Partially blocked toilet? What to do next.....

[amigababy]

Our toilet may be slightly blocked, as instead of draining and re-filling at equal rates, the incoming water seems to be coming in faster than the outgoing water leaves, in the last week or two, so the level rises about 5" (a bit alarmingly), and then goes back to normal fairly quickly. I'm sure it didn't used to do this before.

I bought a plunger today but it didn't seem very effective, there was no change. dd is teenage and knows to use the bin for sanitary towels, but maybe one of her friends didn't - I don't know.

We live on a hillside so our drainage goes vertically down then under the house a long way, to the road at the front (I think - we've never had to consider it before) The other toilet is working fine.

Does anyone have any good ideas what to try next? It still works fine but I'm worried it may get worse, rather than better and then we'd have a real problem to deal with, trying to sort it out before that stage. And calling in a massively expensive drain-clearing company.

thank you

Keep pouring buckets of hot water down it. Even better buckets of hot water with soda crystals in it.

Can you identify the outside drain? Both times this has happened to us (different houses) it has been a problem in the outside drain and poor dh has donned the rubber gloves and gone digging [sick]

I have no advice I'm afraid but I had this exact same situation in a previous house and still have nightmares about it now, where I'm just watching the water rise higher and higher and waiting for that moment that it overflows and I end up paddling in sewage.

Coat hanger. Stretch it out, stick it down the dunny and wiggle it around.

(Metal coat hanger)

Did you use a big plunger -about side plate size- or a little plunger -only 4 to 5 inches across? Smaller plunger no use. You need a bigger plunger for a loo.

Also be careful not to scratch the loo with a coat hanger.

Next step, find the outside manhole cover and find out if the blockage is further down the line. Ours is always on a bendy bit of the outside drain when 4yo has used too much loo roll in the downstairs loo. Don rubber gloves, wellies and clothes to put in the wash. Do it before your daily shower. Even if no splashback you will want a shower. Drainrods (long bendy poles) are the best thing so you do not need to get down there. If nothing else though, having a look will hopefully help you find where the blockage is.

Good luck.

Have you tried as its filling up swoosbing up and down vigorously with a toilet brush? It seems to do the same as a plunger. Keep doing it even when it seems to be doing nothing. Its never failed me yet.

thanks for all the advice. ha ha our shower packed up yesterday too! it's been one of those weeks. the plumber is coming to look at the shower tomorrow, I might ask him to look at the toilet too if I've had no success. We know him and he won't rip us off if it's, an easy mend.