I'm having a real issue with my only toilet. It fills almost to the brim but doesn't actually flush. Instead, it drains slowly, taking about 1-2 minutes to empty completely, and then the water level is much lower than it normally is. From what I've read, it seems like it might be a partial clog. I've tried several things already: I've used a toilet plunger (specifically for toilets, not sinks), but pressure seems to redirect through the overflow tube. I also tried adding dish soap and hot water multiple times with some breaks in between. I even bought a 6-foot snake and made several attempts with that, but haven't managed to pull anything out yet. I'm feeling pretty stuck since this is the only toilet in the house. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
If you're using the snake, make sure it’s really going all the way through the toilet trap. Sometimes they get stuck and can’t push through. If you’re still not getting any results, you might need to pull the toilet altogether. I recently had to do that because a credit card was stuck! It’s not too challenging if you have a partner to help.
It sounds like you could have a clog further down the line. You might want to check your soil stack or sewer pipes from outside the house. Sometimes there are access points to manually unblock any clogs you can't reach from the toilet. It might be a blockage that's further down than you think!
I didn’t think about that. I know there’s a clean out pipe in the front yard. Do you think using the snake on that would help?
Have you checked the tank components? Sometimes the chain attachments can come loose or get stuck. Make sure everything is moving properly when you flush while keeping the tank lid off. It could solve the problem if something is off there!
Yeah, I checked and everything seems fine. But thanks for the suggestion!
It really does sound like there’s a blockage down the line. A lot of people tend to forget about checking the plumbing all the way to the main sewer line. If all else fails, it might be worth calling a plumber for a professional inspection.
Trying to avoid that if I can figure this out myself, but I'm keeping it in mind!
Not sure if I want to go that far yet, but I appreciate the heads up!