Plumbing input please.

[roylt]

Never seen anything like this before. I'll try to explain the best I can.
Son pooped and clogged it. He didn't realize it clogged. Flushed quick and back to his game.
Later my daughter came home from work and proceeded to poop and ended up adding to it.
She tried to unclog it but it didn't seem to flush right.
I went in and it seems like the actual toilet isn't clogged but the flush doesn't act normal. The water fills some and drains slow. Makes a gurgling sound as the water empties completely out the bowl. Then fills back to normal height ready for the next customer.

1920's home with a lead 90° main drain elbow below the toilet. Goes straight down about a foot then the 90°. This attaches to cast pipe that goes about 4 foot over to the main vent stack. Then the main goes down at a 45° angle to a horizontal run that goes out the side of the house about 3 foot up off the floor.

Any thoughts? Been real cold (-17) this week if that could matter. I have a cap on the vent above the roof to keep stuff out. I mean like a normal pipe cap not like I covered it and closed it off. Roofer installed in 2016. My point is the vent should be working correctly but I need to look outside tomorrow.

Life sure does pile up at times. Still unemployed...

Thanks in advance,

 

[Cholo]

The fastest way to clean a clogged toilet is how we had to flush the toilet in our deer cabin in the 90's.

Take a 5 gallon bucket and fill it with warm, NOT HOT!, water. Start dumping it in and quickly raise the bucket as high as you can get it. It will shotgun a pretty stopped up toilet as long as it's only human waste.

I've never had it fail, though I use a 2 gal. bucket and have had to do it twice over the years.

Sounds like you need to "rebuild" the tank guts, a really simple job. Unjamming the clog is the main concern.

 

[gunzo]

Beyond the normal or fancy plunger, there is a tool called a closet auger.

I'll let you look it up, but shouldn't be an expensive tool to own & a lot cheaper than a full blown drains snake or a plumber.

Feed kids more fiber, less pizza.

 

[rugnelli]

Seems like it is still plugged... likely down a bit. Should be able to unclog if you work at it.

 

[hittman]

Nobody ever heard of a courtesy flush? LOL

 

[PRichardson87]

I'd be having those kids roll up their sleeves

 

[jimbo1096]

The closet auger would be my next step. Also, I thought if it's -17 there and your house is a pier & beam. Is your plumbing exposed under the house? If so, there's a possibility the elbow under the toilet may be frozen.

 

[Yaworski]

I've always used hot tap water and a big bucket.

 

[Jeepnik]

Yep, toilet auger followed by lots of hot water. If it is "icing" insulate the line above ground after applying heat tape.

I don't know what type of water heater you have but tank type have a drain you can connect a hose to depending on your configuration.

 

[blume357]

sounds like a partial clog to me somewhere further down the line than the actual trap in the toilet. I'll get that on mine that dumps into a waste lift directly under the toilet... slow drain and then some gurgling at the end..... hate to say it but if the home remedies listed above don't cure it then calling a plumber is probably the best bet.

 

[GasGuzzler]

The toilet has to be sealed to the head or it can't create the vacuum needed to siphon properly. Make sure the lugs are snug to the floor then try the bucket trick. When I had four kids living here I taught them how to go outside and get a stick to break up their own clogs because I got tired of doing it.

 

[Huntfish918]

As a licensed plumbing contractor I suggest rapidly dumping 2-4 gallons of water directly into the bowl to create the siphon and drain the bowl.
IF it flushes correctly, that PROVES the toilet and drain are clear.
(The toilet is not developing enough velocity to break the seal and create the siphon effect.)
Only solution is to replace the toilet. I see this ALL the time in older toilets.
IF it doesn't flush correctly, there is a clog. Use a closet auger gently, augers can break the porcelain.
Other fixtures draining slowly indicate a clogged main drain line.
Floor drains showing water are the best indicator of a clogged line. Floor drains should have a small amount of water, since they are traps as well.
Vents that develop frost from water vapor can reduce the effect, but unless they close up completely with ice, it still should not create an issue.
Also, there should NEVER be a trap in the drain system under a toilet. The toilet bowl itself is configured as a trap. That's why you always have water in the bowl after a flush.

 

[coach]

I think you got some good advice from plumbers here. I suspect that a 90° elbow right after the toilet may be the source of buildup and a clog.

 

[Robb Barnes]

I assume you are hooked to city sewer and not a septic tank. If you are on a septic then check to see if the tank needs pumped and the floating scum layer is not blocking off the bottom of the inlet baffle. On older tanks with concrete elbows and vertical extensions these can fall off over time due to gas erosion weakening the parts and mortared joints. We see it often in older septic systems that are not properly maintained. Tanks DO need cleaned out periodically regardless of what old uncle Elmer says about putting yeast, coffee grounds and a rotting dead chicken in there to make them work forever!

 

[Huntfish918]

I assume you are hooked to city sewer and not a septic tank. If you are on a septic then check to see if the tank needs pumped and the floating scum layer is not blocking off the bottom of the inlet baffle. On older tanks with concrete elbows and vertical extensions these can fall off over time due to gas erosion weakening the parts and mortared joints. We see it often in older septic systems that are not properly maintained. Tanks DO need cleaned out periodically regardless of what old uncle Elmer says about putting yeast, coffee grounds and a rotting dead chicken in there to make them work forever!

I've had to rebuild a few inlet elbows during my plumbing career...of course the tanks were cleaned and empty at the time!

 

[Huntfish918]

I think you got some good advice from plumbers here. I suspect that a 90° elbow right after the toilet may be the source of buildup and a clog.

As a professional, I have and "extension" closet auger that reaches the 90, usually.

 

[Dan in MI]

I don't know much, but it sounds like you have enough "input" already.

 

[wproct]

I don't know much, but it sounds like you have enough "input" already.

Same here. Other than the advice given above about all I could do is share some good swear words I use in situations like this one.

 

[Chief 101]

Feed kids more fiber, less pizza.

More BEEF less pizza!

 

[Johnnu2]

Keep It Simple Sir (KISS)......... I know you're unemployed BUT I would have your sewer line cleaned out by a professional. I've learned the hard way that 1) I can do it, but a professional can do it MUCH better; 2) sometimes we overlook the obvious.
I have my sewer line cleaned out every 2 - 3 years...... whether it "needs it" or not.
Your toilet symptoms indicate to my non-professional mind that your line is causing you that problem.
IMHO I hope this helps........... let us know the final resolution.

J.