have 2 ASD DSs who use copious amounts of loo roll . But the real problem are baby wipes or those Kandoo wipes which are supoosed to be flushable. Our loo blocks at the end of the drive as the house was constructed in the late 20's and they put "rat trap" things in which are basically a little u-bend thing where everything gets caught, especially wipes. The last chap unblocking took delight in showing us how it blocks.

We now have insurance which covers us for two blockages a year, which does save us in the long run.

Good luck.

I'd vote with lifting manhole cover and having a look etc. Same thing happened to us and when we checked outside - it was FULL! Luckily DH has strong stomach and some long poles in the garage- DIY rodded and soon shifted the blockage.

At least checking it yourself - you can work out where the problem is - it may be further down the line and hence not your "problem" at all.

Is it an upstairs or downstairs toilet?

Also we have always had problems with tissues especially the mansize balsam ones etc - they don;t disintegrate and get caught up etc....

best of luck!

Ooooh! thanks everyone! Perhaps I'll take a look under the manhole cover.
It's an upstairs toilet ~ I only have the one too...only ocassionally use the moist wipes and have only a couple of times lost a baby wipe down there.
jazzandh, I think the box for those nasal tissues states not to flush. I argued this point with my mum for ages until she read it for herself.
I will have to purchase a plunger, but might empty the loo of water, stop it from re filling and try the hose through the soil pipe...it might just work...