Unblocking the toilet

[mckenzie]

DS uses much too much toilet paper and out downstairs toilet gets Blaga cord. I think it's not helped by the pipe being not angled quite enough.
I usually use the old rubber plunger, my hands, plastic bags and plenty of patience.

Is there a better way?

[LaughingLlama]

Crap (pardon the pun) modern tiny "water saving" cysterns have a lot to answer for too - although using too much loo roll can be an isdue on its own.
Whilst we are all saving water we are not actually "flushing away" anything. We are just moving it very slightly out of sight and just around the corner of the U Bend. We buy value loo roll, use it sparingly etc etc but in our new loo find 2 or 3 flushes are needed to actually properly flush it away and not bobbing just around the corner. We have had 2 plumbers out and a relative (also a plumber) come to check out our new loos crap flushing ability - all have said the same. The only issue is small eater saving cysyerns. Infact the 2nd plumber we had out said in the past 10 years the smount of "poor flushing issues" he gets called out to have become increasingly common. This isnt blockages - just people frustrated at not flushing away thier shit and sometimes having a reunion with it next time they lift the loo seat. He said 20yrs ago a weak flush issue was very very rare call out - its a modern day problem.
Of course i know i will be jumped upon for saying this but bloody hell i do miss my huge lever handled Armitage Shanks cystern - sadly i cant get it back but i would if i could.
Thankfully our downstairs loo has a slightly larger water saving cystern so we do have fewer issues with that one than the brand new one. But ee thought that was crap until we got the new loo upstairs.

[mckenzie]

I’m applying John

[johnd2]

@mckenzie I hear dynorod have an opening for a full time drain technician! 😁

[johnd2]

@battleax the old one! Mainly because the new one's not getting left outside in case it's not there later ;)

[mckenzie]

Sad git that I am, I did quite enjoy the whole experience.
It's quite satisfying when it eventually clears.

[Battleax]

The new one John!? Or the old one?

[johnd2]

Glad it's sorted!
And I didn't mean to start a controversy about boiling water but it just sounds unlikely like one of those stories that just gets passed on.
I did just Google and despite many hits, they're all repeating the warning but I wouldn't find anyone who actually had that experience.
The good news is we're getting a new toilet soon, so I'm going to leave it outside in the cold for a few days and then Chuck a full kettle in to see what happens once and for all!

[Flamingale]

Glad you got it sorted mckenzie. Only just seen this thread. I am a pro at unblocking the toilet on a regular basis. Like a lot of others my adult son has aspergers. No matter how many times I tell him not to he often uses half a toilet roll in one sitting!

So now only buy cheap thin rolls like Morrisons or Sainsbury's Saver own brand.
When itoilet still gets blocked then we use clothes hangers, eg. M&S or any other clothing chain ones, snap off metal hook then use curved end to push the "stuff" round the u bend. It's not as gross as getting your hand in there and you don't have to wait around like some of the other tips.

[Battleax]

You've had a fun 24 hours then

What do they make the quilted stuff from, I wonder.

[mckenzie]

So it was back to the old way of the plunger and my hand and the problem is now solved.
So thank you for all the other ideas but they were all a waste of time (and Vanish, dishwasher table, washing up liquid, buckets of water

I'm off to buy 2 ply toilet paper today and the whole family has had a lecture on toilet paper usage.

[SandLand]

I'd be impressed if you can crack a toilet by adding boiling water! My thin tea cups can handle it and a toilet is much thicker than that and full of cold water to start with

Not sure about the effect of the water already present, but the thinner an item, the less likely to crack when you add boiling water. As you add hot water, the material nearest the water heats up and expands. If the outside heats up a bit too, it expands, and everything adjusts.
If the inside heats up and tries to expand, but the outside is still cold, there is nowhere for the expanding material to go, so it cracks.

[woodstack]

I use a wire coat hanger (bent so it is long and thin). Bit of jabbing and poking and the blockage goes. Then throw hanger away.

[Oddbutnotodd]

I have this problem with a teenager with Aspergers. Definitely use Waitrose essential loo roll. I use a large plunger which works quite quickly and easily. Time helps paper mass to break up. I think a small amount of biological washing powder might help rather than washing up liquid. No to boiling water.

[engineersthumb]

I usually find that the blockage is near the pan. If this is the case a stick (aka roofing batten, garden cane or other) usually does the trick.... and if you happen to to too a tractive to the opposite sex at least you have a sh1tey stick to fend them off with!

[gamerchick]

Then you need to suck it all back out as above or get your hand down there under the U bend.

Definitely go to 2ply. Our pipes can’t handle above that.

[julesnbump]

I wrap a black bin liner around the end of a mop and stick it down the toilet, push it back and forth quite hard a few times always works for me

[mckenzie]

Gamerchick, tried that twice now and it's still blocked

[Heratnumber7]

I'd be impressed if you can crack a toilet by adding boiling water! My thin tea cups can handle it and a toilet is much thicker than that and full of cold water to start with

It’s because cups are thin that they don’t crack! Something to do with heat transference.**

[gamerchick]

Fill a bucket up with water. Flush the chain and forcefully dump the water into the toilet. The toilet will suck and you will push with the water. If it just fills to the top, let it drain slowly and repeat.

You really don’t need anything else.

[mckenzie]

That's great bear
I did the dishwasher tablet in the end with two kettles of water but it hasn't worked.
Shall I now try vanish or the washing up liquid?

[thenewaveragebear1983]

We told ds when he was 4 that he could only use 4 pieces of loo roll at a time. Because you're 4 (obvs). First question on the morning of his fifth birthday- can I use 5 pieces now?!

[mando12345]

Waitrose essential toilet roll is suitably soft but does disintegrate easily, I would recommend to avoid blockages.

[mckenzie]

Thank you all SO much.
Cheaper loo roll is going on the shopping list (DH and I can know where the good stuff is kept)
I don't think he will master the midway flush technique but I will suggest it.
DS has been told countless times not to use too much paper but he has Aspergers and dyspraxia and I think he is just not understanding the consequences.
The dishwasher tablet has gone into the bowl now and I'm just waiting for the kettle to cool slightly.
I'll try that one first as don't have much washing up liquid left.
Thank you all again
I really appreciate it.

[SilverSpot]

Defo train him for a curtesy flush half way through / at the end before wiping.

[gamerchick]

And in winter when the toilet and water are really cold? Would you freeze your tea cup then add boiling water?